Fall is the best time of the year for us here on the coast. Nature takes center stage and there are plenty of ways to get outside and have fun. Education is a big part of what we do here at SoWal.com and we love our lakes. Here's what our friends Elam and his son Nic are up to at Live Oak Productions.
Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of locals, South Walton has added an entire layer of recreation through artificial reef environments. The South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) has installed the first set of near shore reefs off our beaches.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a wonderful place to explore any day of the year. You'll love taking advantage of some of the weekly events at the park this summer. What a great way to get out and explore one of South Walton's most beautiful coastal areas directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park admission fees are waived for Summer 2015.
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College announces the summer session of its award winning eco-tourism initiative, Discover Roads Less Traveled: Eco-Adventures of Walton County. Voted Best Outdoor Adventure in the 2015 Perfect in South Walton- Best of the Best list, the summer tour line-up falls nothing short. Don’t miss the chance to get outdoors this summer and explore!
The Gulf World Marine Institute stranding team recently released a fully rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico in Panama City Beach. The stranded sea turtle was rescued in March of this year and was found to be emaciated and lethargic. After a few months of rehabilitation at Gulf World Marine Institute the sea turtle was medically cleared and then released back into the Gulf on June 24, 2015, along with a few human friends standing by for support.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a wonderful place to explore any day of the year. You'll love taking advantage of some of the weekly events at the park this summer. What a great way to get out and explore one of SoWal's most beautiful spots. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park admission fees are waived for Summer 2015.
The Friends of Camp Helen State Park and Lake Powell Community Alliance will show a film about coastal dune lakes at 6:30 p.m. on June 19, 2015, at the Park’s Lodge. The film “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast” by Elam Stoltzfus and the Live Oak Production
Group focuses on the dune lakes of Northwest Florida, a project for which Stoltzfus spent the last year and a half. The event is free and open to the public. State Park entrance fees are waived. Elam Stoltzfus will be present to discuss the film.
Feeding and petting a fever of stingrays, swimming with dolphins and getting smooched by a sea lion is all in a day’s work at Gulf World Marine Park. Panama City Beach’s longstanding educational facility pulls double duty as the Area Coordinator for the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. And when Gulf World’s team of experts isn’t out rescuing dolphins and sea turtles, they’re educating kids and kids-at-heart about the fascinating animals with which we share our planet.
Let’s face it…there’s lots to do in South Walton. But if a little solitude and a break from the hustle and bustle of the Scenic 30A strip is what you need, a bike ride into the woods is the ticket. You may not even see another person all day. If you prefer boots to wheels, the hiking is just as good.
The Friends of Eden and Florida State Parks pay tribute to the Camellia Saturday, Feb.21 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington. Visitors are invited to stroll through rows of camellias, observe a camellia floral arrangement demonstration, practice air layering - a camellia propagating technique, and get tips on camellia waxing for bloom preservation. Marie Harrison, author and master gardener, will facilitate a program on camellia care and offer tips on gardening.
