Eco adventure

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Explore the beautiful paddling trails of Eglin Air Force Base recreation area

Northwest Florida offers and abundance of spectacular recreation opportunities. Beautiful beaches, crystal clear springs, and what seem as though never-ending hiking trails, there are natural areas to please any outdoor enthusiast. One such area off the beaten path is Eglin Air Force Base Reservation. Spanning across Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties, Eglin offers 250,000 acres conditionally open to the public for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, and paddling. However, you must acquire a recreation permit to enjoy the many...

Twists and turns keep you paddling on Turkey Creek

Turkey Creek paddle full of beautiful surprises One of Northwest Florida’s most scenic waterways is the narrow, seepage spring fed Turkey Creek just west of Niceville. Located on Eglin Air Force Base Reservation, just off of SR 85, Turkey Creek meanders through the Reservation offering a challenging and beautiful paddle approximately 9 miles long. Swift and clear, the first two thirds of the paddle is tight, filled with twists and turns, and beautiful vistas as you maneuver the waterway. Trees...

Plant hike at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park June 22

Date/time: Wednesday June 22, 9-10 a.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park invites you to enjoy an informational plant hike. Visitors will learn about some of the plant species here at the park. Some of these plants are truly invasive and carry with them, few, if any, of the natural controls that keep them in check in their native ranges, while some are imperiled and others can be used for medicinal purposes. The topics for the hike will vary based on...

Remnants of the Captain Fritz steamboat remain in the Choctawhatchee riverbed

Low water levels expose remnants of Walton history Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s much of Walton County’s commerce was transported via water. Sown lumber, turpentine and vegetables were shipped to the mills and markets of Pensacola via steamboat and schooner. One of the major steamboats that made a regular run between Freeport, Point Washington and Pensacola was the Capt. Fritz. A stern wheel steamboat built in 1892 the Capt. Fritz started operations in the Choctawhatchee Bay. She...

Owl program at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park June 8

Date/time: Wednesday June 8, 9 -11 a.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park invites you to enjoy an information program about “Owls” and their place in the food web.  You will learn how to examine the roles owls play in the food web by dissecting owl pellets. Enter the park through the main gate and park staff will direct you to the clubhouse. Standard state park entry fees will apply. GUESTS MUST REGISTER BEFOREHAND, LIMITED TO 20 GUESTS call the ranger...