Outdoor Family Fun

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Ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park Feb. 4

Enjoy a ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 10 – 11 a.m. You will access the user-friendly trail system, learning about the flora and fauna found within the park and the larger ecosystem of the Florida Panhandle. This hike is great for all experience levels and requires moderate endurance. Meet at the visitor center. The Oak Canopy and North Trails have a combination of paved, sand and packed-earth terrain. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes,...

2021 Lionfish Festival May 15-16 in Destin; vendors and divers wanted

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is excited to announce the 7th annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Festival May 15 and 16 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Village in Destin. Come out and celebrate the fight against invasive lionfish with the FWC and Destin–Fort Walton Beach. Activities will include fillet demonstrations; family-friendly games and activities; art, diving and conservation booths; and the world’s largest lionfish spearfishing tournament, the Emerald Coast Open. Satisfy your taste buds...

Discover the Nina and Pinta sailing ships at Baytowne Marina Jan. 8 – 17

Head over to Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Jan. 8 – 17, 2021 as the ‘Pinta’ and the ‘Niña’, replicas of Columbus’ Ships, will be docked at Baytowne Marina located at 8330 Mike Hayes Boulevard. Hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The ‘Nina’ was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine called the ship “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” In 2005, the ‘Pinta’, also a caravel, was...

Washington County Sheriff’s Office rodeo Jan. 9 – 10

Enjoy a family day at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Rodeo Jan. 9 – 10, 2021. Kids events are calf scramble, mutton’ bustin’ and a coloring contest. Several vendors on site as well.  Gates open at 5 p.m. on Saturday with the show started at 7 p.m. On Sunday, gates open at 12 p.m. with show starting at 2 p.m. The rodeo will be held at Washington County Equestrian Center, 2574 Daniels Lake Rd., Chipley. Advanced tickets are $8 and...

Ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 7

Enjoy a ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park on Thursday, Jan. 7 from 10 – 11 a.m. You will access the user-friendly trail system, learning about the flora and fauna found within the park and the larger ecosystem of the Florida Panhandle. This hike is great for all experience levels and requires moderate endurance. Meet at the visitor center. The Oak Canopy and North Trails have a combination of paved, sand and packed-earth terrain. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes,...

History tour at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 2

Enjoy a history tour of Camp Helen State Park from 10 – 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. Join park staff and volunteers on a walk through the rich history of our park. Learn about the early indigenous people who occupied this land all the way through to the 1920s when the park was developed as a private residence for the Hicks family and later turned into a summer retreat for Avondale Textile mill employees and their families....

First Day hike at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 1

On New Year’s Day, America’s state parks will once again be celebrating with First Day Hikes, when people welcome the coming year in the outdoors, exercising and connecting with nature. This year, Camp Helen will host a self-guided hike on the North Trail. Trail is 1.8 miles total with a self-guided native plant tour brochure that corresponds with numbers on the trail. A park ranger will walk the trail from 9 to 10 a.m. and will answer any questions you may have. North Trail...

Williford, Pitt/Sylvan, and Blue Spring along Econfina Creek reopen

The Northwest Florida Water Management District is re-opening three of its most popular recreation sites along Econfina Creek on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. The day-use recreation sites at Williford Spring, Pitt/Sylvan springs, and Blue Spring will each re-open at 8 a.m. Saturday. All three day-use sites return to normal operating hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week). “We are so lucky to live in this part of the state and to have access to some of the...