Eco adventure

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Wildlife track identification hike at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Aug. 25

Date/time: August 25th, 12-1 p.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park invites you to enjoy an informational program about the wildlife we share the park with. Have you ever come across an animal print or group of prints in the mud of a trail and wondered “Who left it? A dog? Coyote? Raccoon? Squirrel?” Join a Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Ranger and learn about prints and tracks, then go on a nature hike to fine tune your track identifying skills....

Learn about pollinators at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Aug. 18

Date/time: August 18th, 9-10 a.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State park invites you to enjoy and informational program about one of the most important species in the world, the common honey bee. More than 25,000 species of bees have been identified around the world, with 3,500 within the continental U.S. Of all these species, only 8 to 10 of them known todays are as “honey bees”. Without pollinators like the honey bee, there would be no fruit, no flowers and no...

Williford Spring on Econfina Creek a cool family destination

Park features include swimming area, picnic pavilions, grills, boardwalks, and restrooms If you are looking for a beautiful place to enjoy a cool northwest Florida spring, head over to Williford Spring in southern Washington County. Recreational enhancements include spring entry steps, patio terrace, spring view deck, canoe dock, boardwalks, composting toilets, picnic pavilions, parking area, a connector trail to Pitt and Sylvan springs, as well as interpretative trails and native landscaping throughout the site. Click here to download PDF of...

Kellogg Park: A south Walton nature lovers’ generous legacy remains mostly ignored

Santa Rosa Beach residents Patricia and Louis Kellogg lived long and fulfilling lives. After raising five children, the outdoor enthusiasts enjoyed their retirement on the Choctawhatchee Bay. With a passion for nature and double masters degree in education, Patricia Kellogg donated much of her time to developing reading programs for children at the Santa Rosa Beach Coastal Branch Library. She was also an active member of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society (CAS). Kellogg enjoyed sharing the wonders of nature to such...

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...