Nature

The Annual International Coastal Cleanup is a day SoWal Beach lovers converge on the beach with a purpose!

Justin Gaffrey is a sensitive, insightful, creative and successful SoWal artist. He also kills yellow flies with a blowtorch.

He burns them to crisps, their burnt bits blending with colorful layers of dried acrylics texturizing the floor. He sent one to oblivion right in front of me after the little bastard made the final mistake of biting me. Sweet revenge in the studio!

Visiting Eden Gardens State Park is tuning out the rest of the world and tuning in the “Real Florida”.

Trade in your worries and turn on to the splendor of SoWal's great outdoors, with some Florida history to boot. Just a bit north of the beach, Eden Gardens State Park is nestled in the woods of Point Washington, along the shores of Tucker Bayou and the Choctawhatchee Bay. It's the ideal spot to relax and have family fun.

From now until Labor Day everyone can enjoy free day-use admission to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The Walton County Tourist Development Council has covered the cost of entry to increase available parking for beach-goers during the peak summer season, as well as raise awareness of the variety of eco-tourism activities in SoWal.

In an effort to mitigate storm effects and maintain its beaches in the best possible condition, Seaside is restoring and re-nourishing its coastal sand dunes.

This approach will further develop Seaside’s long-term preservation and resiliency strategy to protect the landscape and maintain the native ecosystems. Its implementation will provide natural, enduring and future protection with no adverse effect to adjacent coastal areas.

The Friends of Eden and Florida State Parks pay tribute to the Camellia Saturday, Feb. 17th from 10am to 2 pm at Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington, North of US 98 via CR-395.

Visitors are invited to stroll through amazing Camellias, enjoy a Camellia floral arrangement demonstration, learn air layering, (a Camellia propagating technique), and Camellia waxing for bloom preservation.  Attend a program on Camellia care and other plant related topics by Marie Harrison, a Master Gardener and author of numerous Gardening Books.

Join Topsail Hill Preserve State Park for a Topsail Talks Educational Discovery Series on Friday, Feb. 9 from 10 to 11 a.m.  South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) will discuss the seahorse reef installed at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The snorkel reefs are close enough to the shore that they can be reached by kayak or paddle board, so snorkelers or divers can access them from the beach

Join outdoor SoWal lovers at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park for Love Tracks, a 5K Fun Run/Walk on February 17, 2018 from 7 to 11 a.m. 

Join the Seaside Institute for the next Let's Talk 30A Sustainability meeting: The Washed Ashore Project on Monday, Dec. 11 from 4 til 6pm. Let's Talks: Sustainability series takes place throughout the year in the Assembly Hall located on the Seaside Institute Academic Village campus.