Blackwater Heritage / Military Heritage Trail

Chain of Lakes Trail in Blackwater River State Park is a relatively easy 1.4-mile loop trail that takes less than a half hour to hike around. The trail starts just southeast of the Deaton Bridge at the trailhead in the parking lot. There may be birders or people fishing along the trail, but if you come early, you may be able to find some solitude.  Blackwater River State Park is open from 8 am...

The Naval Live Oaks Area, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Gulf Breeze, Florida, offers visitors over 7.5 miles of scenic hiking trails through diverse coastal landscapes include the Naval Live Oaks Trail. Hours of Operation: • Park Hours: Open daily from 8:00 AM to sunset. Fees and Permits: • Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee to access the Naval Live Oaks Ar...

The Bayou Marcus Birding Trail offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Northwest Florida’s wetland ecosystems up close. This elevated boardwalk trail provides scenic views and abundant wildlife-watching opportunities, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. Trail Overview • Length: Approximately 1.5 miles (8,000 feet) of boardwalk • Accessibility: The trail is wheel...

Located within Big Lagoon State Park, the Sand Pine Loop and Big Lagoon Observation Tower offer visitors an immersive experience of Florida’s diverse coastal ecosystems. This combination of trail and observation point provides scenic views, wildlife sightings, and a tranquil environment for outdoor enthusiasts. Sand Pine Loop Trail: • Difficulty: Easy • Terrain: The trail winds through...

SCUBA dive the Air Force Barge, AKA Englin Barge, located at Latitude 30.35415°, Longitude -86.49302°. For this trip, I went through ScubaTech, a local Destin dive shop that rents dive gear, fills tanks, and takes groups out on various reef and wreck dives in the Destin area. They offer 3 hour and 4 hour trips.  ScubaTech took us out on the “Sea Cobra,” "...the fastest, most comfortable dive b...

SCUBA dive the "Miss Louise" tug boat wreck, located at N 30:22.287, W 86:25.317. For this trip, I went through ScubaTech, a local Destin dive shop that rents dive gear, fills tanks, and takes groups out on various reef and wreck dives in the Destin area. They offer 4 hour (2 dive) trips on their boat, the “Sea Cobra.” The "Miss Louise", an 85' steel tugboat, sits in around 60' of water on the ...