We recently planned a day trip to the Florida Caverns. This is a perfect getaway for the day or for overnight camping. If you are looking for a day trip from Pensacola, it’s just two hours away. We decided to pack a lunch and head to the caverns for a picnic before the tour.

Florida Caverns is one of the few state parks with cave tours that are open to the public. On the tour you will see beautiful limestone formations of stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones and draperies and learn how they are formed.

Hiking/Geocaching – Bluff Trail is approximately a thirty minute walk where you can see some of the other caverns and find geocaches along the way.

Swimming -  During the spring and summer seasons, there is a nice designated area with a deck for swimming. It’s surrounded by a grassy lawn for sunbathing or picnicking.

Camping – It looks like anything from a tent to an RV can camp here. Reservations can be on ReserveAmerica.com or by calling ReserveAmerica at (800) 326-3521, TDD (888) 433-0287.

Boating – The Chipola River and a freshwater spring in the park are nice areas for fishing, canoeing and even boating.

Biking – There are miles of hilly roads through the state park for a great ride while visiting.

Golfing – The park features a nine-hole, New Deal-era golf course set on rolling terrain. Golf course: (850) 482-4257

Horseback Riding – There are no horses to rent, however,  they have stables available if you bring your own horses while camping.

Location of Florida Caverns

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Located three miles north of Marianna on State Road 166.

There are no cave tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. However, canoe rentals are available at the Ranger Station on days the cave tours are closed.
For more info call:  (850)482-1228.

Photos of the Florida Caverns

*Families with small children please use caution at this location. The beach area is on the other side of the river and there are currents. If you are looking for a place to swim with small children I recommend Blackwater River State Park or Krul Lake Recreation Area.

Fillingim Landing Map

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Fillingim Landing Photos

Fillingim Landing Launch

Fillingim Landing Launch

Fillingim Landing

Fillingim Landing Hiking Trail

Fillingim Landing Picnic Area

Ready to explore the lower sections of Blackwater River? A good location to launch a boat, kayak or stand up paddleboard (SUP) is the Oyster Pile Boat Ramp  located in Bagdad, FL  (right outside Milton). The boat ramp gives you access to the tributaries just off the Blackwater River. Although you can take larger boats out here to explore and catch fish, this area is great place to explore on a kayak or SUP.

The park includes a boat launch, picnic tables, and a portable bathroom. If you are looking for a new place to explore, this is a perfect destination.

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Deadman's Island

Looking for a paddle destination on the Florida Panhandle? Consider Deadman’s Island in Gulf Breeze. Deadman’s Island is a small island located in Gulf Breeze. The island is only accessible by boat and is a perfect place to enjoy white sandy beaches, calm water, snorkeling, fishing and paddleboarding or kayaking.

Visitors to Deadman’s Island can enjoy many coastal birds, crabs, fish and visiting dolphins. There are also a few man-made oyster reefs off of the island. This attracts fish and is also a nice place to snorkel and enjoy sea life.

Accessing Deadman’s Island

To access the island by kayak or paddleboard there are a few launch points within a close range.

Option 1:

Park at the public boat ramp at Wayside Park in Gulf Breeze. Approximately .5 mile

View Wayside Park in Gulf Breeze in a larger map

Option 2:

There is a small city park located in Gulf Breeze called Woodland Park. The park has picnic tables, a playground and a small dock. The dock makes a nice place to launch a kayak or paddleboard. Paddle out the canal and go left to access Deadman’s Island. This route is about one mile long.

View Deadman’s Island Option 2 in a larger map

Photos of Deadman’s Island

Our family with paddleboards on Deadman's Island

Beach view with boards

Dolphin just off Deadman's Island

One of our favorite outdoor places to visit is Shoreline Park. Shoreline park is located in Gulf Breeze, Florida on Santa Rosa Sound. It’s a great place to take the kids fishing, pack a picnic, launch your boat, hike among the live oaks on the nature trail or walk along the beach.

The water amenities include a fishing pier, boat launch, picnic tables, a swimming area, bathroom facilities and much more.

You can also enjoy the shade of the live oaks as you walk along the paved walking paths. For those who like to go off road there’s a nice winding hiking trail with beautiful live oaks draped with Spanish moss.

The address 1070 Shoreline Drive in Gulf Breeze.

Shoreline Park Amenities:

• Boat launch
• Fishing pier
• Swimming area
• Covered picnic tables
• Pavilion
• Bathrooms
• Dog park
• Hiking trails

Photos of Shoreline Park

St. Andrews State Park in Panama City is a great place to explore for the outdoor enthusiast or beach lover. The state park is located on the east side of Panama City. It has water on three sides, a coastal lake, and swamp areas.

We’d been looking forward to the opportunity to explore this park. This past spring we got the opportunity to do just that. We set up camp and had so much fun exploring this beautiful park. During our stay we saw nesting Egrets, deer, dolphins, snakes, and even an alligator. Yes, you’ve got to watch your step on the trail by Gator Lake. You never know what you may come across.

The park has many hiking trails, a spot to snorkel, kayaking areas, boat rentals, and even a boat launch. for your own boat. You may bring your own boat when you camp or rent a pontoon boat for exploring Shell Island.

St. Andrews Park at one time was a military reservation. Visitors can enjoy miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon.

View St. Andrews State Park in a larger map

Camping Information

Camping April 2011

The campground at St. Andrews park is located on Grand Lagoon. The park has some really nice waterfront camp spots. The campground includes two loops with 176 camp sites. The sites range from tent to RVs up to 40 feet. The grounds include nice bath and  laundry facilities. Within a short distance of the camp sites are hiking trails, beaches, boat launch, and a camp store.

Hiking Information

Choose from two hiking trails at St. Andrews State Park. The trails are Heron Pond and Gator Lake Trails. Gator Lake gives you great views of the lake which, yes, does include alligators. The Heron Pond trail takes you on a science hike through the Flatwood pine forest and past a historic turpentine still.

We hiked a portion of Gator Lake and enjoyed many surprises along the way such as snakes and even an alligator. These are great trails for view the beauty and wildlife these parks have to offer.

Boating Information

Pontoon boat we rented

The park includes a public boat ramp and a loading and unloading area. The ramp is located on Grand Lagoon. In addition, a local vendor is available to rent pontoon boats, kayaks, and jet skis.

From this location we launched our stand-up paddleboards. We had a wonderful experience paddling Grand Lagoon. While paddling at sunrise we had the welcome company of playing/feeding dolphins.

During our stay, we also had a great experience renting a pontoon boat. The staff were helpful and showed us the popular spots to go which included a wonderful place to stop and snorkel where you could see live sand dollars, sea urchins, and other sea life. After snorkeling, we anchored at Shell Island, which is an undeveloped island between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay.

Snorkel and Dive

The jetties located in the park are an excellent place for beginner divers and snorkelers. The area inside the jetties is called the kiddy pool. The protected and shallow water creates a safe place to explore the sea life in St. Andrews Park.

Didn’t bring your own equipment? You may rent equipment at any of the concession stores in the state park.

Beach Access & Day Use

Plunge into the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico at the public beach area. The park has over one and a half miles of sugar white sandy beaches and emerald waters. The public beach area gives you access to the open waters of the Gulf or a protected shallow water area in the inlet.

In addition, the state park offers shuttle boat tours over to Shell Island where you can enjoy both bay and gulf swimming.

Photo of St. Andrews State Park

Snorkeling Area

St. Andrews State Park Beach Area

Deer

Nesting Egrets

Nesting Egrets Viewing Area

American Alligator in Gator lake

Gator Lake Hiking Trail

Come join in on the FUN!

This area is now added our paddle map. We’ve launched our kayak from this location in the past and recently, we put in our paddleboards. It’s a beautiful place to paddle and enjoy the lower section of Blackwater River.

Although parasails have been launched from land for nearly 30+ years, with the swing in the boat market toward multiple sporting activities, increasing numbers of people are out to have fun high over water. If you’ve never parasailed, the freedom of flight awaits you.

How To Parasail

A preflight inspection of all the necessary gear insures flight readiness. Take-off should be into the wind. When all is ready, the parasailor hooks into the parasail. The boat then idles out until the towline is taut.

The flight crew holds up the canopy of the chute on both sides; the signal is then given to “hit the accelerator.” The parasailor resists the forward aerodynamic pull in a tug-of-war. Soon, lift-off occurs.

Once aloft, flyers get comfortable in the harness by sitting down. Altitude is controlled by boat speed.

My First Flight

It began in my dreams. I raced along the beach and flapped my arms. Before I knew it, I was high over the water and feeling euphoric. Then, I woke up knowing I was closer to making my dream a reality—I was going parasailing.

On a delightfully warm day near Pensacola, FL, I found myself airborne by design, having been launched into the void behind an outboard in the name of fun and adrenaline rush. I had a swatch of silk, which was connected to me by a tangle of paper-thin lines, flying over my head.

My first flight was both horrifying and inspiring. I hadn’t been in charge, my boat driver told me afterwards; the winds had been in charge of me. No kidding. I could have told him that when the first thermal flung me skyward, and I realized then I was where humans, anatomically speaking, shouldn’t be. In a short 60 seconds, I learned that parasailing, just like downhill skiing, demands full concentration. Also like downhill skiing, the ride seems too short only after it’s over; by then, the fear has faded enough that you’re eager to go back up.

In August of 2010, being at the mercy of the winds was something new to me, so unnerving that at first I fought their bullying influence. But that was missing the point. A great parasailing flight means achieving a state of grace, not by fighting wind conditions but by working with them. When I finally stopped resisting, I learned that the winds were not bullies after all.

In the beginning, mankind could fly no better than rocks. People endured this seemingly unalterable feature for eons, even as they dreamed of sprouting wings. But along came the 20^th and 21st century and a relatively simple arrangement of cloth and cable—plus a dash of daring—allows most anyone to soar high over water. Now after my first parasailing adventure, I endorse the activity as one of the best outdoor experiences around!

Places To Parasail

ABC Parasail- Outcast Marina, Orange Beach, AL

Perdido Key Parasail, Gulf Shores, AL

Radical Rides, Pensacola Beach, FL

Key Sailing, Pensacola Beach, FL

Just Chute Me Parasailing, Destin Harbour, San Destin, Navarre, Ft. Walton and Pensacola Beach, FL

Flicker Photo

About the Author: Mary Syrett is a freelance writer and photographer who frequently vacations on the Gulf Coast. She has a variety of articles published in both online and print magazines.