Navarre Beach Palms
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing /
Navarre Beach, and its surrounding forests and rivers, is located in Santa Rosa County, which features unique ecological diversity including miles of dazzling white beaches, 45 foot sand bluffs, emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and crystal clear streams and rivers. The beaches here have been rated the best in the nation for the cleanliness, safety and the breathtaking beauty.
Whether you are seeking a quiet, relaxing afternoon by the shore or an outdoor adventure with the thrilling leisure opportunities and exciting attractions for the entire family, Navarre beach provides plenty of activities to keep everyone busy
.Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing /
Air Force Armament Museum boasts an impressive collection of historical artifacts and memorabilia that traces the heritage of the Air Commandos and Special Operations Forces from WW11 to present. An airborne battlefield command control center capsule has been restored for visitors to walk through. There is also a vast collection of military aircraft and missile exhibits. The Air Force Armament Museum is located east of Navarre. Museum is open daily, closed on all Federal Holidays. For more information, call (850)-882-4063 or 4062.
Blackwater River State Park has one of the nation’s purest spring-fed, sand bottom rivers. Beginning 45 miles upstream in Alabama, the river continues downstream for 13 miles before emptying into Blackwater Bay. Wildlife is plentiful in this beautiful park, which includes 590 acres for picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing and camping. Open year round from 8 am to sunset. The park is located east of Navarre in Holt, Fl (8500 983-5363
Fort Pickens is a unique attraction in the Gulf Island National Seashore. Along with the ruins of the pre-Civil War fort, the park offers camping, picnic areas, swimming, fishing, exhibits, nature trails, guided tours, a bookstore and a museum. Many historical anecdotes await you at this amazing landmark. Open from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Visitors Center: (850) 934-2600/2635.
The Gulfarium offers live marine shows with dolphin, sea lions, otter, penguins and other sea creatures. Features include a bottlenose Dolphin show, a Multi-species show ad huge underwater viewing panels that showcase eels, sharks and other sea life. Shows run continuously from 10 am to dusk. Take Hwy 98 east to Okaloosa Island. For additional information: (850) 244-5169, www.gulfarium.com
Gulf Island National Seashore is a 150 mile long strip of
Barrier Island running from Mississippi to Florida. A section encompassing 8
miles of the seashore is located in Santa Rosa County. The area is a federal
preserve, which leaves it bathed in unspoiled beauty. Activities include
camping, fishing, boating, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. The
Visitors’ center is located at 1801 Gulf Breeze parkway,
Gulf Breeze, (850) 934-2600.
National Museum of Naval Aviation featuring the IMAX Theater is
one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Over 130 unique,
beautifully restored aircraft represent Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
Aviation. The museum houses the IMAX Theater, which has a seven-story tall
screen and a 15,000-watt sound system. There is also a gift shop and café.
Admission to the Museum is free with a $6.00 charge for admission to the IMAX
Theater. Open daily 9am-5pm. Pensacola (850)452-3604,
www.naval-air.org
The Zoo is a 50-acrea preserve with more than 700 animals
surrounded by botanical gardens. There’s the boardwalk, which allows for a
close look at Gorilla Island, a free-range habitat that features gorillas and
chimpanzees. Visitors can ride the Safari Line Train, feed and pet tame animals
and browse in the Lion’s Lair gift shop. Enjoy special events year-round. The
Zoo also offers banquet facilities. Open daily 9am-5pm (weather permitting),
excluding certain holidays. 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway,
Gulf Breeze, (850) 932-2229.
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing /
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Pensacola Florida Home of the Blue Angles |
The Panhandle region is home to 4 major military headquarters, including the largest military installation, Eglin Air Force Base, and the “Cradle of Naval Aviation Pensacola” This military presence not only creates some highly interesting attractions, but also makes for a very diverse cultural area population. A large number of area residents are employed by the military bases.
Eglin Air Force Base- (Ft Walton Beach,
FL)-Public Affairs Office: (850) 882-3931
Hurlburt Field- (Mary Ester, FL) Public Affairs Office (850) 884-7464
Naval Air Station Pensacola- (Pensacola, FL) Public Affairs Office (850)
452-2311
Naval Air Station Whiting Field- (Milton, FL) Administrative Department (850)
623-7651
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing
The Navarre Nature Walk Park, located near the Navarre beach Bridge along the Santa Rosa sound, is a one mile waterfront boardwalk that includes a spring fed fish pond, a fun themed playground, a hand tile wall, a butterfly house, as well as picnic and recreation areas. Many species of birds, such as geese, ducks and heron can be spotted on the walk, along with the turtles, squirrels and other wild creatures.
The area is home to numerous points of interest, including the spectacular Gulf Island’s National Seashore, eight miles of federally protected shoreline that is completely undeveloped and preserved in its natural state. Nature enthusiasts can walk on the beach for miles observe rare species of shore birds, wildlife and native vegetation.
For a change of pace, try an excursion north of
the famed beach areas to some of the Florida panhandle region’s best kept
secrets. Known as the “Canoe Capitol of Florida,”
Santa Rosa County boasts the largest concentration of excellent canoeing rivers
in the state, including Blackwater, Sweetwater juniper and the coldwater. Hike,
camp, kayak, canoe, go tubing, swimming and picnicking among the pine trees, oak
canopies and streams within the Blackwater River State Forest, the largest in
Florida. An abundance of Bass, Bluegill and other types of fish can be caught in
these pure rivers. Horseback riding through the picturesque countryside is
another different and exciting activity to experience.
If your idea is fun in the sun includes exciting water sports, take advantage of numerous activities from snorkeling and scuba driving to sailing and deep-sea fishing. In fact, the northern Gulf Coast region of Florida is famous for its saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities. In the Gulf, anglers will find pompano, Flounder, Cobia, King and Spanish mackerel, White Trout, and Many other species of fish to catch.
Santa Rosa County also boasts some of the region’s most prestigious championship golf courses, including the Moors Golf Club, home of the Emerald Coast Classic, a senior PGA Tournament. Some of the many other challenging and scenic fairways and greens include Tiger Point East and West, Tanglewood Golf and County Club, Stonebrook Golf Club and the Club at Hidden Creek, rated the finest golf facility in Northwest Florida.
Navarre beach and Santa Rosa County feature an outstanding diversity of cuisine and entertainment. Sample fresh from the Gulf Seafood and family favorites at the area’ numerous restaurants. Shopping is also a pleasure here, where quaint antique shops and boutiques are easily found, and large malls and outlet centers are just a short drive away. Movie buffs can catch the latest flicks at a new state of the art 8 screen cinema multiplex that features stadium seating and digital sound.
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing
A beautiful sight to behold in the very heart of Navarre is that hundreds of brightly colored plants, flowers and butterflies that inhibit the panhandle Butterfly House each year from May 1st through Labor Day. The winged beauties represent over 200 species, including the Florida state Butterfly, the Zebra Longwing.
The Butterflies are packaged the day before they are shipped from a butterfly farm in south Florida. They are contained in small opaque envelopes and packed in dry ice. This allows them to succumb to a dormant state. When released, it takes a few seconds for them to fully recover and fly off. However is seems that most of the butterflies survive the trip, and go on to live up to two weeks.
In addition, the butterfly house cultivates its own butterflies. Tiny eggs resting on the leaf of delicate plant will grow into butterflies. The plant is kept indoors in a box, which protects the eggs and fosters their growth.
The panhandle butterfly house purchases about $500 worth of butterflies per week. Each butterfly costs about $3.50. The butterflies are purchased through donations. Those that staff the house are wonderful volunteers and excellent sources of information about butterflies. If you get the chance, go and visit the butterfly haven, and help them out with a donation. The garden is a rare and beautiful thing that we are lucky to have in our community.
The butterfly abode, located on the Navarre Nature Walk, is seasonally open 11 am to 4 pm daily, including holidays. There is free admission, although donations are accepted to help support a large number and varieties of butterflies.
Mr. Jack Wetherell started the Butterfly house in 1996 with his wife, Fonda. Although Mr. Wetherell had stepped down as director, he will continue to be of assistance as a consultant. Sandra Sherman is the current director. She has worked as a guide and fundraiser since the beginning.
The Butterfly House will be maintained and run by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa Counties.
Special butterfly exhibits, donated by Dr. Thomas Grow are stored at Navarre High School during the winter months under temperature-controlled conditions.
Over 10,000 visitors from 35 states and 11 countries have come to Butterfly House each year. If you’ve never visited the Butterfly House, find yourself too busy or preoccupied with life as we know it, take a break and come discover beauty with the butterflies. It is a unique establishment in our very own community, one of the very few in the country that specializes in butterflies and plants found mostly in this region.
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing
Scuba dive among beautiful inhabitants of the deep, canoe the tranquil waters of the Santa Rosa Sound, see the natural beauty of a pristine coastal environment along an intricate system of nature trails and dune crossovers, have picnic and enjoy the beach, Visitors to Navarre Beach will soon enjoy all of the above activities on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, said the park manager Ben Faure.
The State of Florida is planning to develop the 130- acre eastern portion of Navarre Beach, which borders Eglin Air force Base property, into a new park that will preserve this pristine beachfront and offer fun recreational opportunities for residents, visitors, and future generations. Plans for the Navarre Beach State Park include construction of three covered pavilions, 15-20 walkovers, restrooms and showers. Bike paths will weave throughout the park. In addition, state officials plan to construct an artificial reef just offshore, which will enhance Navarre Beach’s already exceptional opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiast. Underwater shelling in the surrounding area is unparalleled and divers will enjoy viewing unique aquatic life such as brilliant green finger and four –foot basket sponges. Also prevalent in area waters area aqua and purple sea whips, and reef clusters of white star and ivory tree coral.
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing
Deep water is found close inshore, attracting some of the largest varieties of Marine species in Florida, from playful dolphins and colorful angelfish to manta rays and endangered sea turtles. Schools of migrating mackerel, amberjack and cigar minnow also make for some interesting dives or fishing.
Navarre Beach’s famous fishing pier will receive an upgrade as part of the project as well, with plans calling to extend it into the Gulf of Mexico by an additional 350 feet. For those who love to watch marine sanctuary boardwalk that extends over the water and offers portals in which to view the underwater environs.
Construction on the multi-million dollar project is estimated to be completed by January 2003.
Navarre Beach / Regional Attractions /Military / Nature / Butterfly House / Parks & Piers / Fishing
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