Category: Places

Seaside, Florida

Debbie Roney Smith on

Seaside is the world’s first New Urbanist town which means that it is an unincorporated master-planned community. It’s located in the Florida Panhandle in Walton County. New Urbanism came to prominence in the 1980s in the U.S.A., and is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. However, criticism questions if New Urbanism actually succeeds in being sustainable or just likes the aesthetic design of quaint, pretty towns. You might recognize Seaside from the widely popular “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carrey; it was the primary film location for the movie. 

World’s Smallest Police Station

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that Florida is home to the world’s smallest police station? Located in Carrabelle, this police station is no bigger than a phone booth. It was placed on U.S. 98 under the chinaberry tree on March 10, 1963. Then Police Chief Albin Westberg elected to move it to this location after the city experienced problems with tourists making unauthorized long-distance phone calls on its police phone. 

The police station is rather famous and has even been featured on television shows. “Real People”, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, “The Today Show”, and “Johnny Carson” all featured the police station. Additionally, it was in the movie “Tate’s Hell” which was produced at Florida State University. The station even has copyrighted merchandise – t-shirts, hats, visors, postcards, and calendars are all available for purchase. 

Son et Lumiere: Foo Foo Festival!

Debbie Roney Smith on

Part of the Foo Foo Festival, Son et Lumiere is a sound and light 3D projection show. A free experience for all ages, it will occur every 30mins from 7 – 9:30 p.m. on November 4-7th. The show is a digital projection on the old Escambia County Courthouse; it is a visual spectacular designed to mix history and technology. The show depicts scenes, people, optical illusions, and imagery from the last 200 years to create an interactive, modern experience. Visit the Son et Lumiere event page here for more information on the history of the concept, event details, and more. 

Live Comedy Show

Debbie Roney Smith on

Coming live to 926 Bar & Grill on October 22nd, Tallahassee native comedian Tekk Johnson!

Tekk Johnson

Hosted by Heather Goode, this spectacular comedy line-up will also feature Cait Delucchi, Ol Head Johnson, Nicole Ortiz, Jamar Gay, Abelardo Riojas, Sleepy P. Floyd, and John Strickland.

The show is limited capacity, so be sure to get there before doors open at 6:30 p.m.! The show will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and end by 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for those over 21 and $10 for those under 21.

LGBTQ+ Center Awareness

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National LGBTQ+ Center Awareness Day. For more detailed information on this national event, visit the LGBT Center Awareness Day website.

Since this annual event is designed to help advocate for the work of LGBT community centers everywhere, today’s blog is dedicated to highlighting the local LGBTQ+ Center of Bay County. According to their website, the Bay Center “is currently the only safe space with dedicated programming for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18 in the entire Panhandle of Florida, from Mobile, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.”

They offer support groups, a safe space, scholarships, community outreach programs, and more! The Center advocates for community engagement, offers volunteer opprotunities, holds events, and works hard to improve the wellness of the LGBTQ+ community while leading the charge for positive change in the area. 

Visit the Center’s official website to learn more. 

Sykes Family Farm

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Sykes Family Farm Crop Maze in Elkton is hosting an a-MAZE-ing fall attraction this year. Every Friday-Sunday, visitors can enter the 9-acre corn maze for an age-appropriate experience. There are two phases designed for adults and two for children; you will be provided a map at the beginning of the maze to help guide you. After successfully completing the maze, there are hayrides, animal interactions, and more! Tickets are $15 per person for a farm-full of fun. Visit the Sykes Farm website for more information on times, location, and attractions. 

 

Panhandle RV Parks

Debbie Roney Smith on

Traveling via RV can be a great way to save money and enjoy your own space. Luckily, the Florida Panhandle is well equipped for RV travelers, be they tourists or locals exploring their extensive backyard. 

Listed below are just some of the many great RV parks available to visit today:

  • Emerald Beach RV Park (8885 Navarre Parkway, Navarre, FL)
  • Emerald Coast RV Resort (1957 Allison Avenue, Panama City Beach, FL)
  • Pensacola RV Park (3117 Wilde Lake Boulevard, Pensacola, FL)
  • Pensacola Beach RV Resort (17 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, FL)
  • Geronimo RV Resort (75 Arnett Lane, Miramar Beach, FL)
  • Ponce De Leon RV Resort (2920 North Highway 81, Ponce de Leon, FL)
  • Live Oak Landing (229 Pitts Avenue, Freeport, FL)
  • Twin Lakes Camp Resort (580 Holley King Road, DeFuniak Springs, FL)
  • Fort Pickens Campground (1400 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL)

Amazing Grace Family Farm

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Amazing Grace Family Farm is hosting weekly fall fun this October! Every Friday and Saturday, head to Green Cove Springs to explore the Grace Farm’s amazing 2021 maze, pumpkin patch, sunflower field, petting zoo, and more! This year’s maze design was inspired by hometown Olympian, swimmer Caeleb Dressel.

Visit their website for more information on available attractions and to save on the ticket price; pay $18 at the farm or $14 online.

October Haunts: Restless Slumber Cemetery

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking for a fun, safe Halloween event this October? Consider visiting the Restless Slumber Cemetery! They offer a 30-minute drive-through attraction where you can experience the horrors of a haunted graveyard through life-like scenes. The entry fee is $20+ tax per vehicle, so load up your friends and family this weekend for a spooktacular time!

Visit the official Restless Slumber Cemetery website for detailed dates, social media links, and more!

Spanish Trail Pumpkin Patch

Debbie Roney Smith on

Local favorite farm, Spanish Trail, is hosting a few special fall events this coming month. They will have a 2021 Pumpkin Patch with thousands of pumpkins, a 10-acre corn maze, and wonderful sunflower fields to meander through. This special bundle of fall favorites will open on October 2nd at 10 a.m. and will run the whole month. Bring out the family for a fun fall-themed day! Visit their Facebook page for more details and to stay up-to-date on changes and alerts.