Salinas Park

The new and improved Salinas Park Bayside on 30E Cape San Blas, FL is officially open. The ribbon cutting occurred on Jan 30th. They have a new/updated elevated bayside boardwalk which is about 1,600 feet long here. Huge thank you Florida Department of Environmental Protection and The Trust for Public Land for all the wonderful upgrades. This picturesque bayside park features water access, a volleyball area, a playground, fire pit, screened in tables, grills, bathrooms and a shower. Some of the new upgrades include a pump for easy air refill while you are out biking. Also a mister to cool down on hot summer days. They have a water bottle refilling station, several drinking fountains at different heights, and much more.

A long-time local park and beach access point, Salinas Park provides a picnic grove with small wooden pavilions in a pine forest. It’s the primary access point for equestrians headed to the beach. Although the sands here aren’t as lovely as at nearby St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, the beach is busy since access is free and leased pets are welcome. This park is open 24 hours a day.

 

Panama Grammer School now on National Register of Historic Places list

The Panama Grammar School was built over 100 years ago and still sits on the corner of Harrison Avenue and 7th Street. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by The United States Department Of The Interior. For months officials have been working to get one of the oldest Panama City buildings national recognition. In November, the building received state approval and then moved toward national approval. Built in 1914, the red brick building has served as a downtown landmark for decades and has been owned by the First Presbyterian Church of Panama City since it closed as a public school in 1965. Due to extensive damage from Hurricane Michael the church put the building up for sale.

 

Alfred B. “Maclay” Gardens

It’s camilla season in Tallahassee. If you haven’t been, you should check out Maclay Gardens State Park – with all the gorgeous camilla in bloom, it’s a beautiful sight.

Alfred B.” Maclay” Gardens State Park is a masterpiece of floral architecture and rich history, the gardens feature a picturesque brick walkway, secret garden, reflection pool, walled garden and hundreds of camellias and azaleas. Peak blooming season is from January 1 through April 30, with the floral peak in mid-to-late March. During these months, a special fee is charged for visiting the gardens and the historic Maclay House. There is something for everyone. The experiences include biking, hiking, horseback riding, weddings, tours, swimming, walking, running, geo-seeking, paddling, and so much more.

Alfred Maclay was a wealthy banker and financier from New York. He visited Tallahassee with his wife, Louise Fleischmann Maclay, in 1923 and was impressed by the huge oaks and pines, beautiful dogwoods and hollies. He decided this would be the place to fulfill his lifelong dream of creating a beautiful garden, and this would be their winter home. Over the years they established one of the most beautiful ornamental gardens in Florida. In 1953, nine years after Mr. Maclay’s death, Mrs. Maclay and her children donated the gardens to the state of Florida. She expressed her wishes that the gardens always be maintained as a memorial to her husband and his creation, and opened to the public for the enjoyment of the people of Florida and guests.

The park and historic gardens are open daily from 8am to sunset and the Maclay House museum is open January through April, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Located at 3540 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. You can contact them at 850-487-4556 or click on the link below to go to the website for more information. And be sure to click the link below to see all the great events they have scheduled. You can go on full moon paddle with a park ranger in the lake, tours of the garden also given by a park ranger, and painting in the park is offered!

https://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens

Thanks to noahs.notions on Instagram for the photo and this great idea to blog about!

 

Mashawy in Marianna

Mashawy is a family-owned fine dining restaurant serving the freshest Mediterranean-Greek-American fusion cuisine next to the golf course at 3297 Caverns Rd Marianna, FL. 850-526-1578. Hours are: Monday: Closed, Tuesday-11:00AM – 8:00PM, Wednesday-11:00AM – 8:00PM, Thursday-11:00AM – 8:00PM, Friday-11:00AM – 10:00PM, Saturday-11:00AM – 10:00PM, Sunday: 11:00AM – 6:00PM. The services they provide are meals, wedding receptions, birthdays, and party hosting. And they are also now offering live music on the 1st and 3rd Friday each month from 5pm to 10pm.

http://mashawygrills.com/

Escape Room in Marianna

Escape Marianna is located at 2915 Jefferson Street in Marianna. You can contact them at: Email: escapemarianna@gmail.com or Tel: 850 317 6107. They are open: Monday – Thursday 10am – 7pm, Friday 10am – 11pm, Saturday 10am – 11pm, Sunday 1pm – 7pm.

What is an escape room?
An escape room is a real life game where players are placed in a room and must work together to solve a series of challenging puzzles and brain teasers. …but there’s a trick. Players only have 60 minutes to complete the challenge! The only way to win, or escape, is to solve all of the puzzles before time runs out! Are you ready??

You Are Locked In
You will bring nothing in, but the escape room will be filled with useful and sometimes irrelevant objects.

The Clock Is Ticking…
Can you puzzle your way to the intriguing conclusion and escape the room in 60 minutes?

Feel The Atmosphere
The rooms are built to create an authentic experience with a fun atmosphere, strict attention to detail.

Monday~Dec 16th~Dom’s Mobile Hut

Santa is coming! Where? To Dom’s Mobile Hut that is located in Marianna right next door to the UPS Store at 4415 Constitution Lane. From 3pm to 5pm they will have special promotions and this event is a child and pet friendly event!

Dom’s Mobile Hut is a fast and unlimited internet store and they also sell cell phones cases and phone plans. The phone number is 850-372-4284. They respond very quickly. They are open Mon-Fri from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm and closed on Sunday.

Little Free Libraries

Little Free Libraries are popping up everywhere. Have you seen one locally? This one is located in Marianna on 4th Street. They also have one at the Botanical Garden in Dothan, Alabama. Have you seen one? If so please email debson1999@gmail.com and share the location. Todd Bol created the first Little Free Library in 2009 on his front lawn. As of this August, there are over 90,000 in the world. LFLs foster a love of reading, a space for community to meet and grow, and sparks creativity by encouraging book exchanges around the world. ~Sorry for the sideways photo, it must be taking a nap~

 

Main Street Market~Chipley

Main Street Market in Chipley is located at 1251 Jackson Ave. This a well put together local market with fresh produce and farm goods. They have local meats, produce, swings, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and boiled peanuts. They also have a store next door with great gift ideas. You can call them at 850-638-7755. Hours are: Closed on Sunday’s, Monday-Saturday from 8am to 5:30pm.

 

 

Powell Tree Farm

Powell Tree Farm is located in Sneads at 7509 Old Spanish Trail. They will be opening this weekend for the season. Hours will be from 8am to 5pm on the following days: Nov, 29th, 30, and December 1st~ December 7th and 8th~ December 14th and 15th~ December 21st only if they have trees left!

They grow Leyland, Cypress, Virginia Pine, Carolina Sapphire, and Blue Ice. This year they will also have Fraser Firs from North Carolina. You can cut down your own tree or they will do it for you. All trees in the field are $6 per foot up to a 10 foot tree plus tax and $8 a foot for all trees taller then 10 feet.

Green Hill Fountain Community Center

Green Hill Community Center is located at 17913 Park Place in Fountain. The phone number is 850-783-0221. It is a non profit, bingo hall, and community center. Be sure to click the link above the photo for more information.

GREEN HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER was built in 1945, through out the years it has been a safe haven for the rural community in Fountain, Florida. The center is only 4,192 sq. feet but every area is used. They contain a small but effective library that still works on a honor system with books that are donated from the local community and up kept by volunteers. This is a center where NO ONE IS PAID. They do not reimburse for gas, food, or clothing. Everyone that works at the center are volunteers of the true word. This includes all board members, there are no fees to come to the center for most events. They do have a few special dinners and special events that they ask for donations to come to; so that they can pay the center bills. Through out the years till now the center has never had to ask for outside help but the cost are more than the community can handle this year, and they are trying their best not to have to shut the doors.

A few upcoming events: ~Every Tuesday night at 6 pm they hold AA/NA meetings that all are welcome to. ~The 2nd Friday of the month they have a community dinner at 5pm followed by family night followed by kids bingo. ~Thrift Store and flea markets open every Saturday from 9am to 2pm.

https://greenhillscommunitycenter.weebly.com/