Category: Places

Seacrest Wolf Preserve

Debbie Roney Smith on

Seacrest Wolf Preserve is located at 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd. in Chipley. You can email them at seacrestwolfpack@yahoo.com and call them at (850) 773-2897. The office is open Monday-Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm. Click on the link to be directed to the website. https://www.seacrestwolfpreserve.org/visitor-information

Seacrest Wolf Preserve offers an unforgettable, educational experience where visitors encounter wolves. This rare and immersive experience allows guests to come face to face with the Seacrest Wolf Ambassadors as they learn important scientific information about this amazing keystone species.They offer several different types of educational tours by reservation only. Seacrest Wolf Preserve is working hard to equip the public with knowledge to become better advocates through their educational programs. The goal is to raise the awareness of the visitors of the urgent needs of wolf conservation that have become extremely immediate. Founded by Cynthia and Wayne Watkins in 1999, Seacrest Wolf Preserve, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to wolf and wildlife conservation. What began as a small rescue effort has now grown to a large preserve focused on education, which is home to 30 wolves (Gray Wolves, Arctic-Type Wolves, and British Columbian Wolves) and a variety of small native species, including a coyote, foxes, raccoons, skunks and foxes. At Seacrest, they teach people about wolves, create awareness of the importance of wolves to their ecosystems and dispel the myths that have been associated with this keystone species for far too long. This wonderful preserve uses science-based educational tours in order to help aid in conservation efforts and bring a better awareness and understanding of wolves.

If ever you’ve wanted to get nose-to-nose with a wolf and have the photo documentation to prove it, then head on over to Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Florida.

Feb 18th~Panama City Publishing Co. Museum reopening

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Panama City Publishing Company Museum has been closed for floor repairs since November. The original floors were damaged beyond repair after getting wet during Hurricane Michael. Now that those repairs are nearly finished, the public is invited to attend the museum’s grand re-opening. Plan to join them at 4pm, Tuesday, Feb. 18 to celebrate the reopening of this historic treasure. Located at 1134 Beck Avenue in Panama City, you can call them at 850-872-7208.

George Mortimer West is credited as the founding father of Panama City, developing it into an economically viable city and port on the shores of St. Andrews Bay. He built the Panama City Publishing Company building in 1920, in the heart of historic St. Andrews. The building served as the home of Panama City’s first newspapers, including the St. Andrews Buoy, the Panama City Pilot, the St. Andrews Bay News and Lynn Haven Free Press. West died in 1926, and his wife, “Miss Lillian,” continued to run the business. She was an outspoken and sharp businesswoman, and one of the first women registered to vote in Bay County. Miss Lillian sold the St. Andrews Bay News to John Perry, owner of the Panama City Herald in 1937, and he merged the two papers into the current Panama City News Herald. In addition to photos, newspapers, and documents, produced by Mr. West, the building houses more than 70 major historical items, including original printing presses and office furnishings, which were still in use by Mr. West’s great-great grandson Charles (Buddy) West, who operated the business until the City of Panama City purchased the building in October 2005, restored it, and opened it as a museum in 2008.

Salinas Park

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

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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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

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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

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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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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.