Category: Places

Gulf Breeze Zoo Welcomes New Giraffe

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The Gulf Breeze Zoo, located in Navarre, is home to over 900 animals. On July 13th, a giraffe calf joined the family. Born to 14-year-old Kenya, the calf was 6’3 and 160 lbs at birth. 

Did you know that most giraffes are pregnant for 15 months?! They are considered a vulnerable population by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are susceptible to population decline due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and ecological changes. There are only an estimated 4,500 wild giraffes; the birth of a new calf is something to celebrate for such an endangered species. 

The baby has not yet been named.

Visit the Gulf Breeze Zoo website for open hours to visit the new calf!

Mid-South Harbor Farmers Market

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Mid-South Harbor Farmers Market is hosting their monthly Farm, Garden, Craft & Animal Swap next Saturday, September 9th from 8AM – 2PM. This is a FREE event for both vendors and the community. Meet with local vendors and creators supplying fresh produce, baked items, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, and small animals. Interested in being a vendor? Email: youngstown@midsouthlumberco.com or midsouthlumber@knology.net for a vendor application. Visit the event’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date with event announcements and more. 

 

National Beach Day

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Enjoy a Florida summer beach day to celebrate National Beach Day today! National Beach Day was created in 2014 to raise public awareness of the beauty of beaches while also calling attention to keeping them clean and safe. To celebrate yet honor beaches, remember: enjoy the beach, leave nothing behind. See the list below for some suggestions of Pandhandle beaches you could visit:

  • Navarre Beach
  • Henderson Beach State Park
  • Pensacola Beach
  • St. Andrews State Park
  • Seagrove Beach
  • Grayton Beach State Park
  • Okaloosa Island

How Did Two Egg Get its Name?

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Two Egg is a small Florida gem of a town located at the intersection of State Road 69 and State Road 69A. A few local fables are discussing how the town got its name. The most prevalent is that, during the Depression in the 1930s, cash was very hard to come by so locals began to trade farm products for other staples in store. It is believed that two boys used to come in with two eggs from their family farm to trade for sugar. It essentially became a local joke to refer to the store as the “two egg store” and the name stuck.

Cumberland Island Boat Tours

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Amelia River Cruises are doing boat tours of Cumberland Island daily throughout August. You’ll get to see coastal Georgia and Cumberland Island along the coast of Amelia Island. This tour delves into the unique history of both islands as it cruises along the coast. It leaves from historic Fernandina at 2:30pm and gives an oceanfront view of Fort Clinch followed by the ruins of the Carnegie family’s Dungeoness Mansion. Guests might also spot wildlife such as dolphins, osprey, roseate spoonbills, and more. Guests will not be getting off the boat, so come fully prepared; bring your camera, binoculars, shade protection, sunscreen, snacks, and drinks (non-alcoholic). Learn more or book by visiting the Amelia River Cruises website. 

Greenwood is the Place to Be

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Click on the image to visit the listing!

Nestled in a small yet private 0.87 acres, this 1930s home is located in the historic, Antebellum town of Greenwood. The home is within walking distance of the grocery store, a bank, a town park, and the oldest running hardware store in the county. The yard has established flowering trees and is partially fenced; the empty space has endless potential. It would fit everything from a wildflower patch to a water slide to a few fruit trees. The homeowner has updated many of the house’s features including replacing the front porch and installing a new septic system. They have also installed a new HVAC, blown insulation, and replaced the main water line from the street to the house.

Greenwood is a lovely town and a peaceful place to live. It has seven homes and one store that are eligible for the National Registry. The store, Pender Store, is open for business to this day. Many of the homes can be viewed from State Highway 71. Additionally, Greenwood is close to a number of parks such as Torreya State Park, Florida Caverns State Park, and Falling Waters State Park. Visit Greenwood or move here today!

Don’t Miss Beyond Van Gogh

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Beyond Van Gogh is coming to Pensacola this August! From August 5th to September 9th, visit Building 6 at the Pensacola Interstate Fair to immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh. More than 300 of his works will be projected during this limited exhibit; the art will be rendered in more than 4 trillion pixels over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. The exhibit will be truly immersive, spanning the floors and ceilings. The works are not simply rendered copies of the still paintings but living art, bending and moving to capture the life Van Gogh impeded in his works. The exhibit will be accompanied by a modern soundtrack of music and recitations of Van Gogh’s own letters. Learn more by visiting the Beyond Van Gogh website (click here). 

Wildflower Summer Shop-n-Sip

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GypsyWillow is hosting a Wildflower Summer Shop-n-Sip event this Wednesday, July 26th. From 6-8pm, there will be poetry, shopping, flowers, and fun! There will be in-store specials, snacks, drinks, and special guests. Special guests include:

  • Nicky Holta, local intuitive and QHHT Practitioner
  • Britt Matthews Gonzalez, author of “We are All Wildflowers” poetry collection
  • Bohemian Funk, local creatives focusing on the beauty of the natural world

Learn more by visiting the event Facebook page HERE. 

Illuminights at Jacksonville Zoo

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The Jacksonville Zoo is hosting Illuminights once again! From now until August 11th, visit the zoo on Fridays to enjoy the twilight hours with the animals as they wind down to sleep. After dark, the magical lightscapes set the garden paths aglow. The lightscapes are interactive; this year’s special highlight is Starry Night. The show features meteor showers and twinkling stars. There will also be an interactive laser show, acrobatic performances, Glow Party, animal stilt walkers, DJ, and a live band. Please note that all the animal exhibits close at 8 p.m. Visit the Jacksonville Zoo website to learn more by clicking here. 

Naval Aviation Museum is BACK OPEN

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The National Naval Aviation Museum is back open! It closed to the general public in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The Museum is home to more than 4,000 artifacts and over 150 lovingly restored aircrafts. The selection includes aircraft representing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. There are also cockpit trainers, flight simulators, and a large-screen, 4K theater experience. Visit July 25-26, August 1, 16, 22-23, or the 29th to enjoy the Blue Angels. Blue Angels demos include practice flights and an autograph session. Learn more by visiting the NNAM website here.