Category: Places

Cascades Trail Skate Park

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It took 8 years of hard work, funding, meetings, planning, and construction to bring the Cascades Trail Skateable Art Park & Coal Chute Pond to the public. It was a $2.8 million investment that officially opened in June 2022. The park is located at 810 FAMU Way.

At 225-feet long, the park has Florida’s longest snake run. The snake was designed to honor FAMU and features the school’s colors. Additionally, the trail offers a paved walking trail around the pond, lighting, shaded seating, water fountains, interactive musical instruments, and cell phone charging stations.

Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center

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The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (NBSTCC) is “Giving sea turtles more tomorrows through conservation, education, and research.” A nonprofit organization founded in 2013, the NBSTCC is a working conservation and education center. They currently welcome walk-in guests at a reduced capacity Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. Please note that, due to the reduced capacity, there may be a waitlist; check their Facebook page here for current information.

NBSTCC is a predominately volunteer-run organization that operates in a 2,010-square-foot conservation and education center. Learn more about volunteering with the organization HERE. Alongside walk-in visits and scheduled private tours, NBSTCC also offers paid experiences: Painting Tortoise Tracks, Honorary Animal Care Team Member, Shark School, and Shark Tooth Treasure Hunt. Visit the NBSTCC website here for more information on experiences, the organization, and turtle conservation. 

1st Annual Altha Independence Day Festival Car Show

Debbie Roney Smith on

The 1st Annual Altha Independence Day Festival Car Show is happening this Saturday, June 2nd from 1 – 4 pm! It will be hosted at 15727 NW Bodiford Road in Altha. If you would like to partake in the event with your own vehicle, the fee is $20 via Cashapp (CarsAndCoffeeKings), Venmo (CarsAndCoffeeKings), or Paypal (CarsAndCoffeeKings@gmail.com) for pre-registration. Registration on the day of the event is still $20 but must be paid in cash. The Top 25 vehicles will receive rewards. Day-of registration and check-in are from 1 – 2:30 pm, judging will occur 2:30 – 3:30 pm, and the awards will be announced around 4 pm.

BINGO in Calhoun County

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The Calhoun County Senior Center is once again hosting BINGO nights! Every Thursday night from 5 – 8 PM, there will be BINGO, quarter games, and concessions. Participants must be at least 18 years old to play. The Senior Center will be hosting these events and is a nonsmoking venue. Proceeds from BINGO nights go towards the Calhoun County Senior Citizens. Come out for a night of fun, food, and fundraising!

Fernandina Beach Pride

Debbie Roney Smith on

After a two-year hiatus due to Coronavirus, Fernandina Beach will be hosting its second annual Pride Parade and Festival. The event will be held on June 11th from 10 am – 6 pm. Fernandina Beach Pride will kick off with the parade before hosting a plethora of other fun activities. There will be live music, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and more! Come down to Central Park, Fernandina for a fantastic day celebrating the local and surrounding LGBTQ+ community!

Learn more by visiting the official event website HERE.

Big River Honey

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Big River Honey is a harvesting and processing company that specializes in Tupelo honey. Tupelo honey is “extracted from [the] beehives which have been floated to the dense tupelo groves on barges and by spinning honeycomb in stainless steel centrifuge extractors.” Big River Honey The raw honey produced is left unheated and unfiltered and contains some bee pollen and beeswax. This means the honey not only contains all its original nutrients but also carries a “distinctively rich taste”Big River Honey that is highly favored. Big River Honey sells Tupelo honey and skincare; visit their official website HERE to place an order online or learn more about the company and its products.

Exciting news for Jackson County – Big River Honey is coming to Endeavor Property! Unfortunately, the building the company intends to rent needs some work done on the roof before they can officially move in and open. Officials are hopeful that the opening of Big River Honey will help the growth of the property. 

Four Farm Flower Tour

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This Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm, four flower farms in the general vicinity of Bay, Washington, and Holmes Counties will be hosting a one-day special tour. The four farms include Black Barns Blossoms, Fussell’s Daylily Farm, No Place Like Holmes Farm, and Southern Grace Lavender Farm. They all provide fresh, locally grown plants and/or flowers, and some of them will have other wares available during the Four Farm Flower Tour. The tour is free to attend and is entirely customizable to your interests and time. You will be given a map of all participating locations at your first stop of the day; you may begin at any of the four farms and spend as much time as you wish at each location.

Black Barn Blossoms: Food Trucks, Seating Areas, Restroom, Guided Garden Tours, Fresh Bouquets, Cut Flower Bar, You-Pick Flower Garden, Gift Shop

Fussell’s Daylily Farm: Daylily Plants, Refreshments, Restroom, Seating Areas Throughout Garden

No Place Like Holmes Farm: Kids Activities and Play Area, Cattle Train, Mining Sluice, You Pick Flower Field, Gift Shop, Picnic Area, Restroom

Southern Grace Lavender Farm: Lavender Plants, All Natural Lavender Products, Gift Shop, Seating & Picnic Areas, Restroom, Hand Wash Station, Dog Park

Learn more by visiting the event website HERE or the Facebook event page HERE. 

Fussell’s Daylily Farm

Debbie Roney Smith on

Fussell’s Daylily Farm is just a few days away from the height of bloom. The best dates to visit the farm will be May 20-21st from 8 am – 3 pm OR May 22nd from 1 pm – 3 pm. Along with various daylilies, there will be zinnias, gladiolus, blackberries, sunflowers, and many other plants to enjoy. Additionally, there will be seating, shade, refreshments, and door prizes. Groups are welcome; if you would like to have a personal tour please call ahead (850) 638 – 7657. Learn more about the farm by visiting their Facebook page here. 

CalCo Crape Myrtle Project

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The CalCo Crape Myrtle Project is working to enhance the beauty of Calhoun County by highlighting the premier flowering plant of the South throughout the communities. The idea began with the 2019 founding of the Calhoun County Community Foundation. Their first act was to plan and execute the planting of flowering crape myrtles on Mainstreet in Altha which is where the project got its name. The project’s completion is possible thanks to the application of a community grant and aims to be completed by the end of 2022. The CalCo Crape Myrtle Project is the perfect green space beautification initiative for all of our communities. The project hopes to expand into Kinard, Clarksville, and Blountstown in the following years. Visit the CalCo Crape Myrtle website here to learn more and stay up-to-date on the project’s progress. 

Chipley History

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The city of Chipley, Florida is one of the highlights of Washington County. Chipley became the county seat of Washington County in 1927 and is involved in the majority of the economic development for the region. 

Originally called the community of Orange, Chipley was renamed in 1822 in recognition of railroad businessman and Florida State Senator William Dudley Chipley. This was the same year the Pensacola & Atlantic (later the L&N) Railroad was completed just beyond the town. Additionally, a monument of W.D. Chipley was put up in 1988 next to the Washington County Historical Society Museum. The museum currently offers a walking tour of the historic downtown.