Next weeked (October 24 & 25) Destin will show off her artistic side with the 14th annual Destin Festival of the Arts at Henderson Beach State Park. Over 100 fine artists from all over the country will display and sell their original artworks. Festival hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3.

With the weather this cool and inviting, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy a festival, a picnic, a hike in the woods or a long walk on the beach. Fall weather always makes me want to go into the kitchen and bake things like pumpkin bread. Actually a pot of chili sounds good.

I’m going to need that long walk.

Hubby and I took the kayak out last weekend. It was a gorgeous day on the bayou and the polished glass of the water’s surface reflected the brilliant Northwest Florida sun. I’m not really a kayaker, which is why we have a two seater, so that the human engine that sits behind me can power-paddle me where I need to go when my puny muscles give out. It’s also why we have a very wide and stable kayak. I’m not into rolling over.

We launched at Cessna Landing in Hogtown Bayou, on the Choctawhatchee Bay, paddled west past the sailboats anchored in the channel and headed across the open water toward Hewitt Bayou. We like to paddle back into the bayous, traveling as far as we can until the finger of water narrows to where we have just enough room to turn around. It’s peaceful here. We occasionally disturb an osprey or a kingfisher, and we apologize to them as we paddle past as quietly as we can.

That’s one of the most magnificent things about THE Beach to my mind; the variety of unspoiled nature that lends itself to kayaking. The bays, bayous, creeks and rivers all offer a chance to paddle into unknown waters, to romanticize about the explorers who came before us and to see the area as they might have seen it.

We’ve seen things we would never have seen from the comfort of a car. We’ve seen eagles in flight, but to me the most exciting experience is when we get in the middle of a pod of dolphins. They come so close to the kayak, totally uncaring that we’re spellbound by their beauty and speed. It’s then that I have a tough time keeping hubby in the boat, he wants so desperately to jump in and swim with them, but he knows they would leave him behind in a New York minute, even though he’s a strong swimmer.

Kayaks and canoes are easy and inexpensive to rent if you don’t own your own, and provide hours of incredible pleasure and nature education. I highly recommend a kayak adventure this weekend, but make sure you have plenty of fuel for your engine. I feed mine fruit and sandwiches.

2. Panhandle Butterfly House-Spread your wings and head to Navarre for a rare glimpse of local butterflies. The Florida State Butterfly, the Zebra Longwing, is here, along with the Monarch, and beautiful orange Julia. Your little ones will surely be fascinated by the fluttering creatures, and will learn a great deal about their life cycle, also. Admission is free! 

3. Historic Milton-Trade in the bathing suits for a fun-filled day in historic Milton. The Downtown Historical District will transport you right back to the town’s humble beginnings as a trading post in 1825. With the Imogene Theatre, L & N Train Museum, and the Blackwater Heritage Trail, Milton will keep you very busy!

4. Zoo-Northwest Florida- Take a walk on the wildside with the 1,200 animals at this zoo in Gulf Breeze. Lemurs, giraffes, Komodo dragons, kangaroos and bears are just some of the wild creatures you’ll find here. At just $8.25 for children, and $11.50 for adults, this is one attraction you can’t afford to miss!

5. Blackwater River State Forest-As one of the largest state forests in Florida, the Blackwater River State Forest is best known for its longleaf pine/wiregrass eco-system. This system once covered more than 60 million acres, and is still the largest in the world. The forest is home to many hiking and biking trails, campsites and even equestrian trails.

2. Scalloping in St. Joseph’s Bay-Try out your best hunter-gatherer skills! From July 1- September 10, give scalloping a try by wading into the calm, shallow waters of St. Joseph’s Bay. Frank Pate Park in Port St. Joe is a great place to begin your hunt for these sweet and succulent treats. Remember that you must have a fishing license (available at bait and tackle shops), and not to harvest more than two gallons unshucked per person.

3. Constitution Convention Museum State Park- This 13-acre park marks the spot where Florida’s first State Constitution Convention was held. The document was first drafted in Port St. Joe in 1838, and you are invited to share in the history! Admission is $1 per person.

4. Tupelo Honey in Wewahitchka-This charming town may look familiar, as it was the setting for “Ulee’s Gold.” Learn about the unique method used to make this premium honey, which involves bee boxes being placed in the swamps of the Apalachicola River.

5. St. Joseph’s Peninsula State Park- As one of Florida’s most diverse and breath-taking state parks, St. Joseph’s Peninsula has something for everyone. Camp sites are perfect for a family vacation,  where you can explore nature trails, splash in the Gulf of Mexico, or try to catch a glimpse of one of the 240 species of birds that call the park their home. Admission is $4 per vehicle.

2. National Estuarine Research Reserve-Located in Apalachicola, this is one of 25 sites in the nation with such designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve. At the Visitor Information Center, learn about the 186 species of fish, diverse marine habitats and the ways to protect them for generations to come. You can also see live examples of the local marine life!

3. Orman House State Park-Journey back to the ways of life in 1838 in historic Apalachicola. Thomas Orman’s beautiful antebellum home overlooks the Apalachicola River. Orman was a business man who helped his tiny town become one of the Gulf Coast’s most important cotton ports in the 19th century. House tours are 9-5, Monday through Thursday. Admission is $2 per person.

4. St. George Island State Park- If camping, kayaking, fishing or birdwatching sound like your idea of fun, plan a trip to this pristine park on St. George Island. With miles of undeveloped beach and crystal clear water at your fingertips, you’ll be experiencing the Old Florida way of life. Admission is $5 per vehicle.

5. Crooked River Lighthouse- This 103-foot tall iron and steel lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and is still considered a beacon of light for the folks of Carrabelle (it was at one time decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard). The museum is open from 12pm-5pm Thursday through Sunday, and you can climb the lighthouse on Saturdays from 1-4. Admission is $5.

2.        Eden State Gardens in Point Washington- This beautiful turn-of-the-century mansion is surrounded by azaleas, camellias and Spanish moss-covered live oaks. Guided tours of the Wesley Mansion are offered Thursday through Monday. $3 vehicle entry fee and $3 per person fee to tour the Wesley Mansion apply.

3.       Jolee Island-Kids are encouraged to explore the pirate ship-shaped playground in this rustic five-acre nature park, while parents meander through the nature trails. Located at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

4.       Timpoochee Trail- Hop on your bike and set out on this 18-mile paved path. The trail winds through nine of the area’s 15 distinctive beach communities, state parks and coastal dune lakes. A real treat for the nature-lover!

5.       Outdoor Concerts and Performances-From “Moonlight and Movies” in Rosemary Beach and “Friday Night Flicks” in Sandestin to a theatrical performance by the Seaside Repertory Theatre under the stars in Seaside, it’s easy to find free and inexpensive entertainment on warm summer nights in the Beaches of South Walton.

Go Birding and look for shorebirds and bald eagles at Bald Point State Park in Franklin County
Ride like the wind and go Horseback riding on the beach at Cape San Blas in Gulf County
Get shipwrecked at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum on Panama City Beach in Bay County
Shop and then drop for lunch at Silver Sands, the country’s largest designer outlet mall, in Walton County
Learn why Destin is called the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village at the Destin History and Fishing Museum in Okaloosa County
Talk to the animals at The Zoo, Northwest Florida, a 50-acre animal park between Navarre and Gulf Breeze in Santa Rosa County
Find high flying fun at the National Naval Aviation Museum & IMAX Theatre, Pensacola Naval Air Station in Escambia County