Category Archives: Recreation

Nature Tourism in the Panhandle – Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) – Pensacola Beach

Posted on February 12, 2016 by John

  All Photos by Molly O’Connor We began our series on Nature Tourism along the ICW at the Alabama state line on Perdido Key and discussed the ICW itself.  This month we will continue in Escambia County with a visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Barrier Islands, Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Florida Panhandle, Hiking, Kayaking, Recreation | Tagged , | Leave a comment

2016 Gulf Coast Agritourism and Ecotourism Business Development Conference

Posted on January 19, 2016 by John

In 2014, five Extension agents involved with http://www.naturallyescarosa.com launched the first Gulf Coast Agritourism & Ecotourism Business Development Conference. Over sixty business owners and members of the hospitality industry met to discuss marketing, sustainable tourism, and how to handle insurance … Continue reading →

Posted in Agritourism, Ecotourism, Events, Florida Panhandle, Hiking, Kayaking, Recreation, Upcoming Events | Leave a comment

Springs of the Western Panhandle

Posted on November 20, 2015 by John

The Panhandle Outdoors LIVE team, with Extension Agents from eight counties, hosted an outdoor field day on August 26, 2015. Twenty-three participants from over eight counties in Florida attended the event and traveled to three local springs: Vortex, Ponce de … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Florida Panhandle, Recreation, Watershed | Leave a comment

Panhandle Outdoors LIVE! Hikes the Aucilla Sinks Trail

Posted on November 6, 2015 by John

Hernando de Soto and his party crossed the Aucilla River sometime in October of 1539 and celebrated Christmas in what is now Tallahassee. Many things in Florida have changed since de Soto passed this way, but when the 2015 Panhandle … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Florida Panhandle, Hiking, Recreation, Sinkholes | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

National Estuaries Week! – Ecotourism

Posted on September 21, 2015 by John

A couple of years a few agencies in south Alabama put together something they called the Alabama Birding Trail. It was a relatively simple idea really – they developed a brochure that marked different locations where visitors could enjoy birding … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Estuaries, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Kayaking, Recreation, Sustainable Living, Wildlife | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Things are Getting Hot on the Island… Discovering the Florida Panhandle – Barrier Islands – July

Posted on July 17, 2015 by John

The air temperatures are in the high ‘90’s and the heat indices are reaching over 100°F; heck the inland water temperatures are in the high ‘80’s – it’s just hot out there! But our barrier island wildlife friends are doing … Continue reading →

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Shark Safety Tips

Posted on June 20, 2015 by John

Shark Safety Tips UF/IFAS Extension – Florida Sea Grant By L. Scott Jackson (Bay County) and Rick O’Connor (Escambia County) Recently, two teens were victims of unusual shark attacks in North Carolina. The two attacks occurred within minutes and miles … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Safety, Ecotourism, Recreation, Sea Life, Urban Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cnidarians: Stinging Nettles of the Animal Kind

Posted on May 29, 2015 by John

“Ouch, something just stung me.” This is a common phrase to hear someone say (I’ve heard myself say it) while enjoying the otherwise soothing waters along our beautiful Gulf Coast. We host an amazing variety of marine organisms that possess … Continue reading →

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“And then it began to rain”… the April edition of Discovering the Panhandle

Posted on April 17, 2015 by John

As we left the winter months and headed into spring I was expecting a lot of new blooms, new animal tracks, and more live encounters with wildlife… and then the rain began.  I do not know if the entire panhandle … Continue reading →

Posted in Curiosities, Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Hiking, Kayaking, Plants, Recreation, Wildlife | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Alligators Become More Active in the Spring

Posted on April 10, 2015 by John

The American Alligator is an icon in the state of Florida. Viewed on the program “Swamp People” and as the mascot of the University of Florida, most visitors to our state view this animal more on television than in the wild; but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Hiking, Kayaking, Recreation, Swamps, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife | Tagged | Leave a comment