Vacations

Holmes County Fair opens

BONIFAY, FL – The annual Holmes County Fair and Livestock Show is underway through Sept. 26 at the Holmes County Fairgrounds on Sandpath Road. The grand opening is tonight at 7:30 p.m. and the midway is lit up again. Gates open at 5 p.m. The... Full story

Blackwater Heritage Trail Bike Festival

MILTON, FL - Blackwater Heritage Trail Bike Festival is Oct. 10 at the Blackwater Heritage Trail Visitor's Center at 5533 Alabama St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bicycle enthusiasts from around the region and as far away as Louisiana showcase different... Full story

Beach Wheelchairs Available on the Beaches of South Walton

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL - The South Walton Fire District, in partnership with the Walton County Tourist Development Council, has developed a program that provides three beach wheelchairs, strategically located along the Beaches of South Walton, to... Full story

Navarre gulf access gets early pass

Dusty Ricketts, Florida Freedom Newspapers

NAVARRE BEACH, FL - The committee working to reopen the long-closed Navarre Pass has new life after Santa Rosa County commissioners amended a plan that would have stalled the project. Commissioners voted last week to approve an amended version... Full story

Opal Beach Park officially open

Dusty Ricketts, Florida Freedom Newspapers

NAVARRE BEACH, FL — Opal Beach Park and State Road 399 on Santa Rosa Island are now both completely open.     Major construction at Opal Beach Park ended last week and the entire park has been reopened to visitors. Portions of... Full story

Navarre luxury condo exceeds expectations

Liesel Schmidt, Special to Florida Freedom Newspapers

NAVARRE, FL - Navarre Beach has long enjoyed the presence of condominiums. But while the strip of sandy white beach across Santa Rosa Sound might be peppered with pastel houses, hotels, and condo communities, the mainland has yet to become the life... Full story

Hilton plans approved for Okaloosa Island

Dusty Ricketts, Florida Freedom Newspapers

FORT WALTON BEACH - Don't expect Paris and Nicky to become regulars of the Gulf Coast, but plans have been approved for a four-star Hilton resort on Okaloosa Island. Okaloosa County Commissioners on Tuesday evening unanimously approved plans for... Full story

Landmark Center could include hotel

Dusty Ricketts, Florida Freedom Newspapers

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL — The developers of the largest project in the downtown area are in negotiations with a hotel group to anchor the estimated $24 million venture. From the beginning, Landmark Center at the intersection of Perry Avenue and... Full story

MTV brings big names, numbers to beach

Jon Miltimore, Florida Freedom Newspapers

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL - Panama City Beach was a Spring Break haven long before the concept of a music video existed, but having MTV filming the escapades of college students doesn't hurt the attraction.     MTV executives said they... Full story

Spring break calm, but underage drinking citations rise

Robbyn Brooks, Florida Freedom Newspapers

DESTIN, FL - With spring break only halfway over, the number of underage drinkers cited by sheriff's deputies is already equal to last year's total. According to statistics from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, in 2007 deputies cited 141... Full story

On beaches, it's time for rites of spring break

Kimberly White, Florida Freedom Newspapers

OKALOOSA ISLAND, FL - With volleyball nets up, suntan lotion out, surfboards waxed and swarms of seagulls swirling overhead, spring break has descended on the Emerald Coast. But with the market as unstable as it has been, it's anyone's guess how... Full story

Deer Lake State Park

Deer Lake State Park is home to Deer Lake - an extremely rare coastal dune lake. If being rare was not enough, it is located on County Road 30A - the road that connects some of the country's most famous beach communities. Nature enthusiasts travel... Full story

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park

Whether you enjoy bicycling, hiking or boating, Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park offers a little something for every type of traveler. The park, purchased in 1966 through a lease agreement with the Forest Service, was named after Air Force Col.... Full story

Grayton Beach State Park

Grayton Beach State Park is located in Grayton Beach on County Road 30A - the road that connects some of the country's most famous beach communities. Not only do visitors of this popular state park get a breathtaking view of the beach, but the beach... Full story

Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach State Park is located in beautiful Okaloosa County where the beaches were voted number one in a reader poll conducted by USA Today. This park makes camping on the beach a reality with all the amenities of a campground including an... Full story

Camp Helen State Park

Camp Helen State Park is seated next to Lake Powell - one of the largest coastal dune lakes in Florida. Coastal dune lakes are extremely rare worldwide and are mostly only found along the Gulf of Mexico. The park has unique history that dates back... Full story

St. Andrews State Park

St. Andrews State Park is not just another beach park. This park receives an A+ from water sport enthusiasts for its wide assortment of water recreation activities including snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing. Two fishing... Full story

Perdido Key State Park

Perdido Key State Park provides an unbelievable view of the Gulf of Mexico. The feature that draws millions of people to Perdido Key is none other than the barrier islands that protect the lands and also provide a safe haven for shorebirds and other... Full story

See Archives