From coastal Gulf waters and pristine beaches to freshwater marshes, lush inland forests, parks crisscrossed by trails and gardens draped in live oaks, Northwest Florida’s visual beauty is matched only by its abundant outdoor adventures.
Following are five choices for group outings in Florida’s picturesque Panhandle.
Trail Mix
Like most state capitals, Tallahassee has its share of imposing government buildings and historic structures. Yet steps away are biking, hiking, running, paddling and equestrian trails, nearly 600 miles of nearby trails in all, now grouped under the moniker “Trailahassee” and featured on its own website, www.trailahassee.com. Showcasing such locations as Apalachee Regional Park, Cadillac Mountain Bike Trails and the Leon Sinks Geological Area, the new site not only chronicles individual experiences through blogs and social media but also includes interactive maps, GPS functions and information on outfitters and associations.
“The website really resulted from the need to put together an interactive site that would serve as a personal guide to all the activities,” says Gary Stogner, senior marketing manager for Visit Tallahassee. “It was built from a user’s perspective.”
Stogner also notes that in Florida’s capital city, the great outdoors is right outside the door.
“To do some comparable activities elsewhere, you’d have to be in a remote area,” he says. “But here, everything is so close to town you can stay at a nice hotel and dine at five-star restaurants and still go out and trek into nature. Many people look at Tallahassee in terms of college football and the legislative session, but we’re seeing growth in people seeking our outdoor activities as well as our history and culture,” he adds. “Strong outdoor enthusiasts are telling us we not only have the quality but the quantity.”PageBreak
Ahoy, Meetings
Sword fights, storytelling, singing, dancing, treasure hunts and general hijinks. It’s just another day at sea for the crew of the Buccaneer, a 100-foot replica pirate ship sailing on two-hour interactive cruises from Destin Harbor to Choctawhatchee Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. Groups can join an evening Scurvy Dogs’ Club cruise or opt for a private charter of up to 149. Either way, all crew members are decked out in pirate attire and attitude while a full galley features light fare and, what else, rum drinks, though planners are free to cater full meals, says Michelle Neubauer, events and reservations coordinator.
“We’re also looking into creating some team-building activities,” she says.
Eco Explorations
Many of Northwest Florida’s loveliest topographical features—brilliant emerald waters, towering white sand dunes, long-leaf pine flatwoods, biologically diverse wetlands and rare freshwater coastal dune lakes—converge at Topsail Hill State Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, where groups can hike nature trails, paddle inland waterways or take a tram to the beach.
“We can always set up an interpretive program offering an overview of the park and introduce groups to the ecosystems of Florida, touching on the wildlife, the natural communities and the cultural and historical resources of the park,” says Jason Cutshaw, park manager. “We can tailor it to what their expectations are.”
Groups can even stay and meet at Topsail. The park offers 32 one- and two-bedroom cabins with full living rooms and kitchens. Groups who stay also get first dibs on a clubhouse that can accommodate up to 50 and offers audiovisual and a kitchen.PageBreak
Up and at ’Em
Whether your group is brave, or faint, of heart, the great outdoors beckon at the Baytowne Adventure Zone, offering corporate team challenges that range from ropes courses and a 40-foot rock wall to more sedate golf events featuring lakeside chip shots and floating greens.
“Whatever the person’s physical nature is, we can accommodate it,” says owner Russ Scott. “We’ll do what the client wants, but generally speaking, we pick the teams. We mix it up. So you might be paired with someone from accounting that you’ve never worked with before.”
Adventure Zone is set within the Village at Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, but you don’t have to be a resort guest to join the fun. “We want everyone to get out and enjoy our scenery,” Scott says.
Down Below
Fresh air and sunshine may be plentiful in Northwest Florida, but they aren’t a prerequisite of every outdoor activity here. Just below the waves is a dramatic seascape of shipwrecks, many intentionally sunk to become artificial reefs but still retaining their commanding military presence, as groups will discover along the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, a series of 12 wrecks located offshore from Pensacola, Destin, Panama City and Port St. Joe.
Group members will need their dive certification to explore most of the sites, though some wrecks are located in water shallow enough for snorkeling excursions, including the Vamar, a steamer whose claim to fame was carrying Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s American expedition to Antarctica in 1928; and the Spanish-American War-era battleship, USS Massachusetts, which was towed to Pensacola in 1921. Deeper sites include the USS Strength, a World War II minesweeper that survived a submarine attack; and the USS Oriskany, a former aircraft carrier now touted as the largest artificial reef in existence.
“If there are certified divers in the group, this would be totally unique and off-the-wall for them,” says Della Scott-Ireton, director of the northwest region, Florida Public Archaeology Network, one of the entities that helped develop the trail. “There are local dive shops all along the trail between Pensacola and Port St. Joe, and they can set groups up with equipment.”
The same goes for snorkelers viewing underwater sea life through crystal-clear waters at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, or for those who try crabbing in warm shallow waters at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola.
