Florida Panhandle Travel Guide

Blackwater River State Forest

Set in the northwest corner of the Florida Panhandle, the Blackwater River State Forest is named for the Blackwater River that runs through the forest. Blackwater River State Forest offers the outdoor enthusiast several opportunities to explore, with miles of hiking trails as well as numerous species of vegetation and wildlife. Some of the plants that you will encounter in the forest are the carnivorous bladderworts and butterworts as well as 4 different types of pitcher plants. The Blackwater forest is part of the Florida Scenic Trails, with paths ranging anywhere from an easy hike to a more demanding climb. It is also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail with everything from Snail Kites to Mangrove Cuckoos, Crested Caracara and more can be found within the forest. There are also several campgrounds available for you to use as a home base while exploring the forest during your getaway.

Blackwater River State Forest
11650 Munson Hwy.
Milton, Florida 32570
(850) 957-6140
fl-dof.com/state_forests/blackwater_river.html

St. George Island State Park

With over 1900 acres of unspoiled land and 9 miles of beaches, St. George Island State Park is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. Set in the Gulf of Mexico just across the Apalachicola Bay, the state park is filled with migrating birds as well as marshlands and white sandy shores. St. George Island State Park also features several campgrounds, including the Pine Forest campsite which is easily accessible and for those who prefer a more remote campsite, the Gap Point campsite requires you to hike about 2.5 miles to reach the campground. The parks beaches are very popular for swimming as well as other water sports with their clear blue waters.

St. George Island State Park
1900 E. Gulf Beach Dr.
St. George Island, Florida 32328
(850) 927-2111
funandsun.com/parks/StGeorgeIsland/stgeorgeisland.html

Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park

With over 300 exotic animals and more than 250 different species of plants and trees, the Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park is a great place to learn about nature. Zoo World features animals like kangaroos, giraffes, lions, bears and even has a petting zoo for children. The Botanical Garden includes plants from around the world representing places like the rain forests of South America, the jungles of Africa and plants from Indonesia and China. Set in the middle of a forest of pine trees, the park looks small from the outside but once you step inside the gates you begin to see how much there is to see and learn here. Open each day, the Zoo also features several camps and programs to help kids learn more about the animals and their environment.

Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park
9008 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, Florida 32407
(850) 230-1243
zooworldpcb.net