Navarre Nature Walk Park celebrates an expanded children’s area with swings, new equipment and a splash pad for hot summer days. Located near the Navarre Beach Bridge along the Santa Rosa Sound, the park features a brick path that runs along the shore, a spring-fed fish pond, playground, picnic areas and a butterfly house. Many species of birds, such as geese, ducks and heron can be spotted on the walk, along with turtles, squirrels and indigenous wildlife.

Bayfront Parkway near 9th Avenue – The Veterans Memorial Park includes The Wall South, the nation’s first full-name replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. FREE Website >

850-450-5598

Navarre Beach State Park has one of Florida’s most prized assets, pristine white, sugar sand beaches, a fishing pier and a scenic shoreline bordering the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. When you combine these quality natural resources with a wonderful park layout, they provide some of the highest quality resource based recreational opportunities in NW Florida. Website >

America’s second oldest marine park (1955), it hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Peruvian penguins, Ridley turtles and more in 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Dolphin stars Princess and Delilah delight with feats from comedic soccer games to 18-foot (540cm) leaps. Website >

(850) 243-9046

Gulf Islands National Seashore is rich in natural and cultural resources. There are sparkling blue waters, magnificent snowy white beaches, and fertile coastal marshes. In the national seashore there are 19th century forts, shaded picnic areas, winding nature trails, and comfortable campgrounds. Diverse and abounding with wildlife, the park is not a single block of land — it is a mosaic. It includes 11 separate units stretching eastward 150 miles from West Ship Island, Mississippi, to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island, Florida. Website >

(850) 934-2600

Sandy beaches and salt marshes that are important habitat for birds and animals. An observation tower gives viewers a bird’s-eye view of great blue herons, cardinals and brown thrashers alike. Year-round camping is available, along with swimming, fishing, boating and nature study. Series of pops summer concerts scheduled. Website >