story by
Liesel Schmidt
G
OING
E
CO
E
cotourism. It’s a growing trend that Wikipedia
would ultimately defi ne as “a form of tourism
involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively
undisturbed natural areas, intended as a
low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard
commercial mass tourism.” At its heart, ecotourism is intended
to provide an educational experience at the same time as it
works to provide much needed funding for the conservation of
the environment, to benefi t local economies, and to promote
cultural respect.
In areas like Destin where fi rst impressions could easily give
rise to the assumption that the most cultural enrichment one
might experience would be to fi sh from a chartered boat or
spend a day shopping amidst the locals, the term ecotourism
would probably not be one expected to be bandied about.
Amazingly enough, Destin and its feeder communities
throughout South Walton afford many an adventure in
ecotourism, with Coastal Dune Lakes scattered along 30A
that are quite the rare—and endangered—treasure. Notably
found in places like Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and
in a very few places in the U.S.—Oregon and Florida—these
bodies of water consist of a combination of fresh and sea water
coming from tributaries, ground water seepage, rainfall, and
storm surges that have all pooled together and are stained by
tannins from a tea-like steeping of pine straw, leaves, and other
organic materials. Whether biking along the paths that border
these rare fi nds or watching the sunrise from a paddleboard
or kayak fl oating in their waters, one would be hard pressed to
fi nd a more memorable way to spend a vacation to the beaches
of Northwest Florida.
For someone who craves a little more diversity, Turkey
Creek Park in Niceville offers family-friendly activities that
get everyone out in nature and away from the “plugged-in”
and over-stimulated modern world with swimming holes
perfect for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing; nature paths for
walking; scenic trails for bird watching; and various other
areas for picnicking, playing, and just being out in the great
outdoors.
So, too, does Henderson Beach State Park in Destin,
where a nature preserve and a network of trails provide the
perfect escape for visitors to see a different side of Destin. Take
a weekend to swim, picnic, wander the trails by bike or on foot,
fi sh, camp, go
geo-caching,
or observe the
local wildlife in
all its glory.
Just a hop,
skip, and a
jump away,
Mattie Kelly
Park and
Nature Walk
ADVENTURE
80 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
photo
pr
ovided
by
Emerald Coast Convention & V
isitors Bur
eau
photo provided by
FloridaStateParks.org
80-81 AdventureOut - Going Eco.indd 1
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