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

7/25/18   3:55 PM