BACK ON TOUR

The 7th Annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County will once again showcase the area’s diversity with more than 40 events and venues featured in late September and throughout the month of October.

The tour is presented by the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council.

Events and venues touch all corners of Santa Rosa County from Navarre Beach to historic Milton, Munson, Chumuckla, Jay, Gulf Breeze and Navarre.

“I think we all are ready to exhale, relax and get outdoors by the time October rolls around,” said tour coordinator Karen Harrell. “This year we are especially grateful for all that we have in Santa Rosa County. Most of the events are free or low cost, educational, family-friendly and are tied to a charity. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy a day trip or a weekend visit.”

Tour family favorites such as the Jay Peanut Festival (Oct. 2-3), Coastal Encounters (Oct. 2), Munson Heritage Festival (Oct. 9), Monarch Butterfly Festival (Oct. 8-9), Depot Days Celebration (Oct. 9);  St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival and 5k (Oct. 8-10) in Milton; Covenant Hospice’s Blue Jeans & BBQ Festival and Bull Riding (Oct. 23) at Hayes Ranch; Ghosts of Milton Walking Tour (Oct. 22-23) and Downtown Milton Haunted House (Oct. 22-23 and 29-30) return.

Also, a big hit on the 2009 tour was the Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze which returns for a second year (Sept. 25-Oct. 31). The Navarre Area Board of Realtor’s will present its 10th Annual Car, Bike and Truck Show (Oct. 16) at Navarre High School.

Returning  after a year’s absence is the Bagdad Front Porch Stroll (Oct. 16), the Gulf Breeze “Zoo Boo” (Oct. 22-23 and 29-31) and the Holland Farms Tour (All Month) which offers hay rides, pumpkin patch and a chance to experience a working farm.

Arts and culture are represented with the return of the Holley Hill Pottery Gallery/Studio Open House over two weekends (Oct. 2 and 16); local artist and fine wines will be on display at A Splash of Spirit (Oct. 2) at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Navarre; an original musical history storytelling event “Moonshine Creek, Family Reunion” (Oct. 1-2) and the 9th Annual Santa Rosa Art Association’s “Art Affair” (Oct. 2) at the Bagdad Recreation Center.

WEAR TV3 news anchor will be the guest speaker at “Making Room in the Inn” (Oct. 9) a fundraiser for the homeless at Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton.

New this year is the historic lecture series “Secrets of Santa Rosa Archeology & History in Your Own Backyard” staged weekends Arcadia Mill Archeology (Oct. 2-23). Others include a Fall Foliage Zip Line Tour available all month at Adventures Unlimited; the Chumuckla Classic Country Music Festival (Sept. 30-Ocr. 2) at the Farmer’s Opry House; Garden and Environmental Home Expo (Oct. 2) at Navarre Conference Center; Hayes Ranch Open House and Farm Tour (Oct. 16); The Santa Rosa Horse Council Weekend of Trail Riding, Camping and Concerts (Oct. 22-24) at Coldwater Creek Recreation Center; Golf Santa Rosa County with golfing specials available at four area courses.

Recreational athletes have a chance to challenge their fitness and enjoy some of the area’s most beautiful vistas: The Riverwalk 5K (Oct. 2) takes runners through historic Bagdad, the Blackwater River State Trail and the Milton Riverwalk; the Run for the Reef 5K and 1-Mile Kid Fun Run (Oct. 16) parallels the Gulf of Mexico at Navarre Beach finishing at the new Navarre Beach Fishing Pier and the Mediacom Garcon Point Bridge Run for Education (Oct. 23) takes runners across the Garcon Point Bridge and Pensacola Bay.  Cyclists test their endurance at the 12th annual Fenner McConnell/Matt Wantz Blackwater Heritage Memorial Ride (Oct. 16) with distances up to 100 miles through the Blackwater River State Forest. At Navarre Beach, the Ghost Chase Triathlon and Duathlon (Oct. 24) returns for a second year and the Juana’s Pagodas Annual Beach Volleyball Tournament and Chili Cookoff (Oct. 9) is a tasty and fun competitive day.

Tickle your taste buds at the 2nd Annual Taste of Navarre (Oct. 23) sponsored by the Navarre Chamber of Commerce or grab your camera and dress up your favorite pet at the 7th Annual Pet Nation’s Halloween Pet Contest (Oct. 16) in Navarre.

Santa Rosa Country stretches from the Gulf of Mexico at Navarre Beach north to historic Milton and the small community of Jay near the Alabama border. Fall temperatures drop into the low 80s and 70s for daytime highs and 50s and 60s in the evening. Vacation rentals at Navarre Beach start at $100 per night. Also popular are the wooded cabins with fireplaces and campsites available at Adventures Unlimited. Camping also is available at area RV parks and rustic tent sites at select area state parks.

For event details visit www.thebeachestowoodlandstour.com or 800-480-SAND or 850-939-8666. Book your trip at www.floridabeachestorivers.com.