Places of interest as you travel to the SESAF AnnualConference at the Sandestin Hilton.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is right next door to the Sanddestin Hilton. The parkfeatures pristine beaches, old-growth longleaf pine forests, sand pine scrub and a varietyof wetlands offering a bird watching and hiking paradise. The park has bungalowsavailable for weekly stays. http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill/default.cfm

Yellow River Marsh protects one of Florida’s last remaining tracts of wet prairie includingthe largest community of picture plants in the state.http://www.floridastateparks.org/yellowriver/default.org

In 1828, John Q. Adams designated the Naval Live Oak area of the gulf island as thefirst tree farm in the United States. The park features information on early ship buildingusing the native live oaks and there are several miles of hiking trails through the live oaktrees. http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/naval-live-oaks.htm

The Bass Pro Shop – Destin is just down the road from the Hilton.

What appears to be “bushes” in the dunes are often full-size slash pines and southernmagnolias with only their tops protruding from the drifting sand. Grayton Beach NatureTrail winds among the sand dunes, pine flatwoods and scrub communities.http://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach/default.cfm

Nestled in the Blackwater State Forest, the Blackwater River State Park offersexceptional value in illustrating the natural history of Florida. The area has extensivelongleaf pine forests and Atlantic white cedars line the river. One of the Atlantic whitecedars was recognized as a Florida champion tree.http://www.floridastateparks.org/blackwaterriver/default.cfm

Russell Johnson

The Blackwater River State Forest’s natural stands of longleaf pine are among thebest remaining examples of the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem that once coveredmuch of the southeastern United States. Other natural communities found on the areainclude hardwood swamps, mixed loblolly pine and hardwoods, and pitcher plant bogs.Some of the most beautiful stands of Atlantic white cedar in the state are found along thebanks of the Blackwater River and its tributaries.http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/cooperative/blackwater.asp

This park is known for huge trees and sink holes. Falling Waters Sink is a 100 footdeep, 20 foot wide cylindrical pit into which flows a stream that drops 73 feet to thebottom of the sink.http://www.floridastateparks.org/fallingwaters/default.cfm

Two nature trails wind through a rich diversity of coastal plant communities that offer asplendid opportunity for bird watching. Two fishing piers and a jetty provide amplefishing opportunities. http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm

Located in Destin, Florida, this state park features a close look at the coastal duneecosystem. Sand pines, scrub oaks and dune rosemary comprise many of the plantsoccupying this area. The park features sugar white sand beaches.http://floridastateparks.org/hendersonbeach/default.cfm

Florida’s only park to offer cave tours open to the public. The cave has dazzlingformations of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones and draperies.http://floridastateparks.org/floridacaverns/default.cfm

This park preserves many old growth longleaf pine trees with several over 300 years oldthat once dominated the Florida landscape.http://floridastateparks.org/rockybayou/default.cfm

Deer Lake State Park shares its name with the coastal dune lake within itsboundaries. Coastal dune lakes are extremely rare worldwide and in the UnitedStates they occur only along the Gulf Coast. Southern magnolias, golden asters,woody goldenrod, and scrub oaks can be seen in this coastal dune habitat.

Fred Robinette

Pine Log State Forest is home to a diverse mixture of animal and plant species.Those animals and plants currently listed as or endangered, threatened orspecies of special concern which have been sighted on the forest include:flatwoods salamander, gopher tortoise, southern milkweed, white-top pitcher-plant and Chapman's crownbeard. There are various natural communities foundon the forest. They include sandhills, flatwoods, cypress ponds and titi swamps.Pine Log State Forest has 3 named streams (Pine Log Creek, Little CrookedCreek and Ditch Branch) as well as several small lakes and ponds. http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/pine_log.html

Point Washington State Forest:

The majority of the area consists of sandhill, basin swamps/Titi drains, wetflatwoods, wet prairie and cypress swamps. Although much of Point WashingtonState Forest has been cut over, there are some excellent examples of intactsandhill ecosystems. Point Washington State Forest uses prescribed fire tomanage timber, wildlife and ecological resources. http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/point_washington.html

The Air Force Armament Museum is located near Eglin Air Force Base's maingate and is the only facility in the U.S. dedicated to the display of Air Forcearmament. Visitors can view a variety of historical Air Force planes, from a B-17World War II bomber to an F-4 Phantom II jet. FREE ADMISSIONhttp://www.destin-ation.com/airforcearmamentmuseum/

The National Museum of Naval Aviation: Pensacola, Florida

See over 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and CoastGuard Aviation. Experience the thrill of flight in our Flight Simulators, visit the NavalAviation Memorial Theatre and catch all the drama and power of our amazing IMAXfilms. http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

Destin, FLNavalMuseum

Blackwater RiverForest & SP

Henderson Beach

Topsail Hill

St Andrews

Grayton Beach

Yellow RiverMarsh

Air ForceMuseum

Naval Live Oaks

Falling Waters

FloridaCaverns

Fred GannonRocky Bayou

Deer Lake

Pine Log State Forest

Point WashingtonState Forest

BLACK STAR MARKS THE LOCATION OF THE SANDESTIN HILTON