Sally
Beach Fanatic
As development in South Florida has grown into a sprawling megalopolis resulting in crowded roads, inadequate water supplies, packed schools and a vanishing wildlife habitat, a new natural wonderland is emerging: the Florida Panhandle. Northwest Florida, according to Precious Heritage, a nature conservancy survey of biodiversity in the U.S., is one of the six most important places for diverse and rare species in the country. From an environmental standpoint, the Panhandle is like no other part of the state; the assemblage of plants and animals here occurs nowhere else on earth.
It is the lushness of this region and its status as the last undiscovered Florida Coastal area that will bring a new group of environmentally responsible travelers ? the ?Geotourists,? ?Cultural Creatives? and ?Naturalists,? ? in droves over the next decade. Activities having to do with nature are on the rise?fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, bird watching, photography, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and tubing.
Ecotourism has only recently become a mainstream buzzword. Ecotourism?responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people?is among the fastest growing travel trends. It?s about connecting conservation, communities and travel.
The West Bay Sector, a 75,000-acre mixed-use project, will be home to the new Bay County International Airport along with commercial, office and industrial space, marinas and other recreational facilities, and nearly 5,500 homes. More than 30,000 acres will be set aside for environmental preservation. Jerry Ray of St. Joe states ?We have the potential to develop a 100-square mile wildlife preserve in this area, with a world class nature center, trails and pathways for pedestrians and wheeled vehicles.? Creating day trips to such a wildlife preserve and/or wildlife education center would combine adventure with education, so tourists could learn about the importance of natural resources.
The City has designed and is currently developing two nature parks. Pines and Ponds of PCB, 3,000 acres between Highway 79 and Wild Heron, will be a bird-watcher?s paradise, containing dirt trails ideal for walking, hiking and off road biking. A large picnic pavilion, parking, restrooms and outdoor classrooms will be located in the nature park. This will open to the public in 2008. Gayle?s Trails, the thirty miles of paved trails spanning the island and traveling through wooded areas and subdivisions, contains an abundance of natural plant life and wildlife that includes osprey, eagles and various species of other birds, deer, wild hogs and raccoon.
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber plans to focus heavily on ecotourism in 2007. We are at ?the germ of the event,? and there are still many opportunities to develop and market ecotourism in this area. There will come a time, however, when these same opportunities won?t present themselves. As with many things, we may only recognize the moment after it has passed. For more information on how you can get involved, call the Chamber at (850) 235-1159.
By: Marta Rose
Senior V.P. Marketing and Public Relations
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce
(850) 235-1159
It is the lushness of this region and its status as the last undiscovered Florida Coastal area that will bring a new group of environmentally responsible travelers ? the ?Geotourists,? ?Cultural Creatives? and ?Naturalists,? ? in droves over the next decade. Activities having to do with nature are on the rise?fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, bird watching, photography, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and tubing.
Ecotourism has only recently become a mainstream buzzword. Ecotourism?responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people?is among the fastest growing travel trends. It?s about connecting conservation, communities and travel.
The West Bay Sector, a 75,000-acre mixed-use project, will be home to the new Bay County International Airport along with commercial, office and industrial space, marinas and other recreational facilities, and nearly 5,500 homes. More than 30,000 acres will be set aside for environmental preservation. Jerry Ray of St. Joe states ?We have the potential to develop a 100-square mile wildlife preserve in this area, with a world class nature center, trails and pathways for pedestrians and wheeled vehicles.? Creating day trips to such a wildlife preserve and/or wildlife education center would combine adventure with education, so tourists could learn about the importance of natural resources.
The City has designed and is currently developing two nature parks. Pines and Ponds of PCB, 3,000 acres between Highway 79 and Wild Heron, will be a bird-watcher?s paradise, containing dirt trails ideal for walking, hiking and off road biking. A large picnic pavilion, parking, restrooms and outdoor classrooms will be located in the nature park. This will open to the public in 2008. Gayle?s Trails, the thirty miles of paved trails spanning the island and traveling through wooded areas and subdivisions, contains an abundance of natural plant life and wildlife that includes osprey, eagles and various species of other birds, deer, wild hogs and raccoon.
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber plans to focus heavily on ecotourism in 2007. We are at ?the germ of the event,? and there are still many opportunities to develop and market ecotourism in this area. There will come a time, however, when these same opportunities won?t present themselves. As with many things, we may only recognize the moment after it has passed. For more information on how you can get involved, call the Chamber at (850) 235-1159.
By: Marta Rose
Senior V.P. Marketing and Public Relations
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce
(850) 235-1159