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Nobody does a better job of educating and entertaining the kids than does the Naval Aviation Museum. Perdido has been blessed with this incredible facility just minutes from our doorstep off Blue Angel Parkway. There are more wide-eyed children of all ages per square foot than any place I know. Bring the children and grand-children and take advantage of this event coming next week, Saturday 19September. It is getting bigger every year. Great fun!!
Let your creativity come alive as you soak your fingers in the colors of the rainbow for the “Hands-On History” paint-a-plane event from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 behind the National Naval Aviation Museum. Museum visitors of all ages are invited to join in the fun by leaving a painted handprint on a T-38 Talon airplane. Handprints of all sizes and colors will decorate this “Top Gun”-type of aircraft.
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and to date, is also the most produced. It remains in service as of 2009 in air forces throughout the world including the United States Air Force (USAF), which remains its largest user.
The National Naval Aviation Museum features FREE admission and a full slate of events throughout the year. For a complete list of Museum events, exhibits and attractions, visit www.NavalAviationMuseum.orgor call the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at (850) 453-2389 or (800) 327-5002.
Big Lagoon gets 'Wet and Wild"
Kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and more await festivalgoers
Brian Kelly • bkelly@pnj.com. • September 17, 2009
This weekend, Big Lagoon State Park along Gulf Beach Highway welcomes its first Big Lagoon Wet and Wild Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event, which takes place at Governor's Pavilion in the rear of the park, combines the best of Big Lagoon, with water activities and nature walks throughout the park. Wet and Wild Festival is sponsored by the Perdido Key Rotary Club, but was the brainchild of Perdido resident Kelley Thompson who got the initial idea for a water and park festival while snorkeling with her daughter during a recent family vacation. It was an activity Thompson had introduced to her daughter for the first time, despite living in Perdido.
"She snorkeled a river while on vacation like she had done it for years when she had never tried it before," Thompson said. " Why had I never taken her snorkeling before when we live in Perdido, where we (can snorkel) anytime we wanted? Why had I waited until I went to the mountains to take a fly fishing lesson when there are great places to fly fish right here in Perdido? I realized that I had been needlessly waiting until we went on vacation to sign my family up to try out new water activities."
After selecting Big Lagoon State Park as the site for an outdoor water and eco event, the Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce, the Perdido Key Rotary Club and several key sponsors, set about planning the Wet and Wild event.
Big Lagoon State Park ranger Chris Telhiard gets ready recently with some kids for this weekend's Wet and Wild Festival at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola. (Brian Kelly / bkelly@pnj.com)
Festival-goers will learn the finer skills of canoeing, kayaking, sailing, surfing, snorkeling, plus the art of casting and fly fishing. The Governor's Pavilion will be the site for traditional carnival games, a rock wall, power bungee bounce, the touch tank, concessions stands and entertainment courtesy of Jim Bailey Middle School jazz band and choir, plus dancers from LaBelle Performing Arts, karate demonstrations, and a cheer or two from Tate High School cheerleaders.
Angling experts from Bass Pro Shops will be on hand along with surfing professionals from Blonde John's Surf and Skate in Gulf Shores, Ala., and scuba diving professionals from Dive Pros in Pensacola will give pointers. Park rangers from Big Lagoon in partnership Escambia County Natural Resources will lead festival-goers on educational nature walks, a wading tour, and provide informational programs on sea turtles and snakes. Thompson hopes Wet and Wild will expose Big Lagoon while introducing water activities to those who have never tried to get wet and wild.
"In addition to bringing the community together for a great event, it (Wet and Wild) is also a wildlife education in a beautiful setting," Thompson said. "This event is for everyone. Participants of all ages can hone their skills or try these activities for the first time with experienced instructors. Perdido and all of Escambia County is blessed to be a place where the outdoors is an integral part of our culture, identity and lifestyle. Hopefully, this festival will create a sense of community among participants, an increased awareness of the region's excellent quality of life, and a better understanding of and deeper appreciation for the environment and wilderness."
One of the true blessings of living on Key is the accessibility of the Gulf Islands National Sea Shore, better known to the locals as Johnson Beach. The area was named for Rosamond Johnson, the first African American from Escambia County killed in the Korean War.
The Gulf Coast African American Visitors Bureauweb site reports that Pvt. Johnson was a teenager and in the conflict, on the 38th Parallel, he traversed the line 3 times to bring back wounded comrades but was killed on the third rescue attempt. The Sunset Riding Club suggested the name. They leased the land from 1950-1956 "for the sole use of bathing, beach and recreational facilities for colored citizens." It was made part of the Gulf Island National Seashore in 1973 and a monument to Pvt Johnson, the fallen hero, was erected in June 1996.
Walking the park is one of life's great pleasures. (See the archived article "Red Flag Morning" in the Sep 2008 archives)
I try to get out there several days each week and I have 3 favorite walks. I will get into details in 3 subsequent blogs but here are the basics if you are ready to set out to enjoy a trek soon.
Since I live in Palacio which is about a half mile from the entrance, most mornings I set out from my condo, and walk down Perdido Key Dr tot he east, hang a right on Johnson Beach Rd and then continue through the park and remain on the road that bisects the area. Although you can carry on for another 2.5 miles or so, I usually turn back at the C and D walkovers that afford access to the beach on the south side and Grand Lagoon shoreline on the north. That gives me an hour walk of 3 miles.
The other option is to turn left on the road right across from the beach pavilions. In one hundred feet or so you will see the boardwalk that leads through the nature trail. It is about 1/3 of a mile to do the loop that empties out at the end of the road on the waters of Grand Lagoon near the old boat ramp.
Lastly you can walk the beach for the entire 7.5 mile length and if you jump on the Gulf of Mexico coastline before the park entrance you can avoid the fee. Please consider buying a yearly pass anyway for $25. It is worth it and helps maintain the entire system known as the Gulf Islands National Sea Shore which stretches from Mississippi into FL. (see the map at the web site link I left you in the first paragraph.)
I will write in more detail and include more pictures over the next few blog posts.
