ROSEMARY THYMES | 18
DAY TRIPPING by Kelly Oden
SOUTHERN GRACE LAVENDER FARM SOUTHPORT, FL SouthernGrace LavenderFarm.com Air Force combat veteran Jason Leabo and his wife, Kari, started Florida’s first Lavender in 2018. With 1,240 Phenomenal lavender plants on about a quarter acre of the 4-acre farm, there is plenty of room for Southern Grace Lavender farm to grow. The farm offers guided tours, which include information on planting, harvesting, distilling and blending the aromatic plant. Southern Grace also houses a small boutique where the couple sells their homemade lavender products in the form of candles, soaps, sachets, room spray, body lotion, tea, honey and more. The farm also offers occasional gatherings and workshops when weather and social distancing guidelines permit. Check their website for more hours and event information.
PANAMA CITY MURAL TRAIL PANAMA CITY, FL BayArts.org When Hurricane Michael roared through Panama City in 2018, the city’s arts community saw a chance to show the city’s resilience and vibrancy. “With our town becoming a somewhat blank canvas, it allowed us to unite, repaint, and rebuild ourselves into the type of city we’ve always wanted to be,” Jayson Kretzer, executive director of the Bay Arts Alliance, explained. As a result, art has been at the forefront of discussions as the city’s parks and buildings are repaired, and the Bay Arts Mural Project emerged. The Bay Arts Mural Project raises funds for (mostly) local artists to paint murals citywide, which will result in a Panama City Mural Trail in Spring 2021. The trail will include 7-9 murals, with more to come. The murals will be located in the walkable historic districts of Downtown and St. Andrews, as well as the Millville and Glenwood neighborhoods.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL defuniaksprings.net | defuniaksprings.com The quaint town of Defuniak Springs is a mere fifty minutes from Rosemary Beach. The town sits on the banks of the spring-fed Lake Defuniak, which is a true rarity—one of only two such almost perfectly circular bodies of water in the world. The other is located in Switzerland. A collection of Victorian homes surrounds the lake and adds to the nostalgic charm. Founded in the 1880s as a railroad stop for the L & N Railroad, DeFuniak Springs retains its old Florida look and feel. In fact, the Walton County Library on Circle Drive is the oldest library in Florida still operating in its original building. It houses an interesting assort-
ment of antiquities, including an impressive medieval weapon collection and many firstedition books. The former L&N railroad depot now houses the Walton County Heritage Museum. The town became the winter home of the New York Chautauqua, an educational movement that attracted thousands of visitors to Defuniak Springs in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chautauqua Vineyards, a 40-acre vineyard located 12 miles north of Defuniak Springs offer tours and tastings of their wide variety of muscadine wines.
PONCE DE LEON SPRINGS PONCE DE LEON, FL FloridaStateParks. org/park/Poncede-Leon-Springs
Photo by Sean Mullins
Who doesn’t love a road trip? Open road, open skies and the promise of adventure at every turn. While Rosemary Beach and the 30A community offer more than enough amenities and adventures for the average visitor, homeowners and long term guests may want to explore the inland areas of Florida’s panhandle and discover the beauty and history that exists off the beaten path. Fortunately, Rosemary Beach is just a hop, skip and a jump from a variety of historical sites, unique natural wonders and wildlife encounters. These locations are perfect for a quick day trip or even a long weekend. Either way, you’ll come back renewed and ready to for a long day at the beach.
Flutterby by Cameron Moberg
Named for the famed explorer who sought the fountain of youth, Ponce de Leon Springs may not grant you eternal youth, but its majestic beauty will certainly relax your mind while its crisp cool waters are sure to revive your senses. The crystal clear water maintains a year-round temperature of 68 degrees. Approximately 14 million gallons of pure water emerges daily from the Ponce de Leon Spring. Spring water emanates from the aquifer deep underground. European settlers and American Indians before them used this spring as a source of drinking water and recreation. While the spring is the main attraction, the park also offers ample opportunity for hiking, birding, fishing, snorkeling and even geocaching.
SEACREST WOLF PRESERVE CHIPLEY, FL SeacrestWolfPreserve.org Wild animals are fascinating and potentially dangerous creatures. If you love the idea of spending
