Cold springs of fresh water just north of the Gulf Coast
DeFuniak Springs, Ponce De Leon Springs State Park deliver history, art, unique nature experiences
The Fly-in event is a two-day event held in late March or early April at the local airport, where you'll see all sorts of aircraft and airshows.
Florida Chautauqua campus
A brief drive north of Panama City Beach, DeFuniak Springs has much to offer a visitor and the state park is a great place to cool off in natural spring water that is almost cold.
The quaint town embraces an amazing history in its Circle Drive Historic District and the Walton County Heritage Museum. Once the home of a Victorian-era, gated resort that hosted an annual Florida Chautauqua festival around what was billed as The Education Resort of the South. The hotel has recently been renovated.
Nearby are the Bullets and Bones Sportsman Club, which offers a shooting range; the Britton Hill at Lakewood Park, which is the highest point in Florida sitting at 345 feet above sea level; and the Chautauqua Vineyard and Winery.
Visited in the past by U.S. presidents and noted writers, DeFuniak Springs today carries on the artistic tradition through its DeFuniak Springs Art Coop. check out the Circle Drive Historic District for quaint shops and restaurants.
DeFuniak is the county seat of Walton County and has a population of 5,177. It has a number of annual events. The Florida Chautauqua Assembly has been revived and is held each January. Other annual or biannual events are Christmas Reflections, Gras Fest, Lake Fest, a quilt show, and a Marvel of Flight Fly-in and Aviation Expo. The Fly-in event is a two-day event held in late March or early April at the local airport, where you'll see all sorts of aircraft and airshows.
How to Get There: You can exit from Interstate 10, but if you are coming from the Gulf Coast, take instructions listed below from Panama City Beach.
State Park
Ponce De Leon Springs State Park is located near DeFuniak Springs. A swimming area is fed by two natural springs, ensuring a cold plunge at 68 degrees year-round. It’s a great place to snorkel and explore underwater caves. The park has picnic areas and hiking trails.
Nearby is the Holmes Creek Paddling Trail for canoeists and kayakers. It's a 34-miles water trail that starts at Vernon, Florida, at the Burnt Creek Landing and flows to the Cedar Tree Landing on the Choctawhatchee River near the Alabama line in Washington County.
How to Get There: From Panama City Beach, Florida, go west on Highway 98 to its intersection with State Highway 79. Take 79 north to Ebro, Florida. Go west on Highway 20 from Ebro to Bruce, Florida. Turn north on Highway 81 to just north of Interstate 10. It’s about 49 miles from Panama City Beach.