After debating which projects around the house would need our attention today, it was decided that we would take a family outing to Conservation Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. It’s the height of spring break, so thousands of college kids are visiting the area from all over the country. Drunken debauchery, sex, and drugs. Lots of things our teenager is probably interested in but doesn’t really need to be involved with for a few more years.
So, to avoid the insanity of this area of the country at this time of the year we visited Conservation Park. It is a 68-acre nature reserve operated by the City of Panama City Beach. We figured it would most likely be kryptonite to college kids. We were right. The park sits just west of Florida Highway 79 at the end of a long road through what appears to be a burgeoning commercial area with lots of warehouses and showrooms. Well off the beaten path dotted with mega night clubs and adult shops.
The road abruptly ends into the trees. Just before the dead end there’s a quick left turn and you’re passing the entrance sign. After passing a parking lot we found ourselves at the pavilion where a vending machine and some restrooms are.
Green grass emerges from the duckweed covered swamp 
A tree emerges from the duckweed covered swamp 
Trees and bushes line the banks of a duckweed covered swamp
The weather was overcast and breezy with a high in the mid-70’s. Pretty much a perfect day to visit the park. Bugs were out, but it was mid-afternoon, so the mosquitos weren’t very active. After selecting a trail, we found a bridge over a swamp. The water in the swamp was covered solid with beautiful green duckweed. The sound of frogs in the distance filled our ears, far better than the drone of a bass line from what passes as “music” these days.
The air smelled of a recent fire. The pine groves had been burned, which is a natural process for pine forests. The fires occur normally and burn off dead and underlying brush. They also serve to release pine seeds from pinecones. In turn, those seeds make more pine trees.
On our trek through the park, we saw tiny green tree frogs, squirrels, a wood chuck and a variety of birds and insects. Carpenter bees hung in the area around the wooden boardwalks and bridges over the swampy areas. We spent a lot of our time in the burned section of the park, but it appears most of the park had not seen fire at the time we were there.
A bug stretches its legs on a sign overlooking the swamp. 
A green frog rests on a stem amidst a swamp. 
The boardwalk bears to the left beyond a thicket of bushes
Overall, Conservation Park was a very cool place. Teaming with life, we were able to get many excellent photos. Afterward we headed west and spent some time on 30A in Walton County before heading back to the house where we would clearly be too tired to do the chores we had discussed earlier! And throughout the entire trip we avoided the nonsense of spring break until the end.
We were headed home when a Cadillac nearly ran the red light about 12 miles west of Panama City. The driver stopped, reversed, and then parked the car. She jumped out of the car and began to twerk in the roadway. She was wearing a very tight and very yellow dress-looking garment. And she ended up rolling around on the ground because it’s apparently hard to twerk effectively when you’re that drunk and wearing heels. Fortunately, the light didn’t change until she had recovered from making her momma proud and was able to get back in her car.
