Frugal Friday: Outdoors in California, North Carolina, and Florida
It’s summertime. Shut the TV off, ditch the computers, and mute the cell phones. Take the kids outside and spend a day, or maybe a night, exploring the great outdoors.
Walk the Pier
The seaside neighborhood of La Jolla conducts a free tour of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography twice a month. These outdoor walking tours are from noon-1 pm on the second and fourth Fridays (excluding University of California, San Diego holidays). Stroll the 1,090-foot-long Scripps Pier, an active, working research pier that is otherwise closed to the public. Registration is required.
Howling Wolves
Hear the endangered red wolves howl every Wednesday night in July and August from 7:30 to 9 pm while learning how the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge aids the species. Cost for summer howlings is $10 per person and children under age 12 are free. No registration is required. Questions? Call (252) 216-9464.
Canoe/Kayak Tours
South Walton is a 26-mile stretch along Northwest Florida’s coast. The area’s four state parks and state forest are home to dune lakes and the Choctawhatchee River system perfect for canoeing and kayaking. While your family views stunning scenery, flora and fauna, tour guides discuss the history of the area, coastal dune lake ecology, local anecdotes, and preservation efforts to keep the area pristine. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance sponsored tours include:
· Western Lake Kayak Tour – July 10, 9:00 am; $60 per person with kayak rental
· Canoe/Kayak Tour of Campbell Lake – July 15, 1:00 pm; $30 + park entry fee per person
· Explore Morrison Springs Paddle – July 11, 8:30 am; $35 per person and canoe/kayak rental fee of $35
· Chain of Lakes Tour on the Choctawhatchee River – July 25, 9:00 am; – 11:30 am; $60 includes craft rental/ $45 if you bring your own
For more information on the area, www.visitsouthwalton.com.