The destinations throughout SouthCoastUSA (SouthCoastUSA.com) are fortunate to have an abundance of natural habitats, including the Gulf of Mexico and its beaches. There are also bays, bayous, and rivers. lakes , forests, wildlife refuges and wonderful areas to explore.

It�s a perfect destination for those looking to explore nature or who want to relax on the beach, go fishing, hiking, biking, bird watching or spending the day on one of the many golf courses.

Take a trip with us as we show you what outdoor recreation is all about in SouthCoastUSA.

Let�s start in Northwest Florida at the Beaches of South Walton, South Walton�s 13 beach communities are recognized for their pristine, unspoiled beauty and numerous opportunities to experience nature in secluded environments. Visit one of the areas natural habitats, where nature and wildlife flourish. Grayton Beach State Park, Point Washington State Forest , Western Lake and Deer Lake State Park are an eco-tourist�s delight. There are also a variety of ecological and nature tours available to suit just about anyone.

South Walton is home to 17 freshwater and saltwater lakes, as well as the Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, perfect to please even the most serious angler or fly fisherman. You can easily outfit yourself, get a guide, charter a boat or join a group charter.

For cyclists, there are four bike trails in the area, offering miles of scenic beauty. For the golf enthusiast there are 189 championship holes of the Gulf�s most enjoyable golf, on top-rated professionally designed courses. Try Camp Creek Golf Club, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort or the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club.

The Back to Nature Festival in October celebrates the great outdoors with a wide array of activities including kayaking, canoeing, guided nature walks, hiking, fishing, biking, bird watching, boating and more.

Pensacola offers outdoor opportunities that stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to the rustic woodlands and creeks of the �Canoe Capital of Florida� in Milton. The Gulf Islands National Seashore showcases 52 miles pf protected beaches in Northwest Florida, wild natural vegetation, breathtaking vistas and historic sites. Check out Perdido Key Beach, Santa Rosa Island and historic Fort Pickens. For a closer look at the marine life in the area, especially dolphins, contact one of the many boat rentals on Perdido Key Beach or Pensacola Beach.

Bikers, walkers, joggers and in-line skaters can enjoy a 40-mile loop that varies between separated path and paved shoulder, including 25 miles of nearly unbroken path winding around the Santa Rosa Sound, through Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze. The path also accommodates wheelchairs.

Birdwatchers will enjoy the abundant opportunities for spotting protected and seasonal species. In fact, one of the many golf courses in the area, Lost Key, has been designated by the Audubon Society as �a signature cooperative sanctuary�, voluntarily adhering to specific ecologically sensitive guidelines in the development and maintenance of its 250 acres that include wetland features. Hawks, alligators, fox, deer, rabbits, raccoons, beavers, osprey and great blue herons populate the area.

On the outskirts of downtown Pensacola, you�ll find Project GreenShores, a habitat restoration project in Pensacola Bay. More than 400 local and migratory birds are often found here. A man-made oyster reef and emergent salt marsh grasses provide a great habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine life as well as enhancing the water quality.

Crossing the state line into Alabama, we find the Alabama Gulf Coast, home to numerous outdoor exploration and adventure opportunities, including sailing, fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking, shelling and swimming.

A must for hikers is the 6,500-acre Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Walking trails, fishing and coastal flora and fauna turn this trek into a treat from the trailhead with its stately oaks, to the lagoon and through the dunes to the Gulf of Mexico. Get even closer to nature on a dolphin cruise, an afternoon of sailing or bird watching.

Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan are home to some of the best saltwater fishing you could ever dream of. No other state in the nation has built and continues to build as many offshore and inshore artificial reefs as Alabama with the help of the federal government and local fisherman. Offshore reefs offer abundant snapper, grouper, amberjack, cobia, triggerfish and king mackerel. Inshore reefs attract speckled trout, redfish, flounder and white trout. There are also many locations for bank and pier fishing. The Alabama Gulf Coast offers a fleet of over 100 charter-fishing boats.

And no, we haven�t forgotten the golfers. The Alabama Gulf Coast has 14 championship courses within an hour�s drive of the Gulf Shore/Orange Beach area. A sub-tropical climate perfect for year-round play has made the Alabama Gulf Coast a golfer�s paradise.

Moving west, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a coastal haven. Deep-sea fishing gives you the opportunity to test your determination and skill aboard on of the charter boat fishing excursions. Enjoy an adventure reeling in small pan fish, medium sized sports fish and some of the greatest fishing from the inshore, island waters or the deeper offshore waters.

Try your hand at shrimping on The Sailfish, an authentic shrimping boat. See and experience for yourself what a real shrimping expedition is really like.

You may choose to relax on the beautiful beach or enjoy a cruise to Ship Island. On the way, you�ll see dolphins swimming next to your boat, a beautiful skyline and coastal barrier islands views. When you land, stroll the beaches and explore Civil War history at Fort Massachusetts.

Continuing on Interstate 10 into Louisiana, you�ll find the New Orleans Northshore area. Into birding? Check out the nearly extinct red cockaded woodpecker off your list�St. Tammany Parish has a large colony in the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. There is even the possibility of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in the area around the Honey Island Swamp�a bird believed to be extinct since the 1940�s. Khaki Hat Tours offers personalized birding trips, and the Great Louisiana Bird Fest held each spring is the state�s first birding festival.

If you like water sports, try canoeing or kayaking the many bayous, rivers and lake. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the charter fishing expeditions out of the Rigolets Marina in Slidell. Sailing enthusiasts can charter a boat for a day or a weekend. Equestrians will love the horse farms and polo grounds in Folsom.

For bikers, there is the Tammany Trace, an award-winning 31-mile rails to trails conversion.

In the heart of Louisiana, you�ll arrive in Lafayette, a perfect place for birding, boating, fishing and camping. The Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Martin, Arcadiana Park and Nature Trail, Catfish Heaven Aqua Farm and Jungle Gardens are just a few places to experience the great outdoors in Lafayette.

State parks in the area include Cypremort Point, Lake Fausse Point and Chicot State Park boast unique combinations of natural resources and are ideal spots for nature enthusiasts.

Louisiana has a history of recognizing its scenic highways. The objective of the state byways program is to assure that the natural, scenic, historical, archeological, recreational and sculptural resources are protected. You won�t want to miss a drive on the Real French Connection and the Jean Lafitte Scenic Byways that will take you from Lafayette through small French towns to experience the unique culture of the Cajuns and the Creoles.

Continuing your authentic Louisiana experience, travel west to Baton Rouge. Whether your idea of a good time outside is sitting quietly observing a wild turkey, enjoying 18 holes of golf with your friends or paddling a canoe through a Louisiana swamp, Baton Rouge offers authentic Louisiana outdoor experiences.

If nature up close and personal is your thing, make a trip to Backpacker Outfitters for the clothing and gear you�ll want. Before you leave, check out the C.C. Lockwood Gallery for world-renowned art and nature photography. Then head to the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, north of Baton Rouge for a great hike.

Birders already know this area , as it is famous for the inspiration it gave John James Audubon as he painted his famed �Birds of American�. The city�s location near the end of the Mississippi Flyway makes it a birder�s paradise in the winter months.

Bluebonnet Swamp, a rare urban swamp, offers great bird watching and the chance to see reptiles and other mammals while following self-guided nature trails. Other swamp tours are available at Alligator Bayou.

The eastern edge of the Atchafalaya Basin and the nearby False River has great fishing and boating. And for those golfers, there are 26 courses in the area.

Welcome to the wetlands in Houma, Louisiana. Nowhere else in the world can you find the incredible variety of coastal and inland fishing. Houma offers the expert and the amateur angler a bountiful land unique fishing oasis.

Venture deep into Houma�s swamps and bayous where you�ll encounter some of the most pristine and beautiful wetlands anywhere. Keep your eyes peeled to spot the abundance of wildlife�alligators, turtles, egrets, herons and even a family of bald eagles nested high above the water. Be guides through the swamps by pontoon boat, airboat, canoe or seaplane.

If cycling is your sport, Houma is a great vacation spot. With over 110 miles of lightly traveled roads, Houma offers bikers distinct and diverse routes. Take off from downtown and you�ll be riding alongside the bayous, swamps and marshes of Houma�s Cajun countryside.

Southwest Louisiana has the perfect climate year-round for outdoor activities such as golf, bird watching, boating and fishing. You have now arrived in Lake Charles.

Lake Charles has the only white sand inland beach along the Gulf Coast and just a few miles down the road is the 180 mile long Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. This trail will astound birders and eco-tourists with the amount of flora and fauna, including more than 400 bird species. It starts in Sulphur and winds through parts of Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes and ends in Lake Charles. Parts of the trail wind along the Louisiana Gulf Coast, so pack a lunch and spend the afternoon enjoying the Gulf spray and the sun.

Are you ready to pack your bags and head to SouthCoastUSA for outdoor recreational opportunities that just can�t be beat? It�s easy, just visit www.southcoastusa.com to get all the information you need to plan your trip. If you visit the website now, you can register to win an a trip to three of the region�s hot spot destinations.

SouthCoastUSA is a four state regional tourism marketing partnership comprised of 14 convention and visitors bureaus along Interstate 10, from the bayous of Louisiana to the white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle.
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Media Contact:
Susan M. Storey
251-975-1947
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