Spring Break Destination #1 - Eden Gardens State Park, Florida

Since many of you will be heading for the coast on Spring Break family trips over the next few weeks, I thought I would spend some time spotlighting some of the places along the coast that I really enjoy to give you some options when the sunburns get a bit too bad for the beach!

One of my favorites is Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington, Florida. Point Washington is a charming little community on the Emerald Coast between the mega resort areas of Destin and Panama City Beach.

Eden Gardens is a beautiful state park that becomes one of the most spectacular places in the Deep South when the gardens move into full bloom later this month and in April. Centered around the historic Wesley Mansion, the gardens were created in the 20th century to accentuate the old homes beautiful waterfront setting.

Visitors to the park can tour the old house, which was built during the post Civil War era by a lumberman who run mills near Choctawhatchee Bay that converted virgin timber floated down the Choctawhatchee River into lumber. It is said that he based the design of the house on a mansion where he found shelter while returning home from serving in the Confederate army. The mansion was remodeled to its present almost antebellum form in later years.

The gardens surround the old mansion, complete with statuary and water features, and visitors can walk peaceful pathways through the beautiful blooms and greenery.

To learn more about Eden Gardens, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/edengardens.