Graham Creek Nature Preserve is a must-visit on your next leisure day. This park offers activities and annual events for visitors of all ages amidst breathtaking coastal wetlands. Stretch your legs under the ancient oaks and take in the fragrance of sweetbay magnolia as you make your way to one of these fun, upcoming events!

One of the biggest events is the ASA Archery Hoyt Pro/Am Tournament, this year scheduled for Feb. 22-25. Open to amateur and professional archers, it draws an international crowd of more than 2,000 archers and double the spectators. It’s free to watch the intense competition.

Observe & Explore days are held the first Wednesday and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Kids listen to a seasonal story, do a hands-on project, and make a corresponding art piece. These free, environmental-education days are popular with public school and homeschool groups. Be sure to attend all the preserve’s events, including the Easter Egg Hunt on Mar. 24 and the Earth Day Expo on Apr. 21.

The whole family will enjoy the Foley GeoCache Weekend, Mar. 9-11. This community-building event includes a meet-and-greet Friday night at a local restaurant, fun games and prizes at Saturday’s Geolympics from 1 to 4 p.m. at Wolf Creek Park, and an outdoor cleanup Sunday at 10 a.m.

Disc golf is another popular sport at the preserve’s three 18-basket disc golf courses. To watch the experts and learn through observation, check out the Pro/Am Dark Matter Disc Golf Tournament on May 26.

Since there’s plenty to explore year-round at Graham Creek Preserve, we hope you’ll get out there and appreciate all there is to see and do this spring. Take a hike and you might just pass by an endangered species, a carnivorous plant, or both.

“My favorite thing about GCNP in the spring is that a lot of plants begin to bloom again and color starts to come back in to the park. It makes our nature trails a beautiful place to come jog or take up-close photos of unique-looking plants and insects.” -Jacqueline McGonigal, environmental assistant for the City of Foley Environmental Department and Graham Creek Nature Preserve.