CRESTVIEW — Today, a day at the beach is just a 40-minute drive from the county seat.

But in Crestview’s formative years, just getting to the beach was an adventure in itself.

See 15 photos of North Okaloosa residents' 1930's-60's beach outings>>

AN ORDEAL

The economic, business and political center of today’s Okaloosa County was once located between the thriving railroad towns of Crestview, Milligan, Baker and Laurel Hill.

True, New Englander Capt. Leonard Destin came to East Pass looking for new fishing grounds in the 1840s. And in 1868, John Thomas Brooks landed his wife and their rowboat on Santa Rosa Sound's north shore.

But few from the north end tried to visit their establishments, given the wetlands, streams, a river and miles of sand between the Shoal River and south beaches.

In “The Heritage of Okaloosa County,” pioneer resident Will Brooks described traveling by two-wheeled ox cart along the “the sandy ruts of a winding road” that connected Camp Walton and Crestview.

“The journey required two days and one night to make the round trip,” historian Sylvia Reeves wrote. “(Brooks) hung a frying pan and coffeepot to the cart axle and camped out over night.”

DISCOVERING THE BEACH

By the early 1900s, vacationers began discovering the delight of swimming — they called it “bathing” back then — in gulf communities’ emerald waters. Camp Walton sprouted three hotels to accommodate beach goers.

Now, they just needed means to get there.

In 1916, a bridge finally spanned the Shoal River south of Crestview and facilitated automobile travel south to Niceville, Valparaiso, Garniers and Camp Walton.

Gladys Garrett Griffith told Betty Curenton and Claudia Patten, authors of “Crestview: The Forkland,” that the four car-owning Crestview families, hers included, would drive in a Sunday motorcade, armed with shovels and axes to free their vehicles from hazards on the long ride to Camp Walton, where they’d stay at the Indianola Inn for beach vacations.

In June 1918, an ad in The Okaloosa News-Journal announced a new jitney service between Crestview and Camp Walton for $2 each way. It promised a “comfortable car with experienced driver at all times” for the two-hour trip.

FAMILY VACATIONS

In the 1930s, North Okaloosa County families headed south in greater numbers as roads became hard-surfaced and the trip became quicker and more comfortable.

Those who couldn’t afford hotels or guest houses camped out on or near the beach, sometimes in their cars.

After World War II, many families, often in multi-generational groups, rented beach houses for vacations of a week or more in Destin or Fort Walton, which had been renamed after a Civil War cannon was unearthed.

Cousins Katie Lynn Powell, of Andalusia, Ala., and Elizabeth Kelly, then of Crestview, recalled a 1964 family vacation at the O’Neal cottage in Destin, then a sleepy little village.

The cottage is one of South Okaloosa County’s last remaining waterfront homes, and today is surrounded by condos, restaurants and hotels.

Today, few quaint cottages remain, and the sweeping, natural gulf vistas that drew local vacationers are preserved only in a few protected government-owned areas.

But for older residents, joyful memories of long road trips culminating in the reward of playing on some of the world’s loveliest beaches remain vivid.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Centennial Celebration: Emerald waters start to attract bathers, vacationers

Fall colors have rapidly peaked in the Crestview area due to recent cold-to-freezing temperatures.

Many fans of fall leaf colors drive as far away as North Carolina for outstanding autumn scenery. But why go to North Carolina when we have more than 100 native trees in Crestview's Environmental Center?

Our philosophy is to bring trees to people who don’t have time to hike through area woods, let alone drive out of state.

The center's surrounding beauty alone could justify our program to increase local appreciation of our natural environment.

In the heat of summer, what is the value of its natural shade to cool our brow?

Anyone who wants to behold a palette of fall leaf colors can visit the Environmental Center, 130 Butler Circle, and explore inside the wooden fence free of charge.

Cancel that trip to North Carolina and stroll the peaceful grounds of your own hometown, year-round natural habitat.

School and organization groups are welcome.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: City of Crestview McMahon Environmental Center

WHEN: Open weekdays during daylight hours, and by arrangement

WHERE: 130 Butler Circle, opposite Liveoak Park Cemetery

NOTES: The environmental center has a picnic pavilion, more than 100 examples of native trees and foliage, and a museum dedicated to forestry, regional timber industry and local wildlife. Call the city's Parks and Recreation Department, 682-4715, to arrange a visit.

Retired forester John McMahon, the Florida Forest Service's poet laureate, gives guided tours, upon request, of the McMahon Environmental Center. The city named the center in his honor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fall leaves peeping

CRESTVIEW — Two North Okaloosa girls are demonstrating the season of giving.

Lilly Shaffer, of Crestview, and Railey Conner, of Holt, have different ways of going about it, but their goal is the same: to help the community's neediest residents.

TOYS FOR SALES

Lilly, 6, a first-grader at Bob Sikes Elementary, is selling Classic Cookie Dry Mix for a school fundraiser.

Products, all of which cost $14, include Chocolate Chip Mix, White Chocolate Macadamia Mix, Sugar Cookie Mix, Oatmeal Raisin Mix M&M Mix and Triple Chocolate Mix.

The dry mix is an alternative to frozen cookie dough; home chefs can store it for up to a year and just add eggs and butter when they're ready to prepare it, according to Charleston Wrap, the fundraiser's vendor.

But this fundraiser has a twist. Not only will Lilly's sales benefit Bob Sikes; they also will indirectly help needy military families.

That's because, for each sale, the Shaffers are donating one toy for Operation Homefront.  The 2014 toy drive, affiliated with the Dollar Tree, distributes toys and gift cards to junior listed military families, according to its website.

That, Lilly said, motivates her to sell more cookie mix.

"There are so many kids out there that don't have anything and we have everything," Lilly said. "I just want all the kids to have a toy this year so they can be happy, too".

SHARED BIRTHDAY

Over the past three years, Railey undoubtedly has received more birthday gifts than any other child in North Okaloosa, or even Northwest Florida.

That's because the 13-year-old asks people to give her  items that can benefit local nursing home residents.

This year, Railey's Birthday Project seeks the following items:

•Slippers and no-slip socks

•Music CDs, preferably oldies

•Men's and women's body wash

•Shampoo and conditioner

•Costume jewelry

•Playing cards

•Blankets

•Winter hats such as beanies

•Art supplies

"I want to make sure our elderly residents know they are valued and not forgotten," Railey said in her 14th Birthday Project flyer.

HOW TO HELP

Click here, type 588307 in the "Student One" text field and then click Continue to buy the cookie mix. The Shaffer family will donate a toy to Operation Homefront, which benefits families with junior enlisted military service members, for every sale.

See "Railey's 14th Birthday Project" on Facebook to contribute supplies for nursing home residents. Drop-off locations include Freedom Tax, 417 Stillwell Blvd., and Leon's Barber Shop, 380 N. Main St., Crestview

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview, Holt girls think of others for the holidays

FORT WALTON BEACH — Thanks to listeners of Cumulus Broadcasting, Coast 93.3 and the Pajama Patrol, all kids living at the Children in Crisis Neighborhood received new pajamas, and just in time for the holidays.

Residents donated the pajamas so that all the foster children would be warm and snug. A “Logan & Logan Morning Show" representative collected the donations. 

“(The) donation really helped our at-risk children feel at home," said Ken Hair, CIC president & CEO. "This donation truly made a difference and we are very thankful.”

Children in Crisis Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides homes for Northwest Florida's abused, neglected and abandoned children.

Call 850-864-4242 or visit www.childrenincrisisfl.org to learn more about CIC.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pajamas donated for at-risk foster children

CRESTVIEW — Have you ever wanted to help after a disaster but thought you couldn't because you lack a first responder's physical capabilities? 

Kris Boone and Robert Clisham, with the North Okaloosa County Community Emergency Response Team, will present “Community Emergency Response Team: There’s a Job for Everyone."

The event — 10:30 a.m. Dec. 2 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive — is part of the library's First Tuesday Lecture Series programs. Coffee and cookies will be served at 10 a.m.

North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team members bring a varied level of physical capabilities and a vast array of skills and abilities to the table.

CERT members have learned, among other lessons, fire safety, light search and rescue and how to help firefighters stay hydrated so they can continue fighting sweeping fires.

"The team needs … individuals who can assist in many capacities," an event spokesperson said.

Call the library, 682-4432, or email CERT, nokaloosacert@gmail.com, for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community disaster training takes focus Dec. 2

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Department of Transportation District Three office is suspending Northwest Florida highway construction projects on major roadways. 

There will be no work on state roads requiring lane restrictions from Wednesday, Nov. 26, though Sunday, Nov. 30.  All major roads will be open to normal traffic.

Although no construction closures are scheduled over the holiday weekend, existing state highway work zones will remain in effect. Motorists should use caution while traveling through work zones around barricades and equipment.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Road construction suspended for Thanksgiving