Have the travel bug? The Crestview Public Library has multiple sources that can help with planning your next adventure.

Rick Steves particularly offers European travel advice in his detailed travel books, which include recommendations on restaurants, accommodations and attractions. Steves considers those who like to travel in luxury and those who don’t mind roughing it. His simplified street maps make navigation easy, whether you are walking the busy streets of Paris or taking a road trip through the Loire Valley. His blogs, podcasts and website —www.ricksteves.com — offer excellent, updated tips from packing lightly to avoiding pickpockets and scams.

Want to stay local? Douglas Waitley's three-volume, award-winning "Best Backroads of Florida" series will help you discover Florida's hidden gems.

Charlie Carlson's "Weird Florida" should pique the interest of those with a daring streak. If you are looking for haunted buildings or are hoping to catch a rare glimpse of a panther around the Tamiami Trail, this is the guide for you.

Don't know where to take a trip? Look at "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz or National Geographic’s "The 10 Best of Everything."

Have you ever thought about hiking? If so, Bill Bryson’s humorous account of his and a friend's attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail might aid the decision.

You can browse through many articles offered by the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Collection on our website's Electronic Resources section. (See www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php and click on Electronic Resources within the left navigation toolbar.)  

Although it is geared toward the tourist hospitality industry, you can find many valuable articles pertaining to the area you want to travel to.

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's assistant director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Authors offer travel tips

CRESTVIEW — Residents kicked, stretched, Zumba’d and ultimately raised $1,127 for Drew Barefield during a weekend fundraiser hosted by Gordon Martial Arts.

The “Do it for Drew” event attracted upward of 250 supporters, who enjoyed an inflatable slide, Zumba and yoga lessons and taekwando demonstrations.

A surprise visit by a Ninja Turtle that’s been making appearances around town added to the festive atmosphere while trading kicks with some of the academy’s students.

Other businesses donated money from sales during the event. Hideaway Pizza raised more than $400, martial arts academy Master Thomas Gordon said.

Crestview Crossfit, Buddy’s View BBQ, Triple Threat Cheer and Dance, Adams Party Rentals, White Sands Hair and Tanning, Charlotte’s Used Furniture, Action Water Spray Car Wash, Gordon Air Conditioning, Hooter’s and Pawsitively Scrumptious Bark Bakery & Boutique also sponsored the event.

Drew, 12, was struck by a boater’s propeller while snorkeling June 28. The incident, a purported hit-and-run, is under investigation. Area fundraisers have been benefiting his family’s expenses for his care.                       

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Do it for Drew' fundraiser nets $1,127 for injured boy

The Emerald Coast Chapter of the Junior Lifeguards from Okaloosa County attracted a number of awards and participants, a spokesperson said.

Sixty-six kids — ranging from ages 9 to 17 — participated in the program. Eleven who competed in the United States Lifesaving Association regional competition earned two first-place awards, five second-place and four third-place awards.

Participants learned about personal and public safety and interacted with EMS Ambulance, Coast Guard, Gulf Flight and marine life staffers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Junior Lifeguards season ends with success

VALPARAISO — A Heritage Alive! craft class — beginners basket weaving — starts Aug. 16 at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida.

Instructor Lou Holt will teach students to make a paper plate basket. Attendees can learn a new skill, experience an age-old tradition and create something uniquely theirs, a spokesperson said.

The class, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., costs $35 — $30 for museum members — and includes all materials. 

Space is limited; call 678-2615 or visit the Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, to register.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Beginners basket weaving class set next week

CRESTVIEW — A fast food restaurant's ongoing fundraiser will benefit a 12-year-old boy critically injured in a boating accident.

While Drew Barefield recovers, his family is getting some help from area businesses, including owners of local McDonald’s restaurants.

“Every Tuesday while Drew is still in the hospital is Drewsday in Crestview,” David Costa Jr., of Costa Enterprises, said.

The Costas, on Tuesday, presented the Barefield family with a check for proceeds from the restaurant’s July 21 “McDrew Night.”

David Costa said he and his family were “super excited” about the outcome of the fundraiser, for which they pledged 20 percent of all sales made from 4 to 8 p.m.

“Monday night is not usually busy,” Costa said. “We expected we would do about $3,000 in sales,” which would have yielded about $600 for the benefit.

“Then all of a sudden it started getting some attention,” Costa said. “The managers told me they’ve never seen that many customers on a Monday night in the 10 years that store has been here.”

“The whole community was here Monday, supporting and praying for Drew,” the boy’s grandfather, Clark “Bubba” Barefield Jr., said. “It’s a shame something like this had to happen before the community comes together.”

DOUBLE THE SALES

The store almost doubled its expected sales, meaning $1,166 would go to Drew, “but we decided to bump that up to $1,500,” David Costa said.

The opportunity for her family to help the Barefields “has been a blessing," Helen Costa said. "You have no idea how much this has touched our lives.”

A boat propeller hit Drew Barefield June 28 while he snorkeled in shallow water off Walton County’s Choctaw Beach. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the case.

Clark “Trey” Barefield III, Drew’s father, said his son's condition is slowly improving.

“He’s getting a little bit better every day,” he said. “We were able to take him outside the last few days. We appreciate everybody’s prayers.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tuesdays are Drewsdays: Fast food restaurant to donate half of Big Mac Meal sales every Tuesday

Local food banks, including Bay Area Food Bank, are preparing for the school year and the fight against childhood hunger.

Winn-Dixie has launched the Summer Backpack Hunger Relief Program in all stores to help the one out of five children in Alabama and Florida who don’t know from where their next meal will come from.

Customers can donate at any store register now through Aug. 19 to help provide meals. Every dollar donated will go directly to regional food banks to help fill backpacks with nutritious, fresh foods.

The food bank serves the central Gulf Coast including Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Winn-Dixie, Bay Area Food Bank team up for food drive

We have one final library event before school starts! Come fold and fly paper airplanes Tuesday, Aug. 5 with Guinness World Record holder Ken Blackburn.  Doors open at 10 a.m.  The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes. 

Registration is not required for this free event, which is open to ages 6 and older. After you fold, you’ll receive a chance to see which plane flies the farthest for a prize!

In addition, Evening Library Time and WSRE PBSKids present Daniel Tiger. Yes, he’s coming to the Crestview Public Library! Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, and Daniel Tiger leaves around 7:15 p.m. Registration is not required, and this event is open to all ages but ages 3-8 will probably enjoy it the most! 

We are throwing a baby shower for the PBSKids character's new baby sister, so please bring any baby item; Healthy Start will receive the donations.

The Crestview Public Library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

Please call 682-4432 with questions about either program.

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Paper airplanes event, Daniel Tiger coming to library

CRESTVIEW — Ken Blackburn, an aerospace engineer and former Guinness World Record holder for paper airplane time aloft (27.60 seconds), will present “Aerodynamics for Dummies: Folding & Flying Paper Airplanes” for the Aug. 5 First Tuesday Series program at the Crestview Public Library. 

This free program is suitable for children ages 6 and up through adult. Participants will get to fold a paper airplane based upon his award-winning design and test fly them outside (weather permitting) for a chance to win one of Blackburn’s bestselling paper airplane books.

Blackburn works as a civil servant at Eglin Air Force Base, performing research on small, unmanned air vehicles.  He and his wife Lauren live in Okaloosa  County.

The program begins at 10:30 a.m.  at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Juice, coffee and cookies will be served at 10 a.m. when the doors open.  Call 682-4432 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Learn about building the perfect paper airplane Aug. 5 from Ken Blackburn, aerospace engineer