Heritage Trek

Heritage Trek puts history at your fingertips, creating unique tourism experiences that connect people with the history of places.  History belongs to us all and is meant to be seen and experienced, not just read about.  Experiencing and preserving our heritage begins with having the right information and tools – the purpose of Heritage Trek.  We are a team of professionals focused on locating the remnants of historic places and communities and sharing their stories.  Visit our website at heritage-trek.com to learn more.  

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Want to save time and resources planning your next northwest Florida heritage tour? Let us do the work for you. Learn more at heritage-trek.com.

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When driving northwest Florida backroads, I sometimes must stop to soak-it-in.  Rural roads dissect landscapes offering beautiful views; however, for me, few can beat road canopies.  The spreading branches of large hardwoods intermingle creating a canopy that baths the road with shade, creating a tunnel effect.  This visual break in a bright, sunny day seems to usher a period for respite to experience nature’s tranquility. 

For me, it also reanimates the sense of adventure I had in my younger years playing with friends in a fence-line canopy created by large woody shrubs, we called “The Cave.”  The rekindling of these childhood memories reminds me of happy times when I had boundless energy and imagination.  Wish I could get some of that back!

While admiring the beauty of road canopies, I am also reminded that nature is unrelenting in its work to reclaim this space and incorporate the roadway back into the ecosystem.  But for road maintenance, it would have long ago been done.  For now, I look forward to discovering road canopies that give me pause to soak-it-in.  I collect photographs and coordinates for particularly spectacular canopies that I might want to revisit. 

So, while you’re traveling between destinations, take a diversion along a rural road for a different driving experience.  Remember to drive slowly, wave to your fellow travelers, take in the sights, and if you find a road canopy, take time to soak-it-in. 

Encountered any spectacular road canopies in your travels?  If so, please leave a comment, we would love to hear about your experiences!

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Late 19th to early 20th century African American cemeteries often contain homemade concrete headstones.  Aside from wooden markers, it was the material of choice for many poverty-stricken families.  Typically, small communities supported by the naval stores industry were isolated with an extremely poor work force.  African American workers and their families at the bottom of the economic ladder were often buried with nothing more than a wooden marker.  Many of these graves and cemeteries have been lost to time.  Visit our website (www.heritage-trek.com) to learn more.

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At Heritage Trek we develop self-drive touring products that provide the information you need to locate and interpret historical and cultural sites.  Learn more at www.heritage-trek.com.

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The purpose of Heritage Trek is to provide the information and tools so you can connect with the past.  Learn more at www.heritage-trek.com.

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Create a unique adventure that combines outdoor leisure with learning about the past.  Learn more at www.heritage-trek.com.

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Do you know a couple that has been married over 60 years?  Quite an accomplishment, right.  Consider that Daniel Campbell an early pioneer of what would become Okaloosa County was married to Effie for 94 years (1749 to 1843) and a Revolutionary War veteran (1781 to 1782) living to the age of 118.  Daniel and Effie died one day apart and had a combined age of 230 years.  This is one of the many interesting stories shared in our Okaloosa County, Florida Heritage Atlas (www.heritage-trek.com).

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Experiencing and preserving our heritage begins with having the right information and tools – the purpose of Heritage Trek.  We put history at your fingertips.  Visit our website (www.heritage-trek.com) to learn more.

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History belongs to us all!  Learn more at www.heritage-trek.com.

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Our first product, the Okaloosa County, Florida Heritage Atlas is available!  This 204-page, self-drive touring atlas includes 314 historic features within 26 communities.  The features are located on maps, illustrated with photographs, and described with detailed narratives.  The atlas contains over 480 recent color and historical black and white photographs.  Okaloosa county offers a diversity of historic places and communities that cover the period from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries.  The atlas also highlights the rich heritage of historic African American features and communities. 

Get your atlas at www.heritage-trek.com

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Pondering the Past

Encountering a neglected old home often gives me pause to ponder the stories it could tell. They are a vestige of the lives lived there. Over time, old homes disappear but their footprint can remain as a place with a story to tell. At Heritage Trek, we are dedicated to documenting stories of the past, to create enduring connections with our history.

www.heritage-trek.com

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Today is Heritage Trek Launch Day!

Headquartered in northwest Florida, we are a heritage tourism company focused on locating the remnants of historic places and communities and sharing their stories. Visit our website (www.heritage-trek.com) to learn more. Our Okaloosa County, Florida Heritage Atlas is available for purchase. Let us know how we can assist you in creating your heritage trekking adventures.

Time to Take History on the Road!

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In addition to the high-profile historic sites along major thoroughfares, there are also many hidden gems to be found off the beaten path.  As an example, did you know Laura Ingalls Wilder (author of the "Little House" series) lived for a brief time in northwest Florida?  There are many new and exciting stories to learn that begin with a set of coordinates.  Please visit our website (https://heritage-trek.com) to learn more.