Take advantage of local offerings
Part one of a multi-part series

Although the first day of summer is not until one week from today, thermometers, hygrometers, and the prevalence of revealing swimwear indicates that summer is here. Many Americans use this time of year to travel, but with gas prices on the rise and airports getting backlogged with tougher security measures, residents may want to take advantage of local businesses offering premiere summer recreational activities.

So, what is one to do to take advantage of the area's mostly amicable weather, pristine shores and radiating sun? Gulf Breeze News has done a lot of the legwork to bring you the following list of top things to do during summer. Aquatic Charters, Fly the Boat, Gulf Breeze Boats, Innerlight Surf and Skate, Radical Rides and The ZOO of Northwest Florida opened their doors and demonstrated their products and services for Gulf Breeze News to inform the public of what is available in the Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach area.

In alphabetical order, here are some of the best ways to spend a sunny June afternoon:

Aquatic Charters' Dolphin Cruises

Fly the Boat (above) operator Jeff Bell offers flight lessons with a twist and Captain Jon Tippin searches Pensacola Bay for dolphins with the Pensacola Beachbased charter boat, Chase-N-Fins.

The 50-foot Chase-N-Fins charter boat offers beach goers a unique opportunity to observe and photograph dolphins in their natural habitat. The boat, captained by Pensacola native Jon Tippin, leaves daily from Beach Marina on Pensacola Beach at 10 a.m., 2p.m. and 5 p.m. for two hour sight-seeing cruises. Tippin said the excursion includes a brief tour of historical sites viewed from Pensacola Bay including: Fort Pickens, the Pensacola Lighthouse, Naval Live Oak reserve and Deer Point. The boat has an onboard bathroom, or head, and personal coolers are welcome. All cruises include great photo opportunities of natural sea life such as dolphins, turtles,

bat rays, sharks, osprey, pelicans, great blue herons and much more.

"We offer the same facilities that the big boats in Destin and Orange Beach offer," said Tippin. "Our cruises are about peace and tranquility from a different point of view."

Tippin added that Chase-NFins is the only boat on Pensacola Beach that exclusively offers commercial dolphin cruises.

"Other charter boats are fishing boats. That's their bread and butter. I do nothing but two hour dolphin cruises," Tippin said.

The captain added that even though 90 percent of his cruises come across dolphins, an encounter cannot be guaranteed. However, in the

unlikely event

pas- sengers do not rendezvous with the aquatic mammals, patrons are asked to join Captain Tippin for a complementary cruise at their leisure.

Chase-N-Fins can accommodate the elderly, handicapped, wheelchair users and children of all ages including infants. Tippin encourages all patrons to bring sunscreen. Chase-N-Fins is also available for private outings and special events.

Cruises are $25 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under and children under 5 years of age are free. For Father's Day, Aquatic Charters is offering dads a $5 discount on June 17.

For more information, visit www.chase-n-fins.com or call 850-492-6337 to book your cruise today. Walk-ons are welcome. Chase-N-Fins is certified for up to 49 passengers and has a 15-passenger minimum.

Fly the Boat

For the more adventurous spirit, Fly the Boat offers patrons an aerial view of the beautiful emerald coast while learning to fly. Navarre resident Jeff Bell is an Aero Sports Connection (ASC) certified flight instructor and offers his service on what is best described as a cross between an inflatable pontoon raft and a motorized hang glider. Bell said the machine has a cruising speed of approximately 70 mph and can make a round trip from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach in less than an hour.

"It's like flying a motorcycle in the sky," Bell said of his craft. "Half of the enjoyment is having the wind in your face. The other half is the great view of our surroundings."

Bell, who upholds the highest safety standards, said his service relies heavily on the weather and he only flies when the wind is blowing at 10 knots or less. Interested parties should weigh less than 250 pounds and must have parent or guardian approval if under the age of 18.

Bell, who said he has been certified with ASC for three years and has had a private pilot license for nearly 20 years, offers 15 to 20 minute introductory flight lessons for $60, or an hour-long introductory flight lesson for $150. For the serious student, Bell offers a 10-hour package designed to promote students to solo capabilities for $1,250. No previous flight experience is necessary.

"The runway is always flat," Bell said in reference to his aquatic landing strip. "In all my years of flying, this is the safest… I only fly on beautiful days."

For more information and a picture gallery visit www.flytheboat. com. To schedule a lesson, call 850-324-4359. Next Week:

Check back with Gulf Breeze News next issue to see more local businesses offering exciting new services in the area. Highlights include Gulf Breeze Boats, a brand new business in Gulf Breeze offering a diverse selection of outdoor rentals including the area's only Segway rental.

To have your business considered for our list of top things to do for summer, contact us at news@gulfbreezenews. com or call at 850-932-8986.