Natural oceanic wonders, deep-fried seafood and gallons of entertainment flow throughout Florida’s Panhandle. We could go on forever with travel tips. So consider the following a greatest hits of sorts; a not-to-miss playlist of Panhandle playtime.
PANAMA CITY BEACH
St. Andrews State Park (4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach, 850-233-5140, floridastateparks.org/park/St-Andrews) hooks sun worshippers with its 1 1/2 miles of snowy white beaches. Snorkelers can enjoy an area protected by jetties, nicknamed the kiddie pool, and its subdued emerald waters. Fishing and wildlife trails beckon.
Soothe the sunburn by visiting Pier Park (600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach, 850-236-9974, simon.com/mall/pier-park). The outdoor shopping and entertainment center sprawls with more than 120 retailers, dining options, a movie theater with Imax and the reborn Miracle Strip Amusement Park.
The adjacent Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater plays host to music acts, including the Seabreeze Jazz Festival (April 20-24). Weekly free concerts drop in the summer.
Surfing Panama City Beach's seafood options could fill volumes. Consider starting with these casual beachfront eateries. Hook'd Pier Bar (16201 C Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, 850-233-8232, hookedpierbar.com) gets marks for its fish tacos and dog-friendly patio. The Big Island Platter at Runaway Island (14521 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, 850-634-4884, runawayislandpcb.com) tempts with Gulf shrimp, a crabcake and your choice of fish.
PERDIDO KEY
Perdido Key, a barrier island between Pensacola and Orange Beach, Ala., sits in the northwest Panhandle right on the Gulf of Mexico. Natural beauty abounds especially at Big Lagoon State Park (12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, 850-492-1595, floridastateparks.org/park/Big-Lagoon). More than 600 acres lure a hodgepodge of birds you can watch from a four-story observation tower.
Stop by the Perdido Key Visitors Information Center (15500 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, 850-492-4660, visitperdido.com) for tips and an eyeful of the 403-gallon pirate ship fish tank. The folks from the Animal Planet show "Tanked" built it complete with mermaid figurehead on the bow.
After five decades, the Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar (17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, 850-492-0611, florabama.com) remains the stuff of beach bar legend with live music, seafood and suds. Where else would you find the Interstate Mullet Toss (April 22-24), the Miss Memorial Day Bikini Contest (May 29) and church service every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.?
Brave the 177 steps of the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum (2081 Radford Blvd., Pensacola, 850-393-1561, pensacolalighthouse.org) for killer views of the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway. Fork over $20 on select days, sit on the catwalk and watch the Blue Angels jets practice. Restoration work at the lighthouse means it will only be open for climbing Fri.-Sun. until June 1, 2016. It's probably a good idea to call or check the website to make sure they stay on schedule.
APALACHICOLA
The small bay town teems with historic homes, maritime culture and old-school charm. Get a taste of its history with a visit to Dixie Theatre (21 Avenue E, Apalachicola, 850-653-3200, dixietheatre.com), which dates back to 1913. Live music and theater rule its stage.
Grateful to have ice in your cocktail glass? Then pay your respects at the John Gorrie Museum State Park (46 Sixth St., Apalachicola, 850-653-9347, floridastateparks.org/park/John-Gorrie-Museum). This inventor created the first ice maker.
The Florida Seafood Festival draws nearly 30,000 visitors annually. Copious seafood, live music, eating contests and more overtake Battery Park (1 Bay Ave., Apalachicola, 888-653-8011, floridaseafoodfestival.com) Dates for this fall event should be announced soon.
Head to nearby St. George Island and climb the 92 steps of the Cape St. George Lighthouse (2 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, 850-927-7745, stgeorgelight.org) for an expansive look at the bay and entire island.
PORT ST. JOE/GULF COUNTY
The T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, 850-227-1327, floridastateparks.org/park/St-Joseph) has an award-winning reputation for its beach. The massive dunes tower nearly 60 feet tall. Campsites and cabins await.
The honor system comes into play at the uber-casual Indian Pass Raw Bar (8391 Indian Pass Road, Port St. Joe, 850-227-1670, indianpassrawbar.com). A live music soundtrack plays as you grab a beer from the cooler and slurp on oysters. Make sure to keep the bottle caps for an end-of-your-visit tally.
Scoot through White City and head to the north of Gulf County for the wildlife-rich Dead Lakes Recreation Area (Gary Rowell Road, Wewahitchka, 850-229-7800, Gulf County Tourist Development Council) in small town Wewahitchka. The Dead Lakes prove breathtakingly eerie with skeletal stumps and knees of cypress trees reaching out of the water. Keep an eye out for the White Tupelo trees, the source of the area's famed Tupelo honey.
Soak up the legendary sunset with a libation at downtown watering hole the Thirsty Goat Bar & Grill (501 Monument Ave., Port St. Joe, 850-229-7678, thethirstygoat.com). You're not hallucinating if you happen to see a guy in a goat costume behind the bar.
The long-standing family-ready tradition of scalloping continues in St. Joseph Bay. You’ll need snorkeling gear, a net, dive flag and fishing license to snatch the creatures from the grass beds. Cook them yourself or transport your bounty to a participating restaurant, and they’ll whip up a dish for you.
SOUTH WALTON
Sixteen distinct beaches totaling 26 miles of powdery white sand make the area a hot pick among vacationers. The vintage coastal vibe of Miramar Beach stays high on the radar with its shopping, dining and water-based activities. Score sand sculpture advice from the pros at Beach Sand Sculptures (303-681-2631, beachsandsculptures.com). They'll bring the skills and tools to you.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (9300 Emerald Coast Parkway W., Miramar Beach, 850-267-8000, sandestin.com) draws big with its beaches, spa, golf and tennis opportunities, and activities and entertainment at Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Festivals season rocks with the Sandestin Wine Festival (April 14-17), South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival (April 28-May 1) and ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival (May 7-8).
Other highlights include the coastal dune lakes and ecotourism of Dune Allen; the lush flora and regal Wesley Mansion at Eden Gardens State Park (181 Eden Gardens Road, Santa Rosa Beach, 850-267-8320, floridastateparks.org/park/Eden-Gardens); and the Mediterranean-infused and art-centric 'hood of Alys Beach.
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