Florida's Panhandle area extends some 200 miles to the northwest of the main body of the state and boasts some of the finest beaches in America. While the big cities and resorts might have a reputation for being loud, brash and full of partying college students, the Panhandle area is also home to dozens of quiet fishing communities, several State Parks and golf courses, meaning you can escape the crowds and enjoy a quiet beach vacation here.
Situated off Florida's Forgotten Coast, St George Island is 28 miles long and just 2 miles across at its widest point and is linked to the mainland by a bridge across the Apalachicola Bay.
The western part of the island is home to several upmarket housing communities, with many residents renting their properties out to vacationers each summer, as well as hotels, bars and restaurants. The eastern side of St George, however, is much quieter and is home to the St George Island National Park. Here, you can enjoy miles of unspoiled sugar-white sand beaches, nature trails through pine forests, bird watching and fishing. Between the months of May and October, the island welcomes leatherback sea turtles, which come ashore to lay their eggs, so several beaches may be closed.
A small city in Franklin County in the heart of the Forgotten Coast, Apalachicola was founded as a trading and fishing port, although these days tourism has become an important source of local revenue. Many old warehouses have been converted into artisans' shops, bars and restaurants, most of which specialize in freshly-caught seafood. Apalachicola is not as isolated as St. George Island, but still offers a slow-paced, small-town charm.
Several picturesque white-sand beaches are located just a few minutes from the center of the city, while other local natural attractions include the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve and National Forest.
Stretching along the Florida panhandle from Pensacola to Destin, the Emerald Coast is the chosen destination of both raucous spring-breakers and those looking for some peace and quiet. While you may want to avoid Destin and its immediate surroundings – still lumbered with the 'Redneck Riviera' tag – you can find dozens of quiet fishing villages with small hotels dotted along the coastline, among them Perdido Key and historic Grayton Beach.
Attractions in this part of Florida include walking, bird and turtle spotting and deep sea diving. The area also boasts several world-class golf courses, as well as numerous restaurants and bars.
Just a short drive from Pensacola, the Big Lagoon State Park welcomes visitors keen to get away from the crowds and noise of the coastal resorts. Spread across 665 acres, the park is located on the northern shoreline of the Big Lagoon, which separates the Florida mainland from Perdido Key and the Gulf of Mexico.
Hotels abound in nearby Pensacola, but if you want to get back to nature, camp in the State Park itself. Both RV and tent campers are welcome. Staying here means you'll have miles of hiking trails and a range of activities, including kayaking, fishing, crabbing and biking right on your doorstep.
