Any traveler can enjoy a visit to the Florida Panhandle, even multiple times. Extending about 300 miles across western Florida are various types of geographies--white, sandy beaches along clear waters; forests; tourist attractions; remote hideaways; and small towns. Getaways for groups of friends, couples and families can be found along the southern borders of Alabama and Georgia, down to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
One of the most popular tourist attractions on the Florida Panhandle is Panama City and its beach. It is home to more than 25 miles of beaches and plenty of hotels and condominiums, restaurants and clubs, shopping centers and other attractions. Popular outdoor activities include dolphin tour cruises and kayaking, hiking in Camp Helen or St. Andrews State Parks or touring Shell Island. After adventure-filled days, wind down at one of the town's many seafood restaurants like Dirty Dick's Crab House or Pompano's.
Camp Helen State Park
23937 Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach, FL 32413
850-233-5059
floridastateparks.org/camphelen
Dirty Dick's Crab House
9800 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407
850-230-3425
dirtydickscrabs.com
Pompano's
10292 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407
850-233-9080
discoverpompanos.com
St. Andrews State Park
4607 Park Boulevard
Panama City, FL 32408
850-233-5140
floridastateparks.org/StAndrews
A more family-friendly beach environment is found in Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Still home to plenty of accommodations, restaurants, water activities and other attractions, the atmosphere is more laid-back. Family attractions include Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park and Gator Beach at Fudpucker's Restaurant, home to dozens of alligators, turtles and other creatures that guests can visit for free. Destin also is home to seafood restaurants like the Crab Trap Seafood & Oyster Bar and other popular local and chain eateries.
Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park
1007 U.S. 98
Destin, FL 32541
850-837-4061
bigkahunas.com
Crab Trap
3500 Scenic Highway 98
Destin, FL 32541
850-654-2722
crabtrapdestin.com
Gator Beach
20001 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541
850-837-4781
gatorbeach.com
In the northeastern section of the Florida Panhandle along Interstate 10 near the Georgia border sits the capital of Florida--Tallahassee. Throughout the year, locals and visitors can stroll the downtown streets and enjoy popular festivals and events. Especially at nights and on weekends, visit popular restaurants like Cypress Restaurant for steak and seafood or shop at dozens of local boutiques, art galleries and bookstores. Just outside the many downtown attractions is the Apalachicola National Forest, where those looking for escape from city life can camp, hike, hunt or boat on hundreds of thousands of acres of land and water, the largest forest in Florida.
Cypress Restaurant
320 East Tennessee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-513-1100
cypressrestaurant.com
Apalachicola National Forest
325 John Knox Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
904-942-9300
stateparks.com/Apalachicola
One of the westernmost cities on the Florida Panhandle is Pensacola, located in a bay area near the Gulf Coast of Mexico. In addition to miles of white beaches, state parks and museums, Pensacola is home to attractions like the National Naval Aviation Museum. The historic city also is filled with notable attractions, like St. Michael's Cemetery, Florida's oldest cemetery; The Mighty O, or the shipwrecked aircraft carrier Oriskany; and Historic Pensacola Village, among other historic churches, buildings and other sites.
National Naval Aviation Museum
1750 Radford Boulevard
Pensacola, FL 32508
850-452-3604
navalaviationmuseum.org
