Best Florida Panhandle Beaches?

[sandlover]

I agree with the poster below, the beaches at Sand Key are crowded, dirty, and far too commercial to be enjoyed by most adults. Every 5 minutes a tour boat or plane would go by, and the hustle on the beach was far too hectic to lay back and relax. Could someone recommend a beach (resort) that is non-commercial - no gift shops wall to wall, etc. Sand, surf, and palm trees as far as the eye can see would be wonderful!

 

[sandlover]

Would love to hear your suggestions!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We like the excitement of the hustle at the beach. But it is probably because I grew up going to Cape San Blas and St. George Island-2 very low key beaches in the panhandle. I would even get bored here as a child(imagine that!). Both these beaches are often in the top 10 beautiful beaches in the nation. BUT, there is not much if anything else to do or places to eat there(St. George has a few places, a good drive from Cape San Blas). My mom and dad would drive us to Panama City Beach once during our week trip for some excitement ! Destin is beautiful and more to it. For day trips we still enjoy St. George, but we pick more upbeat places for week long trips. Just our humble preference !

 

[LisaRay]

BibbidiBobbidiBoo........WOW, We are going to end our vacation with 3 nights at st. george island over 4th of july weekend! We've never been but may parents went last year and loved it. They found alot of nice shells and 200 sand dollars! So we are gonna give it a try. We have a 12 and 3 year old so only staying 3 nights don't want to get too bored and we're all in a very blah motel room!

I was just so excited when i saw that someone else had been here it looks like such a small place that no one has ever heard of!

 

[momof2inPA]

From Pensacola Beach to Navarre the Gulf is lined with beautiful homes, some of them rentals, and a park separates some of the built-up area. There are also good restaurants a short drive away. Depends on how secluded you want to be and what you want to spend-- these places are not at all cheap.

Our extended family is going to Destin, but it is much more populated than the other areas.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Yes, rental beach houses are all we ever stayed in at Cape San Blas.
LisaRay-I did not even realize St. George had a motel ! It is a pretty beach, an easy day trip for us ! I hope the seaweed has not been a problem this year. One time it was-can't remember why. I know they have the tandem bikes and such to rent there. Don't think Cape San Blas has anything like that. There are also some little shops for ice cream, convenience and beach items. Places to eat out are not as far from St. George either.
I do love Destin. We love St Pete area too. The Gulf Coast is the way to go.

 

[ltribble31021]

My mother-in-law took three families down to Seacreast Beach. You will not find it on many maps, but there are several of the beaches called the Beaches of South Walton. Most of the beaches have wonderful condo's on them. It is about half way between Panama City and Destin. So you have access to go and do more activites at night if you would like. Here is a link to some condo's and all in that area www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

 

[deena]

is a great getaway for both families or singles. We were there in 1999 (stayed at the Best Western; highly reccomend) and the sand quality was outstanding in addition to having a small noncommercial but nice variety of shops, activities, and restaurants nearby in a highly serene as well as relaxing atmosphere.

 

[floridafam]

I'm not sure I understand your post. Are you responding to a different thread or starting a new one?


We find the beach at Sand Key to be one of the quitest we have ever been to. We stay at the Sheraton Sand Key and the beach couldn't get more quiet.

The beaches at Clearwater Beach are a different story-they are busy, etc. but the beach at Sand Key is so relaxing. We almost always had the water to ourselves, we see dolphins, rent an umbrella, chairs, etc. from the stand near the hotel.

We found the beaches in Panama City Beach to be more crowded than Sand Key. I would never go to the beach at Clearwater Beach anymore. That is why we don't stay at any of the hotels on that beach. We cross the bridge and stay at Sand Key. That short little bridge ride makes a world of difference.

 

[Steve P]

FWIW, St. Joseph State Park, between Apalachicola and Panama City was rated best beach in America by NBC news last year, looks quiet and beeyooteeful from the pics I've seen of it. It's
about 8 to 8.5 hours drive from WDW. The town of Port St Joe is nearby.