Pensacola & Panhandle Beaches??

[GEM]

I don't know if this is where this should go, so feel free to move it if it should be somewhere else. I just could't figure out where to put it.

We are driving down for our trip in December and we are planning on taking our time and enjoying a few things along the way. We are planning on heading southeast toward Mobile and then driving through the Florida panhandle along the coast for a while. We were thinking of stopping and spending part of day at the beach in Pensacola. Is the beach there worth stopping for? Would someplace else along our route be better? Any information is much appreciated!

 

[hercamore]

Yes, don't miss seeing the beauteous emerald waters and baby fine sand of the Fl Panhandle beaches!

I don't have time for a long post right now, but I'll get back to you if others haven't replied with addnl. info.

Herc.

 

[GEM]

Thanks! We definately want to stop at some nice beaches. I looked at the map and it looks like Pensacola, Fort Walton, Destin, and Panama City are all located along Hwy 98. Does anybody know which beaches would be best to stop at??

We are thining of taking Hwy 98 from Pensacola to Panama City and then cutting back up north and picking up I-10 again, so I guess we are looking for beaches on that stretch of 98 between Pensacola and Panama City.

 

[abbysmom]

Destin is a beautiful place right along Hwy 98 and there are lots of hotels to stay at right along the ocean. Destin has been repeatedly voted on as one of the top destinations in USA today and Southern Living. Emerald green waters and fine sugary sand.

 

[mirlow]

We started going to WDW 3 yrs ago because my dh's family has been going to Destin for 20 yrs and we finally joined them.We figured if we're going to be in Florida we might as well go to WDW We go in July and we have a great time. The beach is beautiful

 

[DisneyTJ]

Definitely Destin has the best beach. Much prettier than Pensacola.

My vote: DESTIN all the way.

DisneyTJ

 

[Shannon D]

Well, I've never been to Destin, but we used to live in Pensacola and we LOVE it there. The beach is great, but even better are the many fine (and fun!) restaurants.

McGuire's
Jubilee (upstairs fine dining)
Flounders

to name a few...

Have a great trip

 

[stevenpensacola]

As a Pensacola native and lifelong resident, I'm a little partial to Pensacola Beach. Pensacola Beach is so much more laid back than Destin. Destin is a lot more like Disney World in the sense of people everywhere going going going....hard to relax there.

Pensacola is home of Gulf Islands National Seashore/Fort Pickens where you can walk miles of beaches without a condo in sight.

http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/

Pensacola also has the National Musuem of Naval Aviation

http://www.naval-air.org/

One of the best air/space museums in the world (and it's Free!).

Pensacola Naval Air Station is also home of the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team. They practice once or twice a week over the Air Station. You can watch the practice from a special viewing area behind the museum. Small crowds and pilot autographs/greeting afterwards.

 

[Honeychild]

The Emerald Coast is beautiful, and I call it home! I'm not sure what you are looking for, but Grayton Beach and Seaside get my vote!

http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/Seaside_beach.asp

 

[TomM]

I would second the Pensacola/Ft Pickens beach. I was stationed there in the Coast Guard. Like was said earlier, miles of natural beach.
TomM

 

[perd]

Don't stop at Pensacola or Destin! Go on to the Seaside/Seagrove/Rosemary Beach area. You will not be disappointed!

We first saw Seaside on our way to Disney in 1994 and have been back many times. Although it's now too developed IMO, and too expensive to stay in Seaside, the beach is still beautiful. We spent a week at Seagrove last summer - walking distance to Seaside. Destin is a lot more crowded and Pensacola is just not as nice. And Panama City is REALLY not as nice.

 

[Russell]

We go to Pensacola Beach every year. We love it there! I grew up near Panama City and and have been to many panhandle beaches. Pensacola is laid back enough for a relaxing time but developed enough to find good rooms on the beach and good food. We love the Naval Aviation Museum! The new pier is wonderful to walk on and if you go try the key lime pie at Flounders!

 

[Trena]

I live in Panama City. The beaches here are wonderful. You can't go wrong visiting anywhere in the panhandle. If you need any info or help let me know!

Trena

 

[GEM]

Thanks so much for all the great information! One more question. We are hoping to stop for a picnic on the beach someplace along our drive between Pensacola and Panama City. It will be December, so I'm guessing it will be too cold to actually get in the water. We just want a nice place to have a picnic and sit on the beach. We will have a cooler with food and drinks, so it doesn't have to be someplace we can buy food. Any suggestions?

One more kind of silly question - if we are driving along HWY 98, are most of the beaches along the highway, or do we have to get off the highway to see the beaches?

 

[stevenpensacola]

The prettiest beach drive is from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach through the Gulf Islands National Seashore. You'll be driving through brilliant white sand dunes with the Gulf on your right and Pensacola Bay/Intracoastal waterway on your left.
Unfortunately, this road is presently closed due to damage from Tropical Storm Hannah. You could probably check the National Park Service/gulf islands national seashore web site to see if the road is open when you're coming this way. There is a nice picnic pavillion on this road.

From Navarre to FWB you want see any beach. The drive from FWB to Destin is pretty.

Going over the Destin bridge is breathtaking. There is a nice state park with picnic facilities on the east side of Destin. Past the state park, you can get back on scenic 98 which is right on the coast. This is a pretty drive, but your view will be somewhat blocked by condos and houses. There are several public beaches with picnic facilities along this stretch.

Next you'll pass through SanDestin. Take scenic Highway 30A (I think that's the road number). Not a lot of beach views but you do pass through some pretty beach communities.

After going through Pensacola, Navarre, and Destin, you might want to skip riding through Panama City Beach proper (it's really tacky).

For a change of pace, stay on Highway 98 after leaving Panama City until you get to Perry. It's really off the beaten path, and takes you back to how Florida used to be. You'll pass through several quaint towns along the way....beats looking at pine trees going down the interstate.

At Perry, take 27/19 south, just use your map and work your way to Orlando. There's a beautiful bed and breakfast in a little town called Bushnell that we've stayed at twice. A nice place to relax before hitting the zoo that Disney World is. The place is called the Cypress House Bed and Breakfast. http://www.bbonline.com/fl/cypresshouse/

Hope this helps. There's so much more to Florida than the Mouse.
Take the time to visit some of the state parks, many which are located just minutes off of the interstates. Wakulla springs, homasassa springs, falling waters (did you know florida had a waterfall flowing into a sinkhole?)

Enjoy!

 

[GEM]

Thanks so much for all the great information! I really excited about seeing some of the "real" Florida! We spent a day at Blue Springs State Park last December and we enjoyed it so much. I can't wait!