|
|||
The northwestern gateway to Florida
 |
Florida's PANHANDLE |
The northwestern
gateway into Florida is an unmistakable paradise. Sugar-white beaches
line more than 52 miles of the Gulf shoreline, an average of 343 days
of sunshine reflect brilliantly off the emerald green coastal waters and
average year-round temperatures stay at a comfortable 75 degrees.
The Europeans originally settled Pensacola or the "City of Five Flags"
in 1559, giving them the distinction of being "America's first European
settlement".
However, shortly after the Europeans arrived, a hurricane destroyed the
supplies and the explorers struggled to survive. Two years later, Pensacola
was abandoned for St. Augustine, giving Florida's eastern locale the distinction
of being "America's Oldest Continuously Settled City". Since
then, the "Panhandle" has been under the control of the Spanish,
French, English, Americans and Confederates throughout its history.
Pensacola's military history began when British and Spanish explorers
first established forts in the mid-1700s. In fact, the current site of
Pensacola Naval Air Station began as a Spanish fort built in 1797. Since
that time Pensacola has proudly displayed its military history with local
historical sites serving as windows into the past.
 |
| COURTESY OF PENSACOLA CVB |
The National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola serves as one of the three largest aviation museums in the world and is currently among the top 10 visitor attractions in Florida. Among the area's museums and historical sites, one of Pensacola's proudest accolades is serving as the home of the Navy's Blue Angels. The team awes spectators with stunning aerobatics and graceful precision flying performed in blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets. The "Blues" formally perform two shows in Pensacola - in July and November - but visitors can get a close-up glimpse by attending their weekly practices at Pensacola NAS during the air show season, which runs from March through November.
If you prefer to keep both feet on the ground, Northwest Florida has kept its natural beauty intact. Outdoor opportunities stretch from the shimmering Gulf of Mexico to the rustic woodlands and creeks of the "Canoe Capital of Florida" in Milton (Santa Rosa County).Consistently ranked among the best beaches in the nation, Perdido Key Beach is embodied by nearly 70 per cent of protected parkland. Nearby Big Lagoon State Recreation Area offers fishing, boating, crabbing, camping and hiking trails.
Birders will enjoy the abundance of sheltered areas for spotting protected and seasonal species. In fact, one of the golf courses in the area, Lost Key, has been designated by the Audubon Society as a "signature cooperative sanctuary", voluntarily adhering to the specific ecological guidelines.
Pensacola's beach atmosphere ranges from lively crowds with lifeguards to desolate beaches bordered by wispy sea grass. One of the newest attractions found on Pensacola Beach is the Fishing Pier and Observation Post. At 1,471 feet, the pier is the longest on the Gulf of Mexico, stretching across emerald-green waters and beyond two sandbars, providing breathtaking views of the shoreline.
 |
| Pensacola's
beach |
When it comes to sports, this Gulf Coast community is a major player. Pensacola is home to Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, and Derrick Brooks, Super Bowl champion and NFL defensive Player of the Year for 2002.
More than a dozen 18-hole golf courses are available in the area. The Five Flags Speedway, National Roller Skating Championships and the Van's Triple Crown/Ford Ranger Professional Wakeboard Championships on scenic Bayou Texar are only a glimpse into the area's numerous alternatives designed to keep visitors active during vacation.
Explore the distinctively unique side of Pensacola. Lighthouse doors slam by themselves and footsteps are heard coming down the stairs at the haunted Pensacola lighthouse, built in 1859. Even the most skeptical visitors might change their minds during Pensacola's Historical Society Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tour, a narrated journey led by costumed guides through 39 different sites of historic Seville and North Hill districts.
When you've worked up an appetite, the Pensacola area offers a diverse culinary cuisine selection. Surround yourself with more than 500,000 one-dollar bills at McGuire's Irish Pub. Although its name is derived from an Irish heritage, McGuire's is one of America's finest steakhouses serving only USDA prime certified steaks, which are freshly cut daily.
For fresh seafood and an eclectic atmosphere, the Pelican's Perch is the place that locals come to dine. Serving up a delightful Sunday champagne brunch, monthly wine-tasting dinner and home-made desserts, it's easy to discover why this has become a Perdido Key institution.
Nearby Navarre Beach in Santa Rosa County is a peaceful Gulf of Mexico retreat. Named one of the best beaches in the U.S. several years in a row, Navarre Beach is home to the Blackwater River State Forest. The forest resides on 189,000 lush acres between the Conecuh National Forest and Eglin Air Force Base.
Visitors can go for the green at any of the area's championship golf courses, savor a tasting as local restaurants serve up fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood or hometown specialties, or browse the numerous shops, boutiques and consignment shops. For a unique look at Navarre's eco-tourism, the Panhandle Butterfly House & Nature Walk of Navarre features more than 200 native-to-the-area butterflies and butterfly-attracting plants.
They say the greener the water, the bigger the fish. That saying reigns true on Florida's Emerald Coast as Destin is deemed the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village."
With 24 miles of alluring sugar-white sands and sparkling emerald green waters, the Emerald Coast encompasses the southern sea towns of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. This laidback slice of Florida's upper Gulf Coast boasts of their preferred activity, "relaxing and doing as little as possible." Whether you choose to play the 1,080 holes of championship golf, tube down the meandering moss-draped rivers or fish from Florida's largest charter boat fleet for the elusive big blue, the Emerald Coast offers everything vacationers need to unwind.
The Emerald Coast eateries are out to impress one thing - your taste buds! From rackety-shack oyster bars to upscale dining alternatives, food here is served with good ole southern hospitality. One claim to fame of the Emerald Coast is "the freshest seafood in Florida". This claim is justified as there are always at least 20 species of tasty fish available during various seasons, over four times more than most destinations.
For shopping and entertainment, Destin Commons hosts numerous unique and upscale stores, a 14-screen Rave Theatre, children's play area and Bass Pro Shop. Nearby, the Zoo in Destin provides visitors with an up-close look at more than 700 animals including towering giraffes and white Bengal tigers.
With a consistently enticing climate, the readers of Southern Living have acclaimed the Emerald Coast as one of the top five "Favorite Family Vacation Destinations". From luxury to economy, Florida's upper Gulf Coast offers more than 20,000 beachfront rooms in popular hotels, condominiums, private cottages and beach houses.
Further east, visitors find themselves at the Beaches of South Walton, a collection of 13 eclectic beach communities characterized by 17 fresh and saltwater lakes and the Choctawhatchee Bay.
The sand on South Walton's beaches is extremely fine due to the enormous distance it traveled to reach its destination. Particles of quartz, once part of the Appalachian Mountains, were washed over millions of years into riverbeds and transported by the river to the ocean.
"The Beaches" offer 189 holes of unsurpassed golfing opportunities concentrated along a 12-mile stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, including Sandestin's Burnt Pine Golf Club, Links and Baytown - all named in Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play."
The adventurist looking for an off-the-beaten-path hidden treasure will want to explore The Gourd Garden and Curiosity Shop on Scenic Highway 30-A in Seagrove Beach. This soothing garden retreat features decorative gourds, art, herbs and flowers from the Deep South.
One of the area's largest events, ArtsQuest, at Sandestin Golf and Country Club is a weeklong celebration of artisans that culminates with a juried fine arts festival and is ranked as one of the top 200 arts festivals in the country.
For the ideal beachfront locale, Seaside is a sand-filled oasis. Visitors will discover pedestrian-friendly streets, natural landscaping and a requirement that all residential homes must sport white wooden picket fences at street-front property lines. If the town looks familiar to you while strolling its quaint streets, that's because it's the town they used to film Jim Carrey's Hollywood hit, The Truman Show.
The village of Seaside has more than 400 individual accommodations that range from multi-million-dollar homes for rent to beachfront honeymoon hideaways with fireplaces. In a nod to Seaside's sense of humor, the Seaside Motor Court is a retro-retreat of one-bedroom, 1950s-style accommodations, nicknamed by staff "the original no-tell motel" and privately owned cottages with names such as Plum Lazy and Always 5 o'Clock. Both options are available through the Seaside Cottage Rental Agency.
In the northwestern portion of the Panhandle, visitors can explore Panama City Beach, which is often referred to as Florida's Great Northwest Coastal Region.
Best known for its sugary white sand beaches and clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay, this city is perfect for sunbathing, castle-building and water sports.
Fishing in the area is a year-round sport but spring and fall offer the best angling opportunities. During March, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are found in the bay with trout and redfish being prime catches during the summer months.
One of Panama City's best-kept secrets was revealed when Golf Digest named the area the third best golf town in the country. According to Golf Digest, the region earned this title due to its number of courses per capita, average greens fees, star ratings/difficulty rankings and weather.
Make some family memories by spending time exploring Gulf World Marine Park, featuring more than 25 shows daily in the new, state-of-the-art Dolphin Stadium. Or, if the kids prefer a faster pace, Miracle Strip Amusement Park offers rides that range from mild to wild. Adults and teenagers can take the breathtaking 2,000-foot-long Starline Roller Coaster while younger children can enjoy themselves on the carousel and kiddy rides.
Panama City Beach boasts a wide array of colorful dining establishments. From casual dining to award-winning eateries, the city known as the "Seafood Capital of the World" offers visitors sumptuous choices.
If you are traveling to the Emerald Coast with a large party or gathering, the newest full-service transportation company, Sunshine Shuttle, provides first-class shuttle service via brand new vans, Lincoln Town Cars and limousines, giving an unprecedented level of service to those relying on transportation. Service is available from Pensacola to Panama City Beach. -