Gulf Coast - Panhandle

Northwest Florida attractions

Visit Pensacola

Trip Report - Coastal Panhandle, July 2003

Very Southern - this is not South Beach or Miami Art Deco or New York delis. This is Old Florida - lots of scrub oak, pine trees, critters like cottonmouths, and absolutely breathtaking white sand beaches. The Gulf is a beautiful emerald color.

We flew into Pensacola and drove east. The area in which we spent the most time was the Highway 30A stretch - no high-rises there. Lots of tiny beach villages, including Seaside, which is where they filmed "The Truman Show." Seaside was artificially formed but is not a slick, soulless Disneyland-type of place. It is funky and colorful, and there is a lot happening there in terms of live music, theater, etc.

Grayton Beach is sort of a combination surfer town and artists' colony and reminds me of a tiny Santa Cruz, California or Boulder, Colorado before the PC Police took over.

Some places of note:

Boss Oyster, 123 Water Street, Apalachicola, Florida 32320; phone: (850) 653-9364 -- Funky seafood restaurant at the harbor of a very funky little town. We bought a White Trash Cookbook there. They also have the funky and interesting Gorrie Ice Museum (John Gorrie invented the first air conditioner).

House of Art in Grayton Beach -- Gordie and Lisa are cool artists and people.

Red Bar -- We loved this place. It is not off the beaten path in Grayton Beach at all, but getting there still is a bit of a stretch, I s'pose.

Pensacola -- If you go there, try to see the National Museum of Naval Aviation on the naval base there. It has some nice displays and a tour of the base, and it is free - can't beat that.

The Panhandle area has definitely been discovered. Prices have gone up, and there is an ongoing battle between the evil developers and concerned citizens who worry about the land. However, there is a lot of national parkland which should always remain unspoiled. Further east, there is the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, a refuge for the red wolf. Many locals are happy to see some development when it means better shopping and health care (a new hospital was built recently; a supermarket is coming). No McDonald's on 30A. No tagging. People don't lock their doors. I didn't want to come home.

Back to Florida State Guide

Last Updated: June 2007