Visit Florida - Visit Florida 2026
NORTHWEST
2025-12-07 07:50:28
Idyllic Sights & Southern Charm
A string of laid-back beach towns steeped in history defines Florida’s northernmost Gulf Coast. Unwind on sugar-white sand, soak in emerald waters, discover close-knit communities with deep history, and embark on outdoor adventures. From Pensacola to Apalachicola, take in Old Florida treasures balanced with new-world offerings.
For a detailed state map, see pages 20-21.
ATTRACTIONS
Craving an adrenaline rush? Soar on ziplines, scale LED-lit climbing walls, bounce in aqua spheres, and take the plunge with bungee freefalls at Destin’s HarborWalk Adventures. Spark curiosity at the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach, where hands-on exhibits—including dino digs, robotics, hurricane simulators, and space exploration—bring science and physics to life. Meet Sweet Pea, a resident green sea turtle, in her saltwater pool at Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Navarre. Shop the 120 stores, then catch a film at The Grand IMAX movie theater at Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Descend into the hidden world of Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, where cool air, glistening stalactites, and ancient stalagmites create a breathtaking underground adventure.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Scan the QR code to discover places to stay in Northwest Florida: VISITFLORIDA.com/places-to-stay
DINING
Keep everyone in your gang happy at The Garden at Palafox + Main—Pensacola’s outdoor food hall—where diverse eats, drinks, and good vibes come together in one lively spot. Feast on award-winning fried chicken and sip craft beers at Fort Walton Beach gastropub The Craft Bar. In Apalachicola, enjoy the view from the open-air deck of Up the Creek Raw Bar while you wait to taste oysters on the half shell. For barrel-aged brews, dart games, and local tunes, grab a seat at the family-owned taproom of Grayton Beer Company in Santa Rosa Beach. Bistrology brings Instagram-worthy aesthetics and big-city brunch vibes to Miramar Beach with elevated coffee drinks, juices, and stacks of pancakes.
OUTDOORS
Camp and canoe near Holt at Blackwater State Park’s tea-colored river—one of the purest water flows in the country. Check off three adventures in one at St. Andrews Bay in Panama City, where you can fish, snorkel, and surf in sparkling emerald waters. Road-trip down Scenic Highway 30A, a 24-mile stretch hugging the Gulf between Santa Rosa Beach and Seaside Beach, and explore sugar-white sands, rare coastal dune lakes, and charming towns. Traverse Econfina River State Park near Youngstown by horse, foot, or kayak, and take in wild Florida scenery as the river winds its way to the Gulf. Breeze your worries away on a captained catamaran sail aboard Destin Sailing Adventures on Okaloosa Island—keep a lookout for pods of dolphins at play.
EVENTS
Enjoy soulful headliners and let smooth jazz carry you into the sands of Panama City Beach at the five-day Seabreeze Jazz Festival every April. Come June, hook into the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic in Miramar Beach for exciting weigh-ins, live music, and a lively festival of sport fishermen from around the world.
ARTS & CULTURE
Celebrate the storied past of the Spanish Baroque-style Saenger Theatre in Pensacola—fondly known as the “Grand Dame of Palafox.” In Sandestin, browse creativity along the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, where artists exhibit their work during open-air art walks, as well as in galleries and shops. Partake in the area’s finest symphonic offerings with season tickets to a Sinfonia Gulf Coast Symphony concert in Destin. Certified divers can tour North America’s first permanent underwater sculpture park, the Underwater Museum of Art, situated about a mile offshore from Grayton Beach. In Watersound, catch a concert by popular acts or regional touring artists at The Big Chill 30A, a vibrant indoor-outdoor music hub.
Scan the QR code for a list of upcoming events: VISITFLORIDA.com/things-to-do/events
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