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The north of Florida is simply breathtaking. Often referred to as the Panhandle or the Emerald Coast, this lesser-visited region of the Sunshine State holds a distinctive Deep South charm infused throughout its cities and coastal villages. People flock for the glorious beaches, exquisite seafood and unparalleled natural beauty, yet stay to mingle with the friendly locals and enjoy the southern hospitality.
A world away from the theme park thrills and touristy vibes of Orlando and beyond, Florida multi-centre holidays in the Panhandle offer a more relaxed approach. Here you’ll find the perfect setting for care-free beach fun, effortless drifting between its beguiling towns, and the chance to taste some of the world’s most succulent seafood.
North Florida Coast Highlights
Adventure northwards to experience a different side to the Sunshine State where life moves at a slower pace, but the holiday fun continues at full speed. Spend blissful beach days together, taste exciting new flavours, and shop eclectic styles and locally made crafts, all under a blanket of glorious Floridian sun.
Nature-Inspired Getaway
Picture-perfect white sands and blue-green waters edge much of the coastline on both the Gulf of Mexico side and the Atlantic Ocean side of the Panhandle. The region is also brimming with national and state parks shrouded in forests, lush marshlands, rivers and lakes abundant with wildlife that’s begging to be explored.
Excellent Seafood
The Emerald Coast’s unique geographical position along the Gulf of Mexico affords some of the world’s best fishing as well as unforgettable seafood to sink your teeth into. Delicious shrimp, oysters, lobsters and freshly caught fish are prepared and cooked to perfection, whether you eat at a pop-up food truck, a backwater snack shack or a fine dining establishment, you’ll eat very well here.
Rich Heritage
The Sunshine State embraces a deep Spanish colonial heritage, from its compact town squares and impressive architecture to its exotically spiced food and significant historic landmarks, there is a wealth of history and culture to discover that has helped shape the Florida we know and love today.
Relaxed Vibes
Holidaying on the North Florida Coast means doing as little or as much as you like. Go wildlife watching in its parks and natural areas, wander the pretty tree-lined streets and cultural sites of its cities and towns, or simply sit down with a coffee by the river and watch the world go by.
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Our North Florida Coast Favourites
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Jacksonville
North Florida Coast multi-centre holidays wouldn’t be complete without a stop in Jacksonville, located on the state’s northeastern Atlantic Coast. Known affectionately as the ‘River by the Sea’, Jacksonville sits on a long stretch of the beautiful St. Johns River and is also home to America’s largest urban park system, with more than 80,000 acres of parks including two national parks, seven state parks and preserves, plus hundreds of city parks to explore.
“Jax” is also famed for its powerful NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and coupled with the city’s thriving dining and nightlife scene and more than 20 miles of tranquil beaches, there’s certainly enough to keep you here for more than a few nights.
St. Augustine
Set just 40 miles south of Jacksonville, St. Augustine is referred to as the ‘Nation’s Oldest City’ with colonial Spanish influences pervading its streets, architecture and cuisine. This welcoming and peaceful place is also home to several historic landmarks such as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, an impressive 17 th century stone fort where you can walk its nature trails and soak up its rich history.
Family time in St. Augustine can be anything you want it to be. Spend lazy days on its expansive beaches, kayak through its state parks, or climb atop the St. Augustine lighthouse for gorgeous views. While boutique shopping, farmers’ markets and excellent seafood restaurants make up St. Augustine’s gorgeous small-town vibes – the perfect spot for a few chilled-out days!
Tallahassee
Fun fact: Tallahassee is the capital of Florida yet is only its seventh-largest city. Set to the very north of the Panhandle not far from the Georgia border, this unexpectedly blissful place is surrounded by lush forest, freshwater lakes and rolling hills, exuding old-world charm and true southern hospitality. Tallahassee is bursting with culture and will draw you in with its tree-lined historic districts, museums and art galleries, offering plenty to see and do for the entire family. As a ‘Designated Trail Town’, Tallahassee boasts more than 700 miles of walking, hiking and cycling trails, as well as paddling trails if you wish to take to the water in a canoe or kayak to explore this fascinating region.
Destin
Just 50 miles east of Pensacola, Destin is one of the most popular towns to visit along the Emerald Coast due to its flawless beaches, incredible dining and exciting shopping hotspots. Known affectionately as the ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village’, Destin also boasts the widest variety of fish in the region, making for plentiful angling opportunities and, of course, dining out on amazing seafood. There are activities for the entire family in abundance here, from aquariums and theme parks to please the kids, to challenging golf courses and a lively nightlife for the grown-ups. In Destin you’ll want to spend your days beachside enjoying the many leisure pursuits in and out of the water, think parasailing, snorkelling, paddleboarding and even kiteboarding for a real adventure!
Panama City Beach
The pride and joy of Florida’s northwest Gulf Coast, Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of marvellous, powder-soft white sands that seem to remain cool even on the hottest days. There is plenty along this huge stretch of beach to occupy everyone, with jet skiing and parasailing for adrenaline junkies, eco tours for families wanting to explore the surrounding nature, and of course endless sands for those who simply want to unwind under the parasol with a good book. Various nearby restaurants serving delicious seafood, cocktail brunches and out-of-this-world ice cream mean you will eat very well here, too!
Pensacola Beach
Tucked away in Florida’s far northwestern corner, the Pensacola Beach area is home to the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico. This award-winning expanse presents a classic Northern Florida mix of translucent emerald-green waters and sugar-white sands along its eight-mile stretch of the Santa Rosa barrier island.
Families, couples and groups will love the relaxed vibes up here, with calm, shallow waters for the kids to play, together with the iconic Pensacola Beach Pier and Portofino Boardwalk with its open-air shops, bars and restaurants. You can spend days on end outside absorbing the glorious Florida sunshine, whether you’re fishing off the end of the pier or simply lazing under a parasol, Pensacola Beach is the most blissful spot to do it.
Grayton Beach State Park
With a distinguishing bohemian vibe, Grayton Beach is a haven for artists, musicians and anyone who wishes to escape the humdrum and lose oneself by the sea. Set midway between Destin and Panama City on the Gulf of Mexico, the beautiful state park covers 400 acres with powder-soft sands, rare coastal dune lakes and winding nature trails through salt marshes and verdant scrubland.
Considered one of America’s best beaches, Grayton Beach is a must-visit stop off on multi-centre holidays on the North Florida Coast and not just for its swathe of picture-perfect sand. Grab a cold drink at a funky dive bar and roam its shops and galleries at your own pace. And to protect its undisturbed beauty, locals ask visitors to ‘take only pictures, leave only footprints.’
Navarre Beach
If quiet relaxation is on your agenda, Navarre should feature high on your Florida multi-centre itinerary. Nuzzled along the Gulf of Mexico in between the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Park, this small beachside community boasts 12 miles of pristine sands, offering welcome solitude and simple leisure pursuits like swimming, cycling and picnicking. Enjoy a wealth of watersports experiences like kayaking, snorkelling and paddleboarding in its turquoise gulf waters, take to the leafy woodlands beyond the sandy shoreline and go ziplining or encounter amazing wildlife at the nearby Gulf Breeze Zoo. This year-round paradise beckons with its unspoiled beauty and is waiting to be discovered.
Pier Park in Panama City Beach
This open-air venue is the city’s most popular shopping and entertainment destination, with 124 retail stores and dozens of dining options at your service. Pier Park is a lively sun-soaked hub from which the whole family can spend a few hours or even a whole day, just steps away from the beach. Wander around classic American department stores like Target and JCPenney and pick up one-off designer clothing items at one of the pier’s many boutiques. When you’ve worked up an appetite, sit down for a coffee (or something stronger) and dine on pizza, steaks or even sushi. Kids haven’t been forgotten with the IMAX cinema and interactive gaming arcade, mirror maze and laser tag experiences!
Silver Sands Premium Outlets in Destin
If you’ve been to Orlando, you’ll know that the Sunshine State boasts some of the greatest outlet malls in the world. And up in Florida’s northwest, the Silver Sands Premium Outlets is a popular attraction in the city of Destin, with high-end shopping at budget prices and more than 90 retail stores offering fabulous deals and discounts of up to 65%.
You could very well spend a whole day shopping for recognised brands such as Coach, Michael Kors, Gap, J. Crew, Nike Factory Stores and Polo Ralph Lauren, to name a few. Several on-site dining options mean you can also pick up some on-the-go snacks and drinks to fuel your spree!
Small-town Shopping in Jacksonville
Jacksonville’s historic San Marco Square district honours the famous St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Centred by a pretty water fountain and abundant with boutique shops and art galleries, this small, walkable neighbourhood boasts tree-lined avenues, sweet bookstores and even a chocolatier, offering a wonderful place to roam on leisurely days during multi-centre holidays on the North Florida Coast.
While the Riverside and 5 Points neighbourhoods exude bohemian vibes and feature an eclectic mix of vintage clothing shops, stores selling antiques and collectibles, as well as places to buy locally made jewellery and crafts. This is one of the coolest places in the city for shopping, dining and entertainment!
Amelia Island
High on Florida’s northeastern coastline sits the charming Amelia Island, just 30 miles from Jacksonville and a world away from city life. Time slows right down here; its tranquil beaches are kissed with lightly toasted sands and its emerald-green waters are heaven for swimming and snorkelling.
Amelia Island offers the perfect nature-inspired getaway for the whole family. Explore this remarkable place on horseback, kayak its magical creeks and backwaters, or simply rent a fishing pole and perch by the river to watch the world go by. And if you find yourself at the beautiful Fernandina Beach, you can even go hunting for shark teeth in the sand!
St Andrews State Park
Worth spending the day at is the marvellous St. Andrews State Park, located in the stunning Panama City Beach area. Hugged by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and St. Andrew’s Bay on the other, it’s a real treasure of the northwest.
This former military reservation has one-and-a-half miles of white sandy beaches framed by emerald-green waters, where you can enjoy an array of watersports activities including swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing, and kayaking. Keen anglers can take full advantage of the jetty and two fishing piers, while those who prefer drier activities will adore the nature trails for a spot of bird watching.
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
If your North Florida Coast twin-centre holidays take you further inland, you must make time to visit this gorgeous park about an hour’s drive north of Panama City Beach. The park is named after Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer who led the first expedition to Florida in 1513 in search of the mythical ‘fountain of youth’.
With a year-round temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the park’s immaculate springs are the perfect place to unwind, refresh, and perhaps regain a little youth of your own. Visitors can also take a stroll along two lush nature trails through a hardwood forest and learn about the local wildlife, before settling down to a picnic or a spot of fishing.
Apalachicola National Forest
The mighty Apalachicola National Forest is the largest national forest in the state and the only one in the Panhandle, proving once again that Florida’s northern coast really does have it all. Encompassing more than half a million acres, this expansive forest affords heaps of outdoor activities in its lakes, rivers and freshwater springs such as swimming, kayaking and canoeing, as well as land-based hiking and cycling trails throughout its longleaf pines and sandy flatlands.
Located just outside Tallahassee, this immense forest is also home to unique ecosystems and many species of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Nature lovers, keep a lookout for alligators, black bears, bobcats and wild turkeys!
Gulf Islands National Seashore
A highlight of Florida’s northern coastline is the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is home to the country’s longest stretch of protected shoreline. Dispersed non-contiguously over 150 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, it spans from east to west through Florida, Mississippi and several barrier islands.
This largely undeveloped stretch boasts powder-white sands, undulating dunes and swathes of subtropical grasses, giving it an unearthly feel and a glimpse into Florida’s coastal life before human habitation. Head for Fort Pickens at the west end of the Pensacola Beach portion to explore its historic fort, walking trails and recreational activities on and off the beach, making for a serene day out by the sea.
Craft beer in Jacksonville
If you’re a craft beer connoisseur, or just fancy trying something different on your North Florida Coast multi-centre holidays, Jacksonville is the place to be. When in Jax, you’re never far away from a brewery as there are more than 20 dotted around the city and in the wider area, from Fernandina Beach down to St. Augustine.
Whether you’re into IPAs or brown ales, bourbon-aged brews or fruity ciders, there’s something for you here in Jacksonville. Most of the city’s breweries feature inviting taprooms with a laid-back ambience, spirited outdoor spaces with live music and often fantastic food trucks to boot, giving you a chance to mingle with the locals!
Oysters in Apalachicola
This quaint fishing village along Florida’s northwest “Forgotten Coast” is famed for its terrific seafood, in particular its oysters, and offers a perfect destination for a low-key family getaway. There are several excellent local restaurants here, including The Owl Café, an Apalachicola favourite since 1900 serving scrumptious seafood like fried oyster salads, oyster stew and fresh fish sandwiches. Up the Creek Raw Bar is a laid-back establishment by the water, but don’t be fooled by its rustic appearance, the chef delights in inventive menus and trying out new culinary styles. Grab a craft beer or glass of wine and sit back on the open-air deck with your raw oysters in the half shell, smothered in garlic butter, lemon or creamy horseradish, for a truly delicious treat!
Southern Comfort Food
Cuisine in northern Florida embodies a mix of styles and cultures, which are influenced by its proximity to Alabama and Louisiana in the Deep South. While creole and Caribbean inspirations can be found in many restaurants too.
Mouthwatering comfort food combined with warm southern hospitality means that eating here is both a delicious and joyous experience. Check out 5 Sisters Blues Café in Pensacola for their tasty cornbread, hearty chicken stews, red beans and rice, crab cakes, fried okra and shrimp and grits, plus so much more. And don’t get us started on desserts - fruit cobbler, spiced rum bread pudding… pure heaven!
Gulf Coast Seafood
Florida’s unique position with the Gulf of Mexico to one side and the Atlantic Ocean to the other means that its seafood offerings are second to none. And up north in the Panhandle, there is a firm commitment to serving the freshest local catches of lobsters, oysters, shrimps and much more in an array of flavoursome dishes you won’t find anywhere else.
In St. Augustine you’ll find a spicy flair to its seafood dishes, honouring their Spanish colonial past, while in Tallahassee you’re likely to savour hints of the bayou in its seafood gumbo – a heavily seasoned, slow-cooked stew packed with shellfish, spices and vegetables.
North Florida Coast FAQs
North Florida Coast FAQs
North Florida Coast FAQs
Typically, the Florida Panhandle enjoys a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. So, if you’re looking for swimming and beach-based activities along the Emerald Coast, it’s best to avoid the winter months as the water is chillier. Summer brings gloriously hot weather, and with it the crowds, while the shoulder seasons throughout spring and autumn have warm, pleasant temperatures that invite you to be outside exploring.
Florida may be a large state, but its roads are wide and easy to navigate. Hiring a car is a wonderful idea and will give you the freedom to explore its cities and coastal towns and beaches at your own pace.
Florida’s Panhandle observes two time zones, CT (Central Time – 6 hours behind UK) and ET (Eastern Time – 5 hours behind UK) and depending on the time of year, it could be an hour less due to Daylight Savings.
If you wish to combine your Orlando holiday with a trip up north, consider driving up to Jacksonville, which is only two hours away, while Tallahassee is around three and a half hours’ drive.
It will take you a little longer to drive up and round the Panhandle to Panama City Beach from Orlando, so flying may be the best option as it’s just a short 50-minute flight.
Domestic flights all around Florida are frequent and inexpensive, why not consider combining Miami, Florida Keys or Tampa with a stop in the North Florida Coast!
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