Top Things to do in Florida Panhandle
Top Hotels in Florida Panhandle
- 1. Best Western Crossroads Inn
- 2. Hotel Effie Sandestin
- 3. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
- 4. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
- 5. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Panama City Beach - Beachfront An IHG Hotel
- 6. Holiday Inn Resort - Panama City Beach
- 7. Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse
- 8. The Island Resort At Fort Walton Beach
- 9. The Henderson Beach Resort
- 10. Best Western Ft. Walton Beachfront
The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Florida Panhandle, Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle is known for its quaint beach towns and interesting attractions, many of which are money-saving and family friendly. Come to the Florida Panhandle and relax on glorious beaches, shop to your heart’s content and dance the night away. Santa Rosa Island is great for kids and offers a wide array of both beach-based and water-based activities. Families will enjoy a day away to tour the 150-year-old Pensacola Lighthouse. The Florida Panhandle offers exciting nightlife. Panama City, Destin and Pensacola all have numerous bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. Panama City is home to Club La Vela, the largest nightclub in the U.S. The Florida Panhandle is a shopaholic’s dream. It offers specialty stores, antique stores and shopping malls. For those renting a home or condo, a trip to Joe Patti’s seafood market in Pensacola is a must. The market specializes in fine wine and cheese, and beautifully presented handmade chocolates to take home to friends and relatives as gifts. Mon Père et Moi in Tallahassee is also worth a visit.
Restaurants in Florida Panhandle
1. Gulf Islands National Seashore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,254 reviews
This 150-mile stretch of seashore, which runs from Cat Island in Mississippi to Santa Rosa Island in Florida, offers sparkling blue water and many beautiful beaches along the way.
Reviewed By GlennBrigan
Growing up in Pensacola and as an adult moving away I love and appreciate the beauty of the soft fluffy white sands of Santa Rosa Island when I get to return on a vacation. These beaches are the jewel of the Gulf of Mexico. Whether swimming in the gulf, walking along the shore collecting seashells, or exploring the historic past of Fort Pickens you will too love these beaches.
2. Panama City Beach Winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,290 reviews
Normal Business Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm Closed on Sunday Holiday Closure: January 1, 2021 January 2, 2021 Panama City Beach Winery is located across the street from the magnificent beach!!! We are in the corner of the St. Thomas Square shopping area on Joan Avenue and Thomas Drive (facing Joan Avenue). We offer 100% real fruit wines. Some of our wines are made with over 9 pounds of fruit in one bottle! No reservation required for our complimentary wine tasting.
Reviewed By aasmith331 - Southfield, United States
Fun experience because of the two ladies working there who made it fun! Wine tasting is free. Wines are fruity, some sweet, some dry, and most made from Florida fruit. My GF and I walked out with 6 bottles of wine and a few other items from the store inside the winery. My favorites were their two top sellers ... The Hurricane Class 5 Sangria and the Key Lime wine. They do ship to you if you're flying and can't take in your luggage.
3. Navarre Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,707 reviews
Tucked away in a corner of Northwest Florida, far from crowded theme parks and packed beaches, you will find a piece of the old Florida offering solitude and simplicity for sun seekers, families, outdoor adventurers, nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts.
Reviewed By Applejacksons
It’s horrible how great it is for just relaxing. If more people come here there will be more traffic for me as a Floridian. Beach is great. Calm on some days and not so calm on others. Just check the webcam. I agree go to Pensacola or destin so we can enjoy how pristine the beach experience is. The sound side is great as well.
4. Bear Creek Feline Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 321 reviews
Bear Creek Feline Center (BCFC) is home to Florida wildcats and exotic felines located in Panama City, FL. BCFC's mission is one of , feline rescue/re-homing and public education designed to illuminate the plight of threatened and endangered felines. We have logged thousands of hours to obtain five licenses and we now make permanent homes to exotic species of felines including the 3 native species of Florida. We work with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the USDA and the Feline Conservation education to preserve and "Protect Florida's Wildlife Treasures". Tours are by Appointment only. There are no additional charges for great photo opportunities. Tours are scheduled BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for your comfort and safety. A $100.00 donation per person. These donations are 100% earmarked for the care and feeding of the big cats. process.
Reviewed By KatrinaMonique
Bertie and Jim are wonderful keepers of these beautiful animals, you can tell how much time and effort they have put into caring for and establishing bonds with these cats. We got a warm and educational welcome, going over safety and how to conduct ourselves with these beautiful creatures, and we were able to sit with, touch, and feed a variety of species, from the friendly African Servals, to the sweet Siberian Lynx, from the shy but beautiful Bobcats, to the powerful majesty of the Florida Panthers, Cougar, and Mountain Lions. Not all cats here are particularly fond of visitors, but are beautiful and interesting nonetheless, such as the rarely-seen Jaguarundi, and will allow you to observe them so long as you respect them and the space they call home. These cats are well-cared for and well-loved, and it shows in the way they interact not only with the keepers who many of them have been acquainted with for years, but also visitors to them. This was the best experience I've had for a long while, and gives me a warm feeling to know that in a world where people seem to hyperfixate on trivial issues, that there are people like Bertie, Jim, and their volunteers who choose to dedicate themselves to the care of Earth's beautiful creatures.
5. Turkey Creek Nature Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 317 reviews
Reviewed By JENEinVEGAS - Hudson, United States
Great walk along the boardwalk which follows the creek. Jump in the creek at one of six docks and float along. The water is chilly, but refreshing.
6. St. Andrews State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,262 reviews
Reviewed By O2486MWelizabethh
We love St. Andrews, the pier provides great fishing and is spacious, the jetties have great snorkeling opportunities and help create the kiddie pool which is my favorite part of the park! Calm, clear water tucked behind the jetties, the water stays nice and shallow allowing everyone, even the younger kids, the chance to enjoy the Gulf. We also enjoy standing on the alligator lake watching the gators drift through their swamp.
7. Mission San Luis de Apalachee
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 413 reviews
Mission San Luis was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704. Today, the Mission brings the 17th century to life through costumed interpreters, reconstructed buildings, museum exhibits and archaeological demonstrations. The Mission offers special events, camps and workshops throughout the year. The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission fees: Adults, $5; Seniors, $3; Children, $2; Active duty military are free.
Reviewed By Roving404654
Great place to learn and understand Apalachee Native American history. The archaeology is well conceived and presented to lay people as well as more deeply available to trained or avid students of archaeology. The living history events are especially interesting. Place for everyone.
8. Fort Pickens Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,907 reviews
Visitors can take a self-guided tour of this authentic fort active during the Civil War and later used as a jail to hold the infamous American Indian chief Geronimo.
Reviewed By edsel13304 - Barneveld, United States
This is a wonderful place to visit at the west end of Santa Rosa Island at the Gulf Shores National Seashore, You will find this historic old fort site very interesting if you are interested in Civil War history. It is a beautiful drive to get to it along the coast with stops along the drive to enjoy views of the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola. The Fort is a very large and interesting to see what military forts were like in the Civil War era to protect the Pensacola bay/harbor.
9. Florida Caverns State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 940 reviews
This place is temporarily closed. A cave complete with rock formations and bats.
Reviewed By ToddAndJenB - Tallahassee, United States
Interesting history exhibit, cute little gift shop, and excellent, educational tour of the caverns. Brenda did a great job as our tour guide! For homeschoolers, I highly encourage you to get some information on caves before coming here (we downloaded the National Park System cave book for Junior Rangers) - having some knowledge beforehand really helps the information to click when you take the cave tour.
10. Saint George Island State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 764 reviews
This attraction covers nine miles of untouched beaches, dunes, bay forests and marshes.
Reviewed By mimi_x4_tammy - Port Saint Joe, United States
Beautiful park - facilities nice - good working order - must see when in the area - several stops for public beach access-also 2 large pavilion areas with covered picnic areas, showers/restrooms- the park is opposite the residential area of the island so is pretty private - lots of shells - birds.
