The Panhandle Info
Dazzling quartz distinguishes the beaches of Florida’s Panhandle, stretching in an arc from Pensacola to Panama City Beach. Millions of years ago, quartz was ground as it washed down from the Appalachian Mts. forming some of the most beautiful of all Florida beaches with powdery, sugary sand that squeaks when you walk on it. There are at least two approaches here: join the bustling crowd, for it has become more popular in the last few years (a serious Spring Break group gathers from a hoard of Southern colleges in March and April), or stick to the quieter beach communities, or do a little of both. Don’t tell me you’re too old for bumper cars and water slides. They’re fun!
Pensacola area:
The Panhandle offers quiet and crazy starting with Pensacola, once home to slaveholding Spaniards who gave up trying to settle after too many hurricanes. 
See huge Elgin Air Force base, and their Blue Angels flying overhead practicing their straight to the sky takeoffs that you can watch Tues-Wed, Mar-Nov, and a string of perfect beaches to play on. The beach, Santa Rosa, which is separated from town on a barrier island, is an 8 mile stretch of perfection, and home of Perdido Key, the westernmost beach Park, where dunes offer uncrowded spots for picnicking.
Big Lagoon Park, nearby, has excellent crabbing. If you’re there in April, you’ll be in time for the Interstate Mullet Toss, to see who can throw their dead mullet the furthest across the Florida – Alabama state line, brought to you by those wacky folks who run the Flora-Bama Lounge, straddling the state line. Further east, Navarre Beach, also a quieter scene, has a fishing pier, and Ft. Pickens, where Geronimo was imprisoned in 1886 has become a tourist attraction.
Fort Walton/Destin:
Fort Walton Beach and Destin Beach crank up the action, with big college crowd fun during the seasons and waverunners, jet skis, parasailing, and all sorts of water sports shops lining Hwy 98. Destin, in addition to its gorgeous beaches, is claimed to be the most prolific fishing village in the US, due to a 30 mile drop off the continental shelf 10 miles out. Some serious tournaments are going on here. Early Oct. the annual Seafood Festival offers local oysters, cockles, crab, shrimp, and mussels.
Panama City area:
Panama City Beach, the largest resort in the Panhandle, offers itself to the gonzo college break crowd, so be forewarned. Its “Miracle Strip” has all things glitz: arcades, amusement parks, hotels, chain stores, all along a fantastic quartz beach. The whole family will enjoy a day at Shipwreck Island Water Park, a 35mph Speed Slide, the Raging Rapids, or the 1,600 ft Lazy River tube ride, and a host of small tot wading pools and swim areas. Go cart tracks, mini golf, it never ends.
Don’t look for old Florida here, it’s not happening. You can always head out for the blue, blue water, 
as there are dozens of natural reef dive sites, sunken wrecks to explore, good swimming, all along that magic sugar sand. And a brief 3 miles away from Panama City is St. Andrews State Park, with 1,260 acres of excellent snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming, dunes, lagoons, salt marshes, a pine forest, nature trails, all within the park.
There’s good news after the crowded parts: the road much less traveled beckons, beginning at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. It’ll be you and migrating butterflies and birds on the long stretch of grassy dunes, plus the 13 mile Loggerhead Run Bike Path, turtles get the right of way. Lots of various kinds of accommodations here, and also next door at St. George Island Park, 9 fabulous miles of dunes and boardwalks leading to perfect beaches that you’ve come to expect in these parts. The shallow water is great for swimming, kayaking, fishing, relaxing with your toes in. Nearby Dog Island, reachable by ferry from Carrabelle, has large sand dunes and excellent shelling.
Appalachia Bay has famous oyster beds fed by rich river nutrients, and is a much prized feeding ground for marine species that end up in a famous Florida Seafood Festival each November. Blue crab, white, brown, and pink shrimp are the big hits, with 90% of Florida’s oyster catch from these waters. Harvested all year, it’s a treasure chest for oyster lovers.
Tallahassee area:
Heading inland you find Tallahassee, the refined southern belle of a state capitol with two big colleges that bring life to the sedate magnolia lined streets and downtown of this big city with the small town feel. And if you’re into the blues, and even if you’re not, the Bradford Blues Club is a must. Off in the boonies out of town down a dirt road lined with torches and with a big bonfire most evenings, you’ll find this old time blues club that has been nurturing the blues for 80 years.
Blues to the beach, the Panhandle has a bit of everything going for it.
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Watercolor by Peter Bailey