Tours and Attractions in Tallahassee, Destin and Panama City Beach in Northwest Florida
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
This park is the only large sub-tropical area in the US featuring extensive areas of fresh water, seawater, and marshes. The park also has Mangrove forests but mainly endless carpets of grass. There are many animals in the park, including: water snakes, alligators, crocodiles, manatees, and it serves as a nesting place for many species of birds, especially colorful water birds (over 300 types), some of which are extremely rare. The reserve spans about one and a half million acres (half of which is water) and reaches Cape Sable, which is the southernmost point of the US mainland. From this point, the park extends 72 km north along the Gulf of Mexico and 48 km east toward Florida Bay. The Everglades is actually a shallow river, about 10 cm deep and about 80 km wide, flowing with an extremely slow current. The best way to discover the secrets of the park is walking on elevated wooden bridges, boating on an airboat, and viewing from observatories.
The area has many state parks rich in a variety of animals, plants, and trees with special walking trails, many lakes and rivers, and a wide range of active recreation options, especially marine ones including boating, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing, and more. It is recommended to visit this area for at least 3-4 days. It is ideal to stay in one place, in a resort town full of options, and combine trips in the surrounding area.
Location and Means of Arrival:
The Florida "Panhandle" borders the state of Alabama, where the city of Mobile, Alabama is located about an hour's drive (100 km) west of the largest and westernmost city in Northwest Florida: Pensacola. Meanwhile, amazing New Orleans is about a three-hour drive (330 km) west of Pensacola.
The most vibrant resort town in the region: Panama City Beach is located about two hours east of Pensacola and about two hours west of Florida's capital: Tallahassee.
Orlando is located about a six-hour drive (560 km) from Panama City Beach, and Miami is quite far: about a 9-hour drive (950 km) from it.
A trip to Northwest Florida integrates perfectly as part of a travel itinerary from Miami or Orlando or Tampa to New Orleans.
There are several airports in Northwest Florida, most of which are relatively small with only domestic flights.
The nearest airport to the resort towns is: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), about fifteen minutes from Panama City Beach. It is indeed international and serves flights from the four leading and largest airlines in the US: Delta, United, American Airlines, and Southwest from various destinations, but mainly from the eastern US.
Another international airport is located in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida: Tallahassee International Airport, about two hours east of the resort towns.
The most popular resort towns in the region are:
The Town of Destin and its Surroundings
Destin is a resort town at the northwestern tip of Florida near Panama City Beach. This area has wonderful beaches with fine soft white sand and clear turquoise waters. Destin's beaches are selected annually by leading travel sites and travel magazines among the most beautiful beaches in Florida and the entire US.
The sand is white and pleasant:
It is recommended to go for a walk or spend time at the Sandestin beaches of Miramar Beach. Large sections of the beaches have no access because entry is only through villas and private homes or hotels accessible only to their guests; however, from several points every few kilometers, there is an access path with a sign saying: Public Access and nearby parking. It is fun to walk along the sandy beaches, admire the clear water and the pleasant white sand, and splash in the nice water. This is a popular place for building sandcastles (there is even a sandcastle building workshop held there). It is also recommended to walk along the nearby street parallel to the sea where there are shops selling beach and sea products and beautiful houses along its length.
Henderson Beach State Park
A park with long, beautiful beaches, picnic tables, and changing rooms. The park also has a nice hiking trail between dunes and characteristic vegetation.
Destin Harbor Boardwalk
Located at the western end of the town of Destin near the bridge connecting Destin to the towns to the west. It is a vibrant entertainment and recreation center full of attractions (climbing walls, ziplines, simulators, etc.) as well as shops, galleries, stalls, and restaurants. It is highly recommended to depart from its marina for a dolphin watching or sunset cruise, or to rent a boat or jet ski and sail independently in the quiet bay.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
A state park located west of Destin and adjacent to Miramar Beach. The park has an enjoyable hiking trail leading to the lake. Along the way, you can see characteristic vegetation and animals. In the part of the park bordering the sea, there is a wonderful beach reached via an elevated wooden path.
Towns West of Destin
Driving west from Destin, you cross a bridge leading to a long, narrow island named Okaloosa. This island also features a long fishing pier and beautiful, wonderful beaches.
Short video about the Okaloosa Fishing Pier:
From there, you can continue to the town of Fort Walton Beach located on the other side of a peninsula and walk in the nice park at its heart and stroll along the main street between charming shops.
Further west is the town of Navarre, with a pristine beach named Navarre Beach.
(This area is less crowded and has far fewer tourists compared to Destin). The long beach also features a fishing pier, the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, and the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary where you can kayak and snorkel.
♦ Recommended Accommodation in Destin:
Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard – A recommended 3-star hotel from the Marriott chain adjacent to two recommended shopping and entertainment centers, just a few minutes' drive from the beaches and the outlet. The hotel features a bar, restaurant, and a rooftop swimming pool. Free internet and parking.
Pelican Beach Resort by Tufan – A 4-star resort with holiday apartments and a private beach, featuring 2 swimming pools, a gym, and a children's playground. All apartments overlook the sea, suitable for 6 people or more. Most apartments have 2 bedrooms and a living room; some have only one bedroom. All apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, a balcony with a view, and most have a jacuzzi in the bathroom. Free internet and parking.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Destin – A 3-star suite hotel from the Hilton chain, featuring suites with one bedroom and a living room or studio units suitable for up to 6 people. Central location near wonderful beaches and adjacent to Henderson Beach State Park, close to many entertainment centers and restaurants. The hotel has a gym, swimming pool, free internet, and parking.
Shopping in Destin:
♦ Silver Sands Premium Outlets – A recommended factory outlet center with 110 diverse stores where you will find a selection of famous brands ranging from New Balance, Nike, and Adidas, through Calvin Klein, Gap, and Levi’s, to a recommended Disney outlet store.
♦ Grand Boulevard’s Town Center – A beautiful and upscale open-air shopping center. A fun place to walk, shop, and eat at a good restaurant.
♦ The Village of Baytown Wharf – An upscale and charming center for entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and action in Destin. Located near lakes, a pier, and a marina, and situated within an upscale residential area. In the center are restaurants, cafes, and bars with musicians, a long pier with a lovely view and even giant seabirds, ziplining, a ropes course, golf, children's amusement facilities, and it is all surrounded by water, with a marina at the end and lakes with footbridges in the middle, and of course a selection of fancy boutique shops and galleries. Plenty of free parking at the entrance.
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, in Northwest Florida, is a vibrant, popular, and highly recommended family resort city. The city has enchanting beaches with calm turquoise waters and soft white sand, and a wide selection of water sports and leisure options.
Book attractions in Panama City Beach from GetYourGuide.com:
Short video about the beaches of Panama City Beach:
Additionally, it has a wealth of family attractions similar to Orlando (not giant parks like Disney or Universal, of course): cool and interactive museums, ziplining, zoos with shows and close encounters with animals, go-karting, a giant aquarium, designed mini-golf courses, mirror mazes, and more. Of course, the city also features plenty of shopping centers, entertainment, and restaurants.
Main attractions in the city:
Gulf World Marine Park
The park features a variety of marine animals and seabirds including, among others: sea lions, dolphins, sharks, penguins, and alligators. The park has various shows, a giant stingray pool where you can snorkel, and a variety of activities such as swimming with dolphins, participating in sea lion training, and more.
St. Andrews State Park
The park features protected beaches with clear, calm waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling alongside beach areas open to the ocean with waves for surfing enthusiasts. The park serves as a starting point for visiting "Shell Island." You can rent a boat and sail on your own or join a cruise to the island that includes dolphin watching from the company: Shell Island Dolphin and Snorkel Excursion
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
The most recommended water park in Northwest Florida featuring a variety of slides and facilities for action and adrenaline lovers alongside relaxed facilities for the less daring, such as a lazy river and a wave pool.
Fishing Piers
The city has two long fishing piers:
Russell Fields Pier
Russell Fields Pier in Panama City, Florida is a long fishing pier (about 460m long) between beaches with white sand and calm, clear waters. From the pier, there are wonderful views of the beaches and also the opportunity to see plenty of fish and fishermen, giant sea turtles, jellyfish in three colors, and many pelicans and gulls. It is located at the intersection of Front Beach Rd and S Pier Park Dr. Entry to the pier costs about $3 for a visitor and $7 for those who want to fish.
Shopping: Adjacent to this fishing pier along S Pier Dr are many restaurants and shops, and further down the street is a shopping and entertainment center named Pier Park with a Ferris wheel SkyWheel Panama City Beach.
A few hundred meters further down the same street is another large shopping center with large department stores like: Walmart Supercenter, Target, and many others, as well as various restaurants.
M.B. Miller County Pier
This fishing pier is located about 5 km southeast of the previous pier and is the same length as the previous one, with a similar fee.
Continuing along the coastal road Front Beach Rd a few kilometers southeast of this fishing pier, you reach a variety of family attractions:
- The cool and interactive WonderWorks museum, full of simulators and gadgets, housed in a giant building standing on its head.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum—a cool museum of oddities in a giant ship-like structure featuring a 7D movie, mirror maze, and laser tag course.
- Race City – a family entertainment center with various rides such as roller coasters, carousels, a recommended go-kart track, bumper boats, mini-golf, and more.
For wine and winery enthusiasts, it is recommended to take a tour of the Panama City Beach winery: Panama City Beach Winery where they produce high-quality wine based on various fruits.
♦ Recommended Accommodation in Panama City Beach:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Panama City Beach Beachfront – A recommended 3-star suite hotel from the Marriott chain on the beach. The hotel has a gym and pool and features suites suitable for up to 5 people. Free internet. Parking is for an extra fee.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Panama City Beach – Beachfront – A Holiday Inn hotel located on the beach. The hotel has a pool, gym, restaurant, and bar. It features rooms and suites suitable for up to 6 people. All rooms overlook the sea and have a balcony. Free internet. Parking is for an extra fee.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Panama City Beach Resort – A hotel with spacious rooms and suites featuring one or two bedrooms and a living room with an equipped kitchen as well as a balcony, designed for 6 adults (and up to 4 additional children). The hotel is located on the beach and has a pool and jacuzzi. Free internet and parking.
The City of Tallahassee and its Surroundings
Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. It is located "on the way" between Orlando and the Florida Panhandle or between Jacksonville and St. Augustine and the Florida Panhandle. Since it is a long drive, it's advisable to break the trip, stop in Tallahassee for a night or two, and see the best it and its surroundings have to offer.
The new Capitol building is located in the city center next to the old one. The city center features a historic district with preserved houses and an expansive urban park named Cascades Park.
The city has several museums such as: the Museum of Florida History and the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum.
However, the most recommended and unique of them all is:
Tallahassee Museum
Tallahassee Museum is located in the southwest of the city near the airport. It is definitely not a standard museum: it is a diverse open-air museum, entirely outside in the fresh air. A combination of a nature park with an elevated walking path among "Bald Cypress" trees growing in the water, metal dinosaur sculptures, a safari with a variety of animals, historic houses, and a charming ropes course (for an extra fee) above it all.
Short video about the Tallahassee Museum:
In Tallahassee and its immediate vicinity are several state parks. The most recommended one, which shouldn't be missed:
Wakulla Springs
Located about half an hour south of central Tallahassee. The park features deep natural springs with clear water and a river passing through a jungle of mangroves and Bald Cypress trees.
Short video about Wakulla Springs State Park:
In a one-hour boat trip on the river, you can see as many animals as in the Amazon. Dozens of manatees swim leisurely near the boat,
alongside alligators, from huge adults to plenty of tiny ones, sea turtles, ducks, and birds from an immense variety of species.
The boat trip is accompanied by explanations about the area, animals, and vegetation. The cruise departs from an impressive historic lodge located in the heart of the park which also houses a restaurant. The park also has hiking trails in the forest near the river with an observation tower over the deepest part of the springs.
St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
The park's visitor center is located about 36 km south of Tallahassee (approx. 40 minutes drive). The park is full of wildlife from deer to alligators and of course dozens of bird species among salt lakes and a jagged coastline with a photogenic lighthouse.
A short and easy hiking trail departs from the visitor center around a small lake where you can see alligators basking in the sun.
From the visitor center, continue south by car for about 10 km to the lighthouse on the shore. Along the way, you can see deer and stop at observation points over the sea, marshes, birds, fishermen, and more. The park has hiking trails for all difficulty levels and a variety of fishing and boating options.
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
A relatively small park located in the city itself featuring gardens, small lakes, gazebos, and statues. There are several hiking trails among the gardens.
Christmas Light Shows
For those arriving in Tallahassee from late November to early January, it is recommended to watch the Christmas light shows held in several places in the city. Especially recommended ones are in the city center park Dorothy B. Oven Park and about twenty minutes west of the city in a suburb named Havana: Allison Christmas Spectacular. The shows are eye-catching and combine light displays with music.
Short video about the Christmas light shows:
♦ Recommended Accommodation in Tallahassee in a Convenient Location:
Staybridge Suites Tallahassee I-10 East
A suite hotel from the Holiday Inn chain with spacious suites of various sizes, where the large suites have 2 bedrooms and a living room with an equipped kitchen and are suitable for up to 7 people. The hotel features a gym, swimming pool, and BBQ. Free internet and parking.
Residence Inn Tallahassee North I-10 Capital Circle
A Marriott suite hotel with studio units and suites with a bedroom and living room. All suites have a fully equipped kitchen, a workspace, and are very spacious. The price includes breakfast. The hotel features an indoor pool, jacuzzi, gym, and a sports court. Free internet and parking.
Courtyard Tallahassee North/I-10 Capital Circle
A 3-star hotel from the Marriott chain. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool and a gym. Free internet and parking.