OT: Best Florida panhandle beach spot

[gasdawg]

My wife and I are celebrating our one year anniversary in early August. I’m going to surprise her with a little mini vacation. Any recommendations on any good beaches in the Florida panhandle? Nothing further than Panama City. To me the obvious answer is Destin but wanted to hear the packs recommendations. Must haves are: good food places, touristy things to do, and maybe a few cool bars.

 

[TNT.sixpack]

My wife and I are celebrating our one year anniversary in early August. I’m going to surprise her with a little mini vacation. Any recommendations on any good beaches in the Florida panhandle? Nothing further than Panama City. To me the obvious answer is Destin but wanted to hear the packs recommendations. Must haves are: good food places, touristy things to do, and maybe a few cool bars.

Red Bar in Grayton Beach is my “go to” for atmosphere and great food/drinks and stay any place south of there along 30a. All those beaches are great. One of my favs that’s a small multi unit condo and in a quiet spot with a smaller crowd is San Remo.

 

[Tripper123044]

I like Red Bar too. Hurricane Oyster Bar at Grayton Beach is fun. Destin is too busy. Check out Seagrove.


https://www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com/florida/seagrove/dunes-of-seagrove-complex

 

[BossDawg78]

We go to Destin every year and the only negative is there are so many other people there. The traffic can be brutal at times. But anywhere on the Emerald Coast and you can't go wrong.

 

[ronpolk]

There really is not much difference in the actual beach from Pensacola to Panama City. They are all nice. Panama City, destin and Pensacola are the most crowded. Although Pensacola is more crowded with people that actually live there as well as tourist. If you want something a little more quiet, I’d go to Navarre or somewhere on 30-A but not as many restaurants there. Destin, Panama City and Pensacola all have tons of restaurants but lots of people.

We always stay on okaloosa island. I am a little biased to this spot because i lived in Fort Walton beach during high school and a little after college. Several restaurants in fort Walton are easily accessible from okaloosa island and destin is also only about 3 or 4 miles away. There is also a publix in downtown Fort Walton that is very easy to get to from okaloosa island.

 

[mcdawg22]

If you want to stay and play, Pensacola Beach is fun. From the main hotels you can walk to any style restaurant and several bars.

 

[was21]

Not much in Navarre Beach but best to get down there before it's ruined...and it will be before long..but only about 15 or 20 minutes from Pensacola Beach which is fun. Portofino in Pensacola is a great weekend rental...self contained and a trolley to bars and restaurants on the main drag...love me some Sidelines wings...burgers too....don't forget Pegleg Pete's

 

[Atldog.sixpack]

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar. Get a place with a golfcart and enjoy.

 

[The Fatboy]

I know you said nothing farther than Panama City but Mexico Beach is nice and not far from there. Not real touristy either. Amd a great bar and resturant called Toucans right on the beach.

 

[bsquared24]

I prefer Pensacola Beach over Destin, water isn't as blue but that Destin traffic is brutal and Pensacola is a lot closer on busy weekends. Easier to get in restaurants too. Blue Angel's week is the exception. It's great to see but complete traffic paralysis. If you want to see it stay on the island and plan on staying where you are watching the show. Dont fight the madness.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Grayson Beach State Park cabins

 

[Confucius Say]

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar. Get a place with a golfcart and enjoy.

Agree

 

[ronpolk]

If you want to stay and play, Pensacola Beach is fun. From the main hotels you can walk to any style restaurant and several bars.

Another thing about Pensacola is that downtown Pensacola is a lot of fun and really underrated. Several restaurants and bars as well.

 

[Pars]

Currently at okaloosa island. Destin water without the crowds or price. Nothing over 6 stories on the island it’s great. Old Bay Steamer for dinner can not be beat

 

[mcdawg22]

We just drove back home from Destin today and on the way stopped at a Wing restaurant called Buffalo Reef. It was so damn good. Some of the best wings I have ever had, and Tuesdays are all you can eat.

 

[G-Dawg]

If you want a great steak, Jackson's steakhouse in downtown Pensacola is FANTASTIC. It's a bit pricey, but great atmosphere.

 

[G-Dawg]

Another thing about Pensacola is that downtown Pensacola is a lot of fun and really underrated. Several restaurants and bars as well.

Opening up new restaurants and shoppes each week. Jackson's Steakhouse is great, Agave Taco Bar, The Wine Bar, World of Beer, and oh, Bubba Watson has an ice cream shop there. That's a growing area that's pretty hip. And at night, you can go to Seville Quarter. It has like 6-7 bars all contained in one spot with 1 cover charge. The piano bar is my wife's favorite spot there.

 

[ronpolk]

We just drove back home from Destin today and on the way stopped at a Wing restaurant called Buffalo Reef. It was so damn good. Some of the best wings I have ever had, and Tuesdays are all you can eat.

Best wings I’ve ever had in my life. I love that place. Such a dive too. It’s right across the street from Buffalo Wild Wings in fort Walton and still stays packed.

 

[mcdawg22]

Best wings I’ve ever had in my life. I love that place. Such a dive too. It’s right across the street from Buffalo Wild Wings in fort Walton and still stays packed.

Wife and I joked, is that stretch of Elgin Pkwy Chicken Row? Popeyes, BWW, Buffalo Reef, and Zaxbys

 

[DawgStripes]

Pensacola Beach is the answer here. Has a vintage feel to it. The water is perfect, there are quite a few great restaurants. This has become the spot for our family.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Perdido Key

 

[BoilerUp.sixpack]

Seaside, FL is really cool.

 

[HotMop]

Panama City Beach has the most touristy things to do. Traffic is brutal as are all of the other places mentioned. 30A is cool but a lot pricier and has more Yeti coolers per capita than any place in the country.

 

[fishwater99]

If that's your wife in your avatar then you need to go to a private island..

30A is great... Anywhere from Dune Allen beach to Inlet Beach.
I prefer Blue Mountain Beach or Grayton Beach personally..


Do not go to Destin proper...

 

[johnson86-1]

Panama City Beach has the most touristy things to do. Traffic is brutal as are all of the other places mentioned. 30A is cool but a lot pricier and has more Yeti coolers per capita than any place in the country.

Plus, if you go to 30A there are apparently a lot of vandals that will put a 30A sticker on your car. Then you'll look like a jackass when you go back home and drive around Jackson with it.

 

[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

I would wait and go when school starts back...

this way it's not as crowded in many of the tourist areas. I like going to Sept. when most all of schools and colleges are back in session to avoid the hassle of waiting in line and the traffic. As many have stated any where along the coast is fine but I've come to despise waiting 2 hours to eat average seafood, pack into an over-crowded and overpriced beach with the masses. Yes, 30A is also a hassle...It's just not enjoyable anymore. If you can afford it, book a trip to Key West or one of the other Keys. You can fly non-stop out of Atlanta pretty cheap and the prices are not too bad this time of year. Good Luck!

 

[gasdawg]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Definitely going to research a few of the places y’all pointed out.

With Okaloosa Island being fairly close to Destin, will we still be able to avoid the hassle and crowd of Destin? Not sure if there is some overflow from the Destin crowd.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

There will be some. Fortunately the condos on Okaloosa island tend to be shorter and have more beach frontage per unit. Destin proper seems to have so many condos per foot of beach front that it can't help but be crowded, even if your condo building is less dense. The Destin overflow will go to the eastern part of Okaloosa and Henderson, so no worries there. The Publix is easy to get to and while you have to go through the busiest part of FWB to get there, it's quick. There are a few good restaurants in FWB, but Destin has it beat. If there's something on the west side of Destin you want to go to it's not too bad getting there, but if you have to go across Destin you might as well count on it taking an hour to get there.