What is THE Beach? World Travel

You're in for a Surprise

THE Beach – 227 miles of white sandy beaches stretching from Pensacola to Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle – is too often overlooked by visitors bound for sun, sea and Mickey Mouse. Yet, it has actually long been a favorite vacation spot for families from the Deep South. For generations they have been drawn by the endless expanses of snow-white beach, clear, emerald waters, towering dunes and laidback small towns. Here, the folks are friendly, the fish always bite and the local color holds timeless appeal.

According to an old saying, the farther north you go in Florida, the farther south you get. In fact, it’s the proximity to Georgia and Alabama that lends the area its gracious Southern charm. Visitors will find more Southern drawls, more grits and more old-fashioned hospitality here than anywhere else in the state. Indeed, a way of life that has largely vanished still thrives here, and visitors delight in finding unspoiled countryside, a gentler pace and a genuine welcome in THE Beach.

A Vacation on Your Terms

Of course, there is plenty of Gold Coast glitter and South Beach sizzle at glamorous resort areas – but you can easily downshift to just bronzing on the beach, golfing on world-class courses, pursuing deep sea game fish, or indulging in retail therapy at brand name stores and quirky little boutiques. You can dine on award-winning cuisine in sophisticated restaurants and disco the night away, but you’ll also find plenty of funky oyster shacks and inexpensive eateries where you can chow down on a po’ boy or succulent barbecue – then sit back with a beer and listen to some zydeco.

Circumstances have conspired to bless this area with beaches ranked among the world’s top 20 – and more miles of preserved, undeveloped coastline than anywhere else in Florida. The fine, sugar-white sand is made of pure quartz crystals washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over the eons, building a beach so pure that the sand never sticks to your feet - but practically whistles a tune as you walk over it. With the biggest military installations in the western hemisphere nearby, plus the Gulf Islands National Seashore, most of this beachfront can never be developed.

"Indeed, more than 225,000 acres of the area is protected and maintained by national, state and local parks and preserves. A portion of Gulf County is located in the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the most productive systems in the Northern Hemisphere," says Tom Horton of The Nature Conservancy. Another of the region’s ecological jewels is Topsail Hill State Preserve in Santa Rosa Beach, a three-mile span of undeveloped beachfront property that has been identified as the most immaculate and environmentally protected piece of coastal property in Florida. In coming years, travel experts predict that “Old Florida” will become one of the country’s leading eco-tourism destinations. But there is much more to THE Beach than it’s natural wonders. Arts, culture, cuisine, golfing, fishing and shopping are also a draw.

The Pensacola area encompasses Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Navarre Beach, Milton and Perdido Key. Pensacola, the “City of Five Flags,” boasts a rich heritage. In the space of 300 years, the Spanish, French, English, Confederate and US flags all flew over the city. Much of the present downtown district was built in the 1880s and features diverse architectural styles from the timber boom, which can be explored in Historic Pensacola Village.

Pensacola boasts one of Florida's top 10 attractions, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of the largest and most beautiful air and space museums in the world -- and it's free. The Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base, the world's largest military installation, showcases an impressive collection of historical artifacts and memorabilia tracing the heritage of Air Commandos and Special Operations.

The Emerald Coast - Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Okaloosa Island - is renowned for its dazzling sands and brilliant emerald green waters. Inland, you’ll find family amusements, museums, historic treasures, souvenir and specialty shops, and waterfront dining with breathtaking views. Destin, one of Florida’s best-kept secrets, has a reputation as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” Every year schools of sports fishermen from far and wide gather here to pit their skills against feisty game fish. The town is also home to Silver Sands, the nation’s largest designer outlet center, with more than 100 designer name stores.

Another treasured destination is The Beaches of South Walton, a collection of 15 charming beach communities scattered over 26 miles of pure white sand. The shoreline is a panorama of high, windswept dunes anchored by sea oats and is home to wildlife and plant species that have disappeared from many coastal environments. It is also home to 15 rare coastal dune lakes, the largest concentration in the world, and several state parks where hiking, kayaking and birding abound. Eden State Gardens, in scenic Point Washington, is a beautiful park on the Bay side with many moss-draped live oaks -- some more than 600 years old -- and a wonderful turn of the century mansion that welcomes tours.

Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. This Northwest Florida community is also home to the 1,260-acre St. Andrew's State Park, a "Top Two" beach on the 2008 TripAdvisor list of America's best beaches. Panama City Beach also enjoys recognition as a premier beach destination by Condé Nast Traveler, The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council.

Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, award-winning dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this popular gulf coast community.

The area southeast of Panama City includes Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas and the pristine barrier island called the St. Joseph Peninsula. This section of “old Florida” offers views of the beach from your car and thick moss-draped forest lanes.

Further southeast is a region dubbed Florida’s “Forgotten Coast.” This “undiscovered” place where time seems to stand still has no high-rises – just miles and miles of unspoiled land, much of it unchanged since the arrival of the Spanish. Visitors say that Apalachicola, St. George Island and Carrabelle are “what Florida used to be like.”

Eighty-seven percent of Franklin County’s 545 square miles is in national preserves, state forests and protected lands. Pristine uncrowded beaches, one of the most abundant bays in the world and 200 years of history make this place exceptional. Here, there is room to breath, nature works at its own pace and our coastal communities think of visitors as neighbors. This area is also known the world over for its booming oyster business. In fact, Franklin County harvests 90% of the oysters sold in Florida and 10% of the oysters sold nationwide.

With a vast array of accommodations, championship golf, eclectic shopping, fresh seafood restaurants, arts and culture, water sports, ecotourism and off-the-beaten-path attractions, THE Beach beckons families, singles and couples alike.

Walton Area Chamber Initiatives

• Creating an internationally recognized branded destination to ensure the long-term economic growth of our region.
• Participating in a regional brand building campaign that serves as the foundation for localized and individual destination marketing campaigns.
• Being a catalyst for bridging the geographic, political and economic boundaries that have fractured marketing efforts in our region and limited our potential.
• Establishing a regional standard for collecting, organizing and sharing tourism and economic development data.
• Educating key regional stakeholders and persuading them to support regional brand-building efforts.
• Training a broad range of local audiences to communicate and support the regional brand.
• Supporting the work of our region’s tourism and economic development professionals and working closely with them to grow our market for our individual and collective benefit.
• Working cooperatively to attract better, more competitive air service to our region.