The Panhandle Travel Guide

Beach destination par excellence, the Florida Panhandle is where Southern meets Floridian, mountain meets beach—and you meet a whole lot of outdoor fun. Take your warm weather and white sand with a dash of Southern hospitality, and see what this intersection of American culture has to offer. Stretching from the quartz-composed beaches of Pensacola to the shipwrecked dive sites of Panama City Beach, the Panhandle’s Emerald Coast is the region’s main draw, while the Forgotten Coast tend to be just that—overlooked, but not deservedly. Here, state parks mingle with small towns; feast on the fresh oysters and historic offerings of Apalachicola and dive into the fresh waters of Wakulla Springs. State capital Tallahassee retains the most Southern ambiance of all, with its moss-draped oak trees and sprawling old plantations, while its student population creates a dynamic arts and culture scene. Toss in some national parks, complete with forests, beaches and wildlife refuges, and you’ve got a diverse destination bursting with activity. It couldn’t be anywhere else but the Florida Panhandle.