Florida Panhandle

The Florida Panhandle is a region of Florida, in the north west of the state. It has long been popular for its beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. It also includes the inland city of Tallahassee, the state capital and home of Florida State and Florida A&M Universities. Note: As of July 2010, some beaches are closed due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Check on current local conditions before planning a beach visit. Seafood at local restaurants is still safe and unaffected (although some items may be in short supply), since the oiled areas are closed to fishing and catches from clear areas are inspected. Climate The climate is humid subtropical, with hot, muggy and rainy summers, and cool, dry winters. Spring and fall are very mild, with temperatures of usually around 71F. Regions The Panhandle region highlighted on a map of Florida. Emerald Coast - The Emerald Coast, also called the Miracle Strip, includes Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. Forgotten Coast - This region is comprised of Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties, some of the most rural of Florida's coastal counties. Interior Panhandle - The Panhandle counties that do not border the Gulf Coast: Cities Apalachicola DeFuniak Springs Destin Fort Walton Beach Marianna Panama City Panama City Beach Pensacola Tallahassee Other destinations Apalachicola National Forest Choctawhatchee National Forest Gulf Islands National Seashore Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge Understand The Florida Panhandle has hung onto its Southern culture better than probably any other region in Florida, so expect traditional Southern hospitality and more conservative values. An exception to this general trend is Tallahassee, which, while retaining a great deal of that Southern charm, also contains pockets of the progressive, creative atmosphere typical of college towns. Get in By plane Pensacola Regional Airport - located in Pensacola and is the gateway to the western Florida Panhandle. Pensacola Regional has many flights on many carriers to destinations across the eastern United States and within the state of Florida. By car Interstate 10 and its scenic byways slice across the Panhandle parallel to, but several miles inland from, the coast. I-10 follows the route of the older Highway 90. Closer to the coast, Highway 98 is the most important route. Like much of the US a car is really a requirement to see this area. There is local bus service in most cities, and biking is popular both for getting around town or for longer tours of the coast. Get around See St. Marks Lighthouse Blackwater River State Park near Milton Constitution Convention Museum State Park in Port St. Joe Eden Gardens State Park between Destin and Panama City Falling Waters State Park in Washington County. Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna. John Gorrie Museum and the Orman House, in Apalachicola Ponce de Leon Springs State Park in Ponce de Leon St. George Island State Park in Franklin County. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, in Wakulla County. St. Andrews State Park near Panama City St. Joseph Peninsula State Park near Apalachicola Three Rivers State Park in Jackson County Torreya State Park in Liberty County. Wakulla Springs south of Tallahassee. Florida Lighthouses are numerous and beautiful in the Panhandle, take some time to visit these iconic images of the coast. Do Spectator Sports Tallahassee is home to the Seminoles of Florida State University, and college football is a religion for many Panhandle residents, with Saturdays in the fall being the holy day. Pensacola is home to the semi-professional ice hockey team, the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Festivals/Holidays Major holidays in Pensacola include Mardi Gras and the Fiesta of Five Flags. Celebrations of note in Pensacola are the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival, the Seafood Festival, the Bushwhacker Festival, the Bill Fishing Tournament, and the Gay and Lesbian Memorial Day Festival. Fort Walton Beach is known for the Billy Bowlegs Festival, and Panama City for Spring Break. Niceville is know for its Mullet Festival. Eat In the Panama City and Panama City Beach area there are many great places for local fare. The most recognized restaurant is Captain Anderson's on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach. It's located on the lagoon and get there early to see the fishing fleet arrive and unload the day's catch. Other restaurants of note include Pompano's on Front Beach Road, Saltwater Grill on Middle Beach (Hutchison Road) and Canopies. Canopies is a "fine dining" establishment overlooking St. Andrew's Bay in Panama City. Drink The Panhandle is home to two of Florida's four dry counties, where the sale of alcohol is prohibited (Washington and Liberty). However, alcohol of any variety can be found in abundance in the college town of Tallahassee and the Spring Break destination of Panama City Beach. Stay safe Get out North Florida Alabama This is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!