What to do in Northwest Florida
Outdoors • Cultural and Historical • Recreation and Tours • Attractions

Outdoors
Apalachicola National Forest
P.O. Box 579, Bristol. (850) 643-2283. More than half a million acres of forest including pinelands, hardwood swamps, savannahs and includes the Ochlockonee River and the spring-fed Silver Lake. www.co.leon.fl.us/forest.htm

Big Lagoon State Recreation Area
12301 Gulf Beach Hwy., Pensacola. (850) 492-1595. The area's 700 acres includes fragile sand pine scrub and more than 100 species of birds. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district_1/BigLagoon/index.html

Blackwater River State Forest
11650 Munson Hwy. , Milton. (850) 957-4590. Longleaf pines, abundant wildflowers and four major clear streams are located in this forest. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/BlackwaterRiver/index.html

Dead Lakes State Recreation Area
P.O. Box 989, Wewahitchka. (850) 639-2702.
Covered mainly by longleaf pines, this area's wildlife includes foxes, beavers, turtles and alligators. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/DeadLakes/index.html

Eden State Gardens
P.O. Box 26 (north of U.S. 98 on C.R. 395), Point Washington. (850) 231-4214. A restored Gulf Coast home furnished from many periods.
www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/EdenGardens/index.html

Falling Waters State Recreation Area
1130 State Park Road, Chipley. (850) 638-6130. Florida's only waterfall drops 67 ft to the bottom of a sinkhole, final destination unknown.
www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/FallingWaters/index.html

Florida Caverns State Park
3345 Caverns Road, Marianna. (850) 482-1228 Connected caves with calcite formations. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/FloridaCaverns/index.html

Grayton Beach State Recreation Area
357 Main Park Road, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 231-4210. Fine sand beaches and barrier dunes with sea oats are found here. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/GraytonBeach/index.html

Gulf Islands National Seashore
1801 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze. (850) 934-2600. From Florida to Mississippi, the seashore includes offshore islands, beaches, historic forts and nature trails. www.nps.gov/guis

Henderson Beach State Recreation Area
17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 837-7550. A habitat for sand pines, magnolias, wildflowers and white sugar beaches. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/HendersonBeach/index.html

Perdido Key State Recreation Area
c/o Big Lagoon State Recreation Area, 12301 Gulf Beach Hwy., Pensacola. (850) 492-1595. A pristine barrier island with white sandy beaches and sea oats, this area features good birding. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/PerdidoKey/index.html

Ponce de Leon Springs State Recreation Area
Rte. 2, Box 1528, Ponce de Leon. (850) 836-4281. Natural springs provide 68-degree water for swimming. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/PoncedeLeonSprings/index.html

Rocky Bayou State Recreation Area
4281 Hwy. 20, Niceville. (850) 833-9144. Pine flatwoods, sand pine scrubs, and plant and animal life in the bayou's wetlands are found here. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/RockyBayou/index.html

Sasquatch Zoo
5262 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview. (850) 682-3949. www.sunnyfl.com/attractions/sa.sq.htm

St. Andrews State Recreation Area
4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach. (850) 233-5140. Sand dunes with pine flatwoods and marshes and waterfront camping make this 1,260 acre a popular destination. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/StAndrews/index.html

St. George Island State Park
1900 E. Gulf Beach Dr., St. George Island. (850) 927-2111. Fine example of Florida's Gulf Coast barrier islands. Abundant birdlife and loggerhead turtles nesting grounds. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/StGeorgeIsland/index.html

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
8899 Cape San Blas Rd., Port St. Joe. (850) 227-1327. Birders and fishermen enjoy this 2,500 acre park surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph Bay. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/StJoseph/index.html

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 447, Apalachicola. (850) 653-8808. Barrier island that encloses Apalachicola Bay, the refuge includes scrub oak ridges, cabbage palm and magnolia hammocks. southeast.fws.gov/stvincent/index.html

The Zoo
5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. (Hwy. 98), Gulf Breeze. (850) 932-2229. Home to some of the world's rarest species of animals and birds, many of which are involved in breeding programs. www.the-zoo.com

Three Rivers State Recreation Area
Rte. 1, Box 15-A, Sneads. (850) 482-9006. Scenic hilly terrain and the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola rivers distinguish this area. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/ThreeRivers/index.html

Topsail Hill State Preserve
7349 US Hwy. 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach.  (850) 267-1868. 1,600 acres of pristine beaches, dunes and dune lakes. www.topsailhill.com

Torreya State Park
HC 2, Box 70, Bristol. (850) 643-2674. Unusual high bluffs rise above the Apalachicola River at this park, named for a rare species of torreya tree that only grows here. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/Torreya/index.html

Cultural and Historical
Air Force Armament Museum
100 Museum Drive, Eglin AFB. (850) 4062. Large collection of aircraft, missiles, guns and rockets.

Constitution Convention State Museum
200 Allen Memorial Way, Port St. Joe.(850) 229-8029. Served as the site for Florida's first State Constitution Convention. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/ConstitutionConvention/index.html

Historic Pensacola Village
120 Church St., Pensacola. (850) 595-5985.Links museums within walking distance and tells of story of Pensacola's five flags. www.dos.state.fl.us/dhr/pensacola

Indian Temple Mound Museum
139 Miracle Strip Pkwy.; P.O. Box 4009, Fort Walton Beach, 32549. (850) 833-9595.A national historic landmark depicting 10,000 years of Gulf Coast living around Choctawhatchee Bay. www.sunnyfl.com/attractions/ind.htm

John Gorrie State Museum
P.O. Box 267, Apalachicola. (850) 653-9347. Honors and displays John Gorrie's achievements especially a replica of his ice making machine. www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/District_1/JohnGorrie/index.html

National Museum of Naval Aviation 
1750 Radford Drive, Naval Air Station, Pensacola. (850) 453-2389. One of the world’s largest air and space museums in the world. www.naval-air.org

Pensacola Museum of Art
407 South Jefferson, Pensacola. (850)432-6247. Located in the historic downtown Pensacola in the old city jail building, educational institution encouraging awareness and creativity. www.artsnwfl.org/pma

T.T. Wentworth Florida State Museum/Historic Pensacola Village
120 E. Church St., Pensacola. (850) 595-5985. Includes historical homes, Museum of Commerce, Museum of Industry, and "Discovery," a hands-on children's exhibit. www.dos.state.fl.us/dhr/pensacola

Visual Art Center of Northwest Florida
19 E. Fourth St., Panama City. (850) 769-4451 Permanent, temporary art exhibitions. www.visualartscenter.org

Recreation/Tours
AAA Destin Charter Boat Service
3794 Indian Trail, Destin.; (850) 837-9401; fax (850) 837-0021

Attractions
Beach Wedding Chapel
6815 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach. (850) 234-3001; fax (850) 234-3001

Gulf World Marine Park
15412 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach. (850) 234-5271. Marine performances. www.gulfworldmarinepark.com

B A C K  T O  T O P

HOME • NORTHWEST • NORTH CENTRAL • NORTHEAST • CENTRAL WEST • CENTRAL • CENTRAL EAST • SOUTHWEST • SOUTHEAST • OTHER RESOURCES

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Focus: Canoe Capital
What’s happening
Find out more

More to discover
in Northwest Florida

Adventures Unlimited Outdoor and Conference Center
Canoe, kayak or tube clear springfed streams with white, sandy beaches in Northwest Florida forests.
(800) 239-6864 or (850) 623-6197
www.adventuresunlimit ed.com