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The beaches of Northwest Florida, from
Pensacola Beach to the eastern stretches of the Beaches of South
Walton, offer miles of unspoiled natural beauty and endless options
for fun Florida beach family vacations. Kids and parents alike will enjoy beachcombing along
sugary sand so fine it squeaks beneath the toes. The calm Gulf waters
provide children of all ages with a welcome "splash zone"
ideal for wading or swimming. Picnic tables, showers and concession
stands are among the many conveniences available at recreation areas
along the coast.
Along the Beaches of South Walton, northwest Florida beach vacation visitors will
discover an eclectic blend of old and new beach communities that
give this area a special charm. The century-old community of Grayton
Beach, with its sand streets and wooden houses made of weathered
cypress, is full of surprising contrasts. Adventurous wanderers
will discover places like Patrone's, a working artist colony, with
small studios featuring everything from handcrafted furniture to
hand-painted children's clothes. Or Monet Monet, a spectacular re-creation
of Claude Monet's home and garden in Giverny, France. While in the
nouveau-Victorian town of Seaside visitors will find Mediterranean-style
outdoor markets selling everything from fresh fruit to contemporary
art. The Beaches of South Walton, with 26 miles of blissfully secluded
coastline between Destin and Panama City, are an obvious choice
for the ultimate romantic getaway.
Although Panama City's 27 miles of beaches and entertainment venues
can keep any visitor busy, it's worth a trip off the main drag to
explore the unusual Museum of Man in the Sea. Here, Florida beach vacation visitors will
be dazzled by the 500-year-old treasures recovered from sunken ships
off area beaches. Underwater adventurers will want to explore one
of the most famous dive sites in Northwest Florida, the sunken British
tanker Empire Mica. This and other shipwrecks off Panama City Beach attract a wide variety of sea life, including vibrant yellow angelfish,
6-foot manta rays and huge loggerhead sea turtles.
East of Pensacola, the Destin / Fort Walton Beach area is one of the
top five shelling destinations in the world.
To find these treasures of the sea, beachcombers must venture about
a mile offshore to giant sandbars just below the crystal-clear water,
where cockles, striped cowrides and sea horses await discovery.
One sandbar is even named Sand Dollar City because of the layers
of circular "sea money" found there. Phenomenal snorkeling
and scuba diving are also possible in the exceptionally deep waters
that curve close to the Emerald Coast. Lucky divers will discover
immense shells weighing over 10 pounds along a ribbonlike reef of
limestone. Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest brimming with
lobster, sponges and sea squirts, offers unique underwater explorations
as well.
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