Vacation - Pensacola area

[Mr.Anderson]

I was born in FL and spent a few years there but I never got around to the white sand beach areas in the pan handle.

I was wondering if anyone could throw out some tips about where are some good FAMILY ORIENTATED places and activities around Pensacola Beach?

[Eurodriver]

Whoops. Nevermind.

[Mr.Anderson]

I saw where you said you were raised in FL so I was hoping you could give some input haha.

[Sam]

I was born in FL and spent a few years there but I never got around to the white sand beach areas in the pan handle.

I was wondering if anyone could throw out some tips about where are some good FAMILY ORIENTATED places and activities around Pensacola Beach?

I'm not a FL native but have been to the beaches on the left and right side of Pensacola. We prefer quieter time on the beach, i.e. not bothered by drunk, loud college kids or even obnoxious high school kids, so Ft. Walton Beach (45 minutes east of Pensacola) and Perdido Beach (less than 30 minutes west) are our two favorite beaches. We observed plenty of family with smaller children (under 10) at both beaches. We have been going later in the season (after Labor Day), so we don't have to put up with the crowds (older kids went back to school) at the beaches or restaurants, and the weather is not scorching hot. The water is still warm enough to swim. The condo rental rates are at least 15% less than the summer rates.

We have friends with little kids that love Ft. Walton beach.

October 2014 at Ft. Walton Beach:



There is a nice little Air Force museum at Hurlburt Field, 10 minutes from the beach:

[Nightstalker865]

Destin


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[Eurodriver]

I saw where you said you were raised in FL so I was hoping you could give some input haha.

The Florida Panhandle is as foreign to me as Missouri. I've only driven through it twice. Once to visit a cousin in prison, and once to go to Spring Break in Panama City Beach.

Apparently PCB isn't too bad this time of year, but you certainly don't want to go there Mar-Apr. It seemed like it had a lot of fun things available for the family, but they are also having a problem with hoodlums from the Gump driving down on the weekends and causing a ruckus.

[CRAMBONE]

Perdido Key. It's right on the FL/AL line. Beaches were amazing. Close enough to Pensicola for day trips. Wife's family lives in Mexico Beach that is a close second for me.

[J8127]

There is a magical place in Ft. Walton. An intersection. You keep going for Destin, you turn right for Okaloosa Island.

But at that very intersection are 3 strip clubs, the boardwalk, and a gas station.

Many a night out never make it past that intersection.

(I know you said family friendly, I simply ignored it)

[Mr.Anderson]

I'm not a FL native but have been to the beaches on the left and right side of Pensacola. We prefer quieter time on the beach, i.e. not bothered by drunk, loud college kids or even obnoxious high school kids, so Ft. Walton Beach (45 minutes east of Pensacola) and Perdido Beach (less than 30 minutes west) are our two favorite beaches. We observed plenty of family with smaller children (under 10) at both beaches. We have been going later in the season (after Labor Day), so we don't have to put up with the crowds (older kids went back to school) at the beaches or restaurants, and the weather is not scorching hot. The water is still warm enough to swim. The condo rental rates are at least 15% less than the summer rates.

We have friends with little kids that love Ft. Walton beach.

October 2014 at Ft. Walton Beach:



There is a nice little Air Force museum at Hurlburt Field, 10 minutes from the beach:

Sounds like we have similar tastes.
We'll be down there middle of July.

The Florida Panhandle is as foreign to me as Missouri. I've only driven through it twice. Once to visit a cousin in prison, and once to go to Spring Break in Panama City Beach.

Apparently PCB isn't too bad this time of year, but you certainly don't want to go there Mar-Apr. It seemed like it had a lot of fun things available for the family, but they are also having a problem with hoodlums from the Gump driving down on the weekends and causing a ruckus.

I saw a video on Youtube with a crowd of people (I guess from Atlanta) that were causing quite the scene.

Perdido Key. It's right on the FL/AL line. Beaches were amazing. Close enough to Pensicola for day trips. Wife's family lives in Mexico Beach that is a close second for me.

Just looked that area up. That's a nice place...
We are looking for a more laid back area. Quiet is good. Minimum number of people is good. But we still need a gas station and food stores.

There is a magical place in Ft. Walton. An intersection. You keep going for Destin, you turn right for Okaloosa Island.

But at that very intersection are 3 strip clubs, the boardwalk, and a gas station.

Many a night out never make it past that intersection.

(I know you said family friendly, I simply ignored it)

And if I'd ignore you I'd miss out on where NOT to go.
Thanx for the intel

[Tigereye]

Perdido is a great choice. When our kids were between 4-10 yrs old we would go there with friends. It's very family friendly. We now go to Santa Rosa Beach, which is east of Destin.