Visit Florida - Worth the Drive 2008 - (Page 22) 22 WWW.AAA.COM/ VISITFLORIDA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here begins the Gulf Islands National Seashore (850-934-2600, www.nps.gov/guis), known for secluded sweeps of beach for hiking and birding. Perdido Key State Park (850-492-1595, www.floridastateparks.org/perdidokey) provides more water access. For local color, do lunch at Flora-Bama Lounge (850-492-0611, www.florabama.com) on the Alabama border. Next, head to Pensacola Beach, Some of the where you’ll find everything from beach towns date pier fishing and way back while deep-sea charters others are new to parasailing and communities with watersports. The modern appeal. protected national seashore continues here, but recent storm damage has temporarily closed some of the local roads, so be sure to check ahead. Grayton Beach is part of a string of beachside cities along Route 30A known as Beaches of South Walton. Get an early start the next morning to make your way through all 14 unique beach towns here. Day 3: Beaches of South Walton/ Panama City Beach Back on 30A, explore the 26-mile route through Beaches of South Walton. Some of the beach towns, like Grayton Beach, date way back; others, such as Rosemary Beach and Seaside, are new communities with modern appeal. Along the way, get a dose of nature at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (850-267-0299, www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill) or Grayton Beach State Park (850-231-4210, www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach). Pause in Seaside to shop art galleries and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Then stock up for a picnic lunch at Modica Market (877-809-0994, www.modicamarket.com) and hit the beach. In Panama City Beach, you reach the height of tourism activity with a plethora of stores, restaurants and family attractions. Learn about what lies beneath the Gulf’s shimmering emerald surface at Gulf World Marine Park (850-234-5271, www.gulfworldmarinepark.com) Day 2: Destin/Fort Walton Beach Start early for a day of beach town hopping on the Emerald Coast along U.S. Highway 98. The route passes through the resort town of Fort Walton Beach and more of the national seashore on its way to Destin. Stop for breakfast at the Donut Hole (850-837-8824) in Destin, then catch a cruise in the watersports flavor of your choice: fishing, snorkeling, diving, glass-bottom boat touring or sailing. Continuing along U.S. 98, check out the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort (850-267-8000, www.sandestin.com). It offers two restaurants with beach views, perfect for those determined never to get out of eyeshot of the Gulf. To discover the inimitable personality of a local beach town, take the short drive to Grayton Beach and stop in for dinner or drinks at Red Bar (850-231-1008, www.theredbar.com). Grayton Beach http://WWW.AAA.COM/VISITFLORIDA http://www.nps.gov/guis http://www.floridastateparks.org/perdidokey http://www.florabama.com http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill http://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach http://www.modicamarket.com http://www.gulfworldmarinepark.com http://www.sandestin.com http://www.theredbar.com
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