bk123

My husband, 10-year-old daughter and I will be in the Florida Panhandle – staying at Watercolor, near Seaside – for one week in August. (It’s OK – we’ve done lots of August beach trips, we actually like the heat and we know hurricane season is always a gamble.) While we definitely plan to enjoy Watercolor’s beach and pools, we will have a car and will be venturing out daily to explore interesting places, eat, shop, tour, etc.

This is our first trip to the Panhandle, and I’d love to hear from some Fodorites about your favorite things to do in the area. I’ve read good things about St. Andrews Park and Shell Island – sounds like fun for snorkeling and shelling – but maybe I’m overlooking places that are better or are closer to Watercolor? What other activities/day trips are not to be missed? We like hiking and other outdoor activities, historic sites and museums (not the ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ variety), and good local restaurants. A mall and/or outlet shopping would be OK on a rainy day; fun local shops are great any day.

I’ve read about some good restaurants and have a few ideas, but if anyone’s got a “must-try” suggestion, please let me know. We’re especially interested in casual places with great seafood, pizza/Italian, burgers, Mexican – we’re open to all kinds of food. We’re not really looking to do any upscale dining on this trip.

I know I ask a lot of questions, but I’ve always gotten some great advice here. Thanks in advance…I appreciate your help!

qwovadis

sandestin.com lots of food and fun activites for kids nearby

Elephant Walk restaurant Acme Oyster House Bayou Billy's

3 of my favs down there...

Littleman

My son is at Rosemary Beach this week. Here's a few places that should appeal to you.

Great Southern Cafe @ 83 Center Avenue, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 7327.
http://www.thegreatsoutherncafe.com/
Summer Kitchen Cafe @ 60 N. Barrett Sq., Rosemary Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 6264.
http://www.theskcafe.com/
Bayou Bill's Crab House @ 4748 U.S. 98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 3849.
http://www.bayoubills.com/
Borago @ 80 East County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 9167.
http://www.boragorestaurant.com/
Cafe 30 A @ 3899 East County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 2166.
http://www.cafethirtya.com/
Cafe Tango @ 14 Vicki Street, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 0054.
http://www.letseat.at/CafeTango
Caliza @ 23 Nonesuch Way, Alys Beach, FL 850 - 213 - 5700.
http://www.calizarestaurant.com/
D & K's Beach Cafe @ 63 Hotz Ave., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 0455.
Enzo's Italian Restaurant @ 1598 South County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 3003.
George's at Alys Beach @ 30 Castle Harbour Drive, Scenic Highway 30A, Gulf Breeze, FL 850 - 641 - 0017.
http://www.georgesatalysbeach.com/
House of Klaus @ 14 Clayton Lane, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 2865.
J C's Off the Hook @ 2210 West County Highway 30A, Blue Mountain Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 0374.
http://jcsoffthehook.com/
Louis Louis @ 35 Mussett Bayou Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 1500.
http://www.louislouis.net/
Seagrove Market Cafe @ 3004 South County Highway 395, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 5736.
http://seagrovevillagemarket.com/
Shrimper's Seafood Market @ 4444 US Highway 98 West, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 1159.
Shrimp Shack @ 2236 East County Highway 30 A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 3799.
Smiling Fish Cafe @ 37 Town Center Loop # C8, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 622 - 3071.
http://www.smilingfishcafe.com/
Stinky's Fish Camp @ 5960 West County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 267 - 3053.
http://stinkysfishcamp.com/
The Red Bar @ 70 Hotz Ave., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 850 - 231 - 1008.
http://www.theredbar.com/

MJT

We especially like the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, a real experience and for fine dining we enjoy Bud & Alley's in Seaside.

volcanogirl

I'm interested too, so throwing a bookmark on this thread.

starrs

Did you son eat at those places this week or is that just a list of places copied from a guidebook again, Littleman?

bk, here's a new website that keeps a current list of places for eating, shopping, etc. as well as things to do each week. Your daughter may be interested in the paddleboarding lessons -

http://www.30a.com/

starrs

If you haven't tried scalloping, you may want to drive over to St. Joe Bay and give it a try.
http://www.seahorsewatersafaris.com/familytrips.cfm

Not sure when you are there in August but it may be during the festival weekend -
http://www.tripsmarter.com/travelinf...on-port-st-joe

If you are interested in a little historic town, then continue by driving over to Apalachicola.
http://www.apalachicolabay.org/index.../Apalachicola/

If you do drive that far, be sure to stop for lunch or dinner at one of my favorite restaurants anywhere - a little dive called the Indian Pass Raw Bar. Try some of the wonderful Apalach oysters. If you don't like them (or think you don't) try the baked oysters. It's an uber casual restaurant in an old general store -
www.indianpassrawbar.com

You'll be driving past gorgeous beaches the whole way but the beach at the state park on Cape San Blas is gorgeous.

bk123

Great information so far -- thanks so much to everyone, and keep it coming! Thanks!

Kytravelmom

If you want to shop, try the Silver Sands Outlet Mall. Go west on 98 highway and it is just past Sandestin Resort. It might be 30 minutes for you but there are lots of great stores there. We recently ate at Cafe 30A and it was wonderful. Be aware that it is expensive, requires valet parking and pretty dressy for this area. Most of the ladies have on sundresses and men golf shirts with kakis or shorts. They may have an early eating special where the entrees are two for one, We love Stinky's and eat there often. It is very casual but not cheap. They have excellent specials and some dishes that lean toward the spicy. Be aware that Red Bar and Louis Louis have a limited menu. I believe they are owned by the same people. The menu is printed on a board and changes. Bayou Bill used to be one of our favorites but we don't find it to be that good any more. Acme Oyster in the wharf at Sandestin is good. I believe it is the same as the one in New Orleans. Home of the po boy sandwich. The Harborwalk area just before you go over the bridge into Fort Walton is fun. It is in the Destin harbor and where the fishing boats come in. It is fun to see what people catch. Several restaurants and bars there.

bk123

Thanks again -- I appreciate all the ideas. Scalloping is something we've never tried (or heard of!) -- could be very fun. Anyone have any recommendations for snorkeling?

starrs

You can use your snorkel gear to scallop.

You'll need to go somewhere with coral to find good snorkeling. In Florida that would be Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. Snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico is like snorkeling in a bath tub. You can do it - but there's not much to see.