The Panhandle Feature

Snowy white beaches: Most of the Panhandle's Gulf Coast shoreline is relatively unobstructed by high-rise condos and hotels, and the white-powder sand is alluring.

Lots of history: Spanish, Native American, and, later, French and English influences shaped the direction of this region and are well represented in architecture, historic sites, and museums.

Slower pace: The Panhandle is sometimes referred to as "LA," or Lower Alabama. Southern through and through, the pace here is as slow as molasses—a fact Tallahassee plays up by claiming to be "Florida with a Southern accent."

Capital sites: As the state capital (chosen because it was midway between the two earlier Spanish headquarters of St. Augustine and Pensacola), Tallahassee remains intriguing thanks to its history, historical museums, universities, and quiet country charm.