Navarre Beach, FL
 

We think we've narrowed down our Spring trip choice to the FL Panhandle to Navarre Beach at the Holiday Inn (we're using Priority Club points)

I know about the Gulf Island NS stuff nearby. Can anyone else tell me of things we shouldn't miss as well as any restaurant recommendations?...(need at least 1 seafood...and are open to anything else)

also anyone who has an experience with the Holiday Inn Navarre Beach...I would appreciate hearing about it. Are you actually "on" the beach?

Anyone?

We love navarre beach been going there for years (even before all the condo"s) Have never stayed at Holiday Inn but have been in the lobby. It seems nice we always stay in a condo or house.. Not alot to do there but it is wonderful if you like quiet and not crowded beaches.. You can rent bikes from Mike's bikes that is pretty close to HI .. He also rents kayaks and you can go on the gulf or the sound .. Did this it was fun.. Anyway I hope you like it.. We usually go in early sept right after labor day but have gone in June and it was still nice then..

We'd also like to explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Are there adequate bike trails there to make it worth renting the bikes from Mike? I've checked the NPS website and can't find anything

BigRed
We were in Narvarre last year. There is a wonderful bike and jogging trail that runs right by the gulf from Narvarre to Pensacola, (Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa) Cars are not allowed to park on that stretch except in designated parking areas. We rented a pontoon in Destin one day and snorkeled and the Pensacola Navel Museum in Pensacola is a definate rainy day excusion that is a big hit!

Leaving in a week!

Leaving in 3 days!

BigRed
Have a great time! If you have a rainy day, visit the air museum in Pensicola, it's on the Air Base and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. You can take the road that runs beside the bike path I mentioned all the way to Pensacola and it's a senic drive very close to the water. Once you hit Pensacola the Air Base is about another 1/2 hr drive inland. The Blue Angels practice there a couple times a week. You could look their schedule up by going to the museum's web site.

BigRed,

I think you'll enjoy this area. I liked the Island so much I moved out here, on the west end.

If you're into history, take the Gulf side drive cd mentioned. When you get to Pensacola Beach, instead of heading for Pensacola, stay on the island and go to Fort Pickens at the very tip of The Island. In addition to the old fort and its cannons there are gun batteries, nature trails, and a good view of the pass where the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay meet. There's a fee to get in, can't recall how much because we always buy an annual National Park pass.

As for places to eat. In Navarre Beach there's a restaurant called Cocodrils or something close to that. It's pretty good. In Pensacola Beach there's Flounder's which has huge seafood platters and great steaks as well as several other spots from upscale to easy on the budget. A lot depends on what you want.

Have a great trip. Just please heed any warning to stay out of the Gulf due to rip currents. We've had several drownings from Pensacola Beach to Destin the past two summers due to a change in the currents at certain times. There's a flag warning system. Green - okay, go; Yellow - use caution; Red - stop, stay out of the Gulf and they mean stay out. People only waist deep have gotten into trouble when the Gulf is at it. Not trying to frighten you, just don't want to read about you in our paper.

If the Gulf is too rough, head for the Sound side. The water is clear, the sand white, and there is never a rip current on the Sound side.

Post if you need more info.

Frances