We are in the early stages of planning a trip through the Panhandle to New Orleans. Reading previous posts it sounds as if Seaside would be a good stop en route.

Mrs Lyon is persuading me to first fly to Jacksonville because it may be a nice journey from there over to the Panhandle. Jacksonville, as a place, sounds quite appealing but I'm not convinced about the drive to the Panhandle from there.

Any thoughts about places to visit en route from Panhandle to New Orleans? We have never been in that part of the US before (although we have been to mid and south Florida), so any advice appreciated. Love beaches, swimming, food, and socialising.

There have been quite a few casino-hotels built/rebuilt in Biloxi since Katrina. There are public beaches in that area as well.

Jacksonville through the Panhandle is pretty much nondescript. It's an easy drive, but not an exciting drive.

The panhandle has wonderful sugar sand beaches.

If you want to visit "the forgotten coast" go to the Indian Pass/ Cape San Blas area near Apalachicola. It's my favorite place because there's little there. If your trip is in July or after, you could scallop in St. Joe Bay.

Along the former country road 30a are the villages of 30a. All but one are new in the last 30 years. Gorgeous beaches, and lots of rentals between Rosemary Beach, through Seaside (fancy), Grayton Beach and Blue Mountain. You can bike to all of them along about a 13 mile stretch with lots of restaurants and shops, etc. There's a giant private community pool at Seacrest Beach if you rent a house in that community.

Pensacola Beach is nice.

If you want highrises go to Destin and Sandestin. If you want the redneck Riviera, go to Panama City Beach.

Lots to choose from.

check out www.30a.com

For the other side of the Panhandle, drive from I-10 through Tallahassee to Wakulla Springs State Park, an old hunting estate that includes the largest spring in the state, country, world, whatever. Great wildlife tours by park staff. From there, drive to Appalachicola, real Old Florida. One traffic light, and it only blinks. Some great funky bars. The Episcopal Church was prefabbed in New York and brought in by ship when this was a huge lumbering center in the 19th century. Port St Joe retains charm. Then you can join the parade ably outlined by starrs.

Great tip about Wakulla. I'll make that a stop next trip down.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/
I've canoed in Wekiva but have never gone to Wakulla. Thanks, ack!

If anyone wants great Apalach oysters and other seafood in a dive bar/former general store, stop at the Indian Pass Raw Bar.
http://www.indianpassrawbar.com/
One of my favorite places and it's been too long. Friends are down at 30a right now for the Songwriters Festival and I'm bummed I'm not down there this weekend. This has motivated me to plan a new trip. In July, so I can go scalloping.

Some great information here. Thank you so very much. When you say redneck is this about sunworshipping/tourist types hence sunburn - I am not familiar with the term. or is it a not nice term for someone?

Panama City Beach is known as the "redneck Riviera". It's not my term, it's another name for the place. Similar tourist locations are Gatlinburg, TN and Myrtle Beach SC. All three are surrounded by gorgeous, natural beauty. All three are known for tackiness. PCB is known for horrible traffic jams (cruising the strip is a favorite pastime), tacky Tshirt shops, air-brushed Tshirts and lots of mini-golf places. Most of it is high rises condos and hotels (although many years ago I did stay in a private home sandwiched in between two high rise hotels). Some relish in the busyness and tackiness. Some hate the traffic and crowds and prefer to go just a few miles down the road and enjoy the gorgeous beaches without the craziness. If you're missing the mini-golf, you can always drive in during the day.

I'll add that we made the mistake of booking a room at the Holiday Inn during spring break one year. This was over 20 years ago. Not only were we witness to the spring break "festivities" on the beach, one night it took over an hour to get to the hotel and we were within sight of it for the entire time. It's just a crazy place. Some folks love it and choose PCB for that vibe. Others want to enjoy a more relaxing beach vacation.

The 2 runaways from KY were caught this morning sleeping in the stolen truck in PCB. The 18 year old boy is facing charges in at least 5 states. The 13 year old girl will probably be grounded until she's 21.

Thanks everyone, will continue to do some research and post something much later.

Best wishes for your travels this year.

If you are from the UK, here are some rough equivalents

Redneck = Yobbo in manners
Redneck = lager lout in activity
Redneck = National Front in politics

But they don't shave their heads. For strange cultural reasons, they have long hair like 70's hippies, whom they hated.

Google "Duck Dynasty"

This trip is now delayed until 2017 but I am researching it still. It looks like there are some fabulous parks along the Panhandle, has anyone camped there? Can you hire tents or cabins in these parks?

What time of year? Keep in mind that camping in Florida is a nightmare in the summer months. I don't think anyone will have tents for rent, but a few of the state parks may have cabins. You will still have to bring sheets, towels, etc.

Steve

Why New Orleans?

We have done this trip and the from beginning to end it is just well....OK!

In terms on wildlife, culture and overall experience then I would much rather suggest a drive up from JAX through Georgia to Savannah and Charleston. Much more to see and Savannah/ Charleston have far more going for them than NO which is in my view a tourist dump.

On the GA/SC coast there are at least 25 Sea Islands worth a visit all with a slightly different culture and geography. Some like Sapelo with its Gullah community, offer a very real insight into the social history of the area.

The architecture of Savannah and Charleston is beautiful and the food scene in Charleston is world class but local.

Thanks for your input and I will certainly look into your suggestions. New Orleans will be our end point as we will pick up a cruise from there. That said, I always thought New Orleans would be a special place ie food, music etc but perhaps I need to look more into this. Thanks again

I would agree SOMEWHAT as to the beauty of the Sea Islands in South Carolina and Georgia having once lived there. BUT I have also lived in New Orleans; to compare it to Charleston and Savannah (which are in many ways similar to one another) is, I think, misleading.

If you had the time what you COULD do is see Charleston, Savannah and the area inbetween as well as the Florida panhandle. Since you HAVE to end in New Orleans anyway why not combine all three and then YOU can decide "why New Orleans?" for yourself.

I would not bother with Jax at all but then again I live in Florida.

Thanks Dukey1, I'm just really surprised. To the uninitiated, New Orleans seems like a great place to visit. Then again I don't know the place or its reputation. I wonder if its the equivalent of Manchester UK, which is great in parts but not somewhere I would recommend to tourists.... a take it or leave it sort of place. This may get me in trouble, as there are plenty of Manchesterphiles on Fodors.

I wouldn't try to compare the two.

That wasn't the point. I didn't know Steve had to be in NO.

No, Steve.Nothing like Manchester, more a cross between Leeds and Blackpool.

I really don't like the place. Cheap, tacky, seedy, unsafe in areas and very down market touristy were my impressions.

We have friends who lived in the Garden district, which was fine. They managed to sell up weeks before Katrina. When we visited we drove round generally and saw some shocking poverty, the worst I have seen anywhere in the world, worse than Wythenshawe.

Actually, the area from Mexico Beach through Gulf Shores is called the Redneck Rivera. This was the area that poor folkies went for their beach fix...my family included. No air conditioner in your car precluded one driving very far.
Country people and farmers were called "redneck" because their necks were red from working in the sun.
Now, being from the south, we call any one with three teeth and a muscle shirt a redneck. Women with their boobs hanging out and Daisy Duke shorts smoking a cigarette and carrying a beer get the title as well. Not nice, I know, but from someone that lives in a "meth lab" county, they are a fact of life. And always on the dole. Tongue in cheek, sort of!

Thanks for all the advice. I have been reading about Charleston and Savannah, and must say I may just alter my plans - they sound fabulous. I have plenty of time to make up my mind and don't want to write off New Orleans just yet, and will look into the place a little more. Might be good if I can turn up more positive comments about New Orleans - how easy will this be?