Each year, pirate reenactors invade the city and hold siege for three days of peglegged merriment, music, food and local arts and crafts. One such pirate was William Augustus Bowles, who operated a flotilla of marauders around the Florida Panhandle and is memorialized in the Billy Bowlegs Festival ( ) at Fort Walton Beach. The coves and bays of the Emerald Coast were the perfect hiding spots for pirates who plied the waters for unsuspecting merchant vessels. The Florida Panhandle’s identity is inextricably linked to the history and landscapes of the area, which is peppered with the stories of pirates, vagrants and artists who found refuge in the unexplored, palmetto-lined coast.
The old bones of shipwrecks off the Panama City Beach coast have attracted new undersea tenants © Michael Wood / Stocktrek Images/ Getty Images Festivals Elsewhere in the Spanish moss–shaded park there are ornamental gardens, a few hiking trails and boat access to the nearby Tucker Bayou. Set on 163 acres of historic land, the park’s central focus is the restored Wesley House, a two-story mansion encircled by columned verandas. Just north of the pastel-colored planned community of Seaside, Eden Gardens State Park provides a glimpse of Florida as it was in the 19th century. The park still features a stunning array of ecosystems, including cypress domes, marshes, pine flatwoods, scrub and wet prairies. Archaeological evidence suggests the area around Topsail Hill Preserve State Park ( /Topsail-Hill) was once used by Native Americans for hunting and fishing, and little has changed since. Plus, thirty onsite cabins make for the perfect quiet getaway.Ī keen eye (or a set of binoculars) might help you catch a glimpse of dolphins playing off the coast © mjf795 / Getty Images Under-visited state parksįar away from Florida’s theme parks, the Emerald Coast offers a more feral alternative to the manicured entertainment found in the center of the state. Bring a pair of binoculars to spot bottlenose dolphins, which are frequently spotted off the coast of this slice of paradise.Ī bit further afield, Grayton Beach State Park exemplifies the region’s precious moniker, providing secluded beaches with azure waters, as well as biking and hiking trails and two rare coastal dune lakes that are made for exploring via kayak. Wander along sugar-sand beaches and through mangroves where the only other visitor might be a nesting shorebird. An uninhabited island separating St Andrews Bay from the gulf, this pristine stretch of sand features none of the usual amenities – no concessions, restrooms, picnic tables or trash cans (remember to pack out what you bring in). Not far from Panama City Beach, Shell Island is a favorite among locals and a few in-the-know visitors. Popular beaches are plentiful near main resort areas like Panama City Beach and Destin, but the area still has a few hidden treasures worth seeking out. No doubt the beaches are beautiful, but the Emerald Coast has more than surf and sand to offer © kimberford / Getty Images Secret beachesįlorida’s breezy Gulf Coast beaches are some of the quickest ways to fend off sweltering weather and take a few deep gulps of fresh, salty air.
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