How Northwest Florida Beaches will turn you into a fun parent again

You don’t need to plan ahead for easy family adventure holidays while visiting Northwest Florida Beaches. All you have to do is rediscover your spontaneity and plan to be a fun parent again.

Northwest Florida Beaches stretches east to west from Wakulla County to Pensacola and flights from Atlanta, Georgia to Northwest Florida Beaches Airport can put you in the heart of the region in just one hour. This is particularly good news, as you’ll find direct daily flights to Atlanta all year round from London, Manchester and Birmingham. So now you know how easy it is to get here, let’s talk about why you should go.

Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Northwest Florida Beaches

Find your sense of adventure in Northwest Florida Beaches

Seems everyone is talking about family adventure holidays these days. But how many of us are taking it beyond dreaming and into doing? Don’t get us wrong, we’re not suggesting families aren’t adventurous, it’s more about finding the right adventure and connecting with the people who can make it happen.

 We’re talking about the type of outdoor adventures you always imagine having with your kids and which come naturally as breathing during a stay in Northwest Florida Beaches. These are experiences you don’t have to plan for months in advance, sometimes you don’t even have to think an hour ahead: you can just decide and then do.

 There are always paddleboards and kayaks for hire and expert guides to take you out on tours. Alternatively, if you’re confident going it alone, you’ll find a local to give you advice about kayaking or canoeing trails, where to see wildlife, or even the best place to have a sandbar picnic.

 As we said, arriving and exploring is just as easy, not least because Northwest Florida Beaches is connected by a single road: you can drive from end-to-end in less than four hours. And it’s also served by three regional airports: Northwest Florida Beaches International, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, and Pensacola International Airport.

Easy family adventure holidays, St. Andrews State Park

Kick off your spontaneous adventure holidays with incredible state parks

Northwest Florida Beaches is home to 30 state or federal parks and preserves, where flawless beaches and clear waters are a common theme.

The breathtaking beauty of the parks is matched by the expertise of park rangers who are always keen to share their insight on all things adventure related. Looking for a place to try out paddleboarding? They have you covered. How about a spot that’s perfect for snorkelling?  They not only know where, they can help you get the right gear.

Now take a look at the adventures waiting for you and your family.

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Sail away for the day to Shell Island in Panama City Beach

We can practically guarantee your kids will never have seen anything like Shell Island in St. Andrews State Park.

Reached only by ferry from Panama City Beach – or on your own if you feel comfortable renting a boat – this seven-mile-long island lies between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay.

If you go by ferry, the adventure begins when step aboard as there’s a high chance your captain will point out dolphins on the crossing.

Once on island there’s nothing here, apart from sun, sand, wildlife and birds,  making it the perfect place to go snorkelling or cycling. Local hire companies in Panama City Beach can supply everything you need from snorkelling equipment to bikes, so it’s easy to come prepared. Then all you have to do is see where the day takes you.

Sunset paddleboarding, Pensacola

Pick up a family of paddleboards in Pensacola

The warm, clear Gulf Coast waters in Pensacola are perfect for paddleboarding, but once you get the bug, don’t limit yourself to the ocean.

Big Lagoon State Park is another paddleboard paradise, and just as exciting as it sounds, not least because it’s the start of Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Trail.

Or rent a board (or a family of them) and take to the calm waters of Little Sabine Bay or Bayou Grand. Handily enough, hire companies are nearly as plentiful as places to paddle in Pensacola.

Add some natural wonder to your adventure holidays

Grayton Beach State Park is another natural wonder that you won’t believe is so easy to reach.

Set between Destin and Panama City Beach, it’s famous for coastal dune lakes which are both spectacularly beautiful and very calm; good as made for paddleboarding or kayaking, or both if you feel energetic.

On dry land, over four miles of hiking trails let you explore quite a bit of the 2,000 acre park: look out for the twisted trees sculpted by the Gulf Coast’s salt winds.

Dive into one of the world’s largest freshwater springs in Wakulla County

Wakulla County in the far east of Northwest Florida Beaches is home to one of the largest freshwater springs in the world.

Simply called Wakulla Springs State Park, the waters are brilliantly blue, clear and a cool 21°; even when the air temperature is much higher. Swimming is allowed – there’s even a diving platform – and the springs are surrounded by ancient cypress forest.

Unsurprisingly, they’re also a haven for wildlife, including manatees, so one of the best ways to explore them is on a boat tour where you can sit back, enjoy the ride and let a local answer your kids’ questions: there will be many.

St. George Island State Park

Why beachside camping is an adventure to remember

Camping beachside is an iconic childhood memory maker and there’s no limit to how much kids will love stargazing in Northwest Florida Beaches, particularly after a day spent exploring wild nature trails.

Nine of the area’s state parks, including Julian G. Bruce, St. George Island State Park and Henderson Beach State Park, offer overnight accommodation, often just steps away from the Gulf and its beaches and bays.

Family sailing, Pensacola, Northwest Florida Beaches

The best time for adventure holidays in Northwest Florida Beaches

Northwest Florida Beaches is warm and sunny most of the year, with temperatures round about 35° in June, July and August.

To really take advantage of the area’s outdoor adventures, spring or autumn are great times to visit; the water is warm, there’s plenty of sunshine and blue skies, but the heat and crowds are a little less intense than during the busier summer months.

Now visit Northwest Florida Beaches to start your adventure