These Small Towns in Florida's Emerald Coast Come Alive in Summer
Florida's small town population explodes, and nature awakens on the sunniest days of the year. Enjoy plentiful attractions, top-quality services, and amenities along the aesthetic streets on your way to the beachscape of your life. Lounge with a drink in hand days on by the emerald view of the waters until the most stunning sunsets take over the scenery every evening.
From surfing, snorkeling, and dolphin tours to beach strolls and state parks with wildlife trails, you will be in the embrace of the tropics and never want to leave. Choose a town to relish in this captivating atmosphere along Florida's Emerald Coast, which is unlike anywhere else in the state, nation, or even the world.
Gulf Breeze
This tiny town across the bay from Pensacola is a heaven made for adventurous souls. From sea to land and the skies, no exploration is off the table in Gulf Breeze. The small town of under 7,000 active residents comes fully alive in the summer months with scores of snorkelers, hikers, and birding enthusiasts seeking a fulfilling respite. Join them in a "breeze" with easy access to this postcard-worthy Pensacola suburb from anywhere inland or the nearest airport, Pensacola International Airport, by the protected nature along Gulf Islands National Seashore.
From park ventures to beach crawls and relaxation, the culturally enriched small-town atmosphere invites you for seafood feasts and attractions in between lounging and activities. Visit the Gulf Breeze Zoo, with 50 acres and some 1,000 animals, including the classic giraffes, rhinoceroses, zebras, gorillas, giant tortoises, alligators, and hippopotamuses. There are also coatimundi, squirrel monkeys, and otters to delight your kids with their playfulness, while the spectacular raised boardwalk offers views of free-roaming deer, wildebeest, ostrich, Cape hunting dogs, and islands with chimps and gorillas.
Miramar Beach
Miramar Beach, the tropical therapy heaven for shopaholics, comes alive during the summer when big-name designers and chefs bring out their best, which is unexpected in the small-town environment, to delight new faces and royal followers. Take a stroll through this South Walton neighborhood along scenic beach roads, with surf shops, beachfront homes, resorts, and condos overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, where thrill seekers jet ski and parasail. It is no wonder that Miramar Beach, both homey and evolved, is so lively.
Whether you are seeking a respite in a nostalgic atmosphere that reminds you of a childhood vacation, the beaches, or the card-swiping heaven of the Silver Sands Premium Outlets with over 100 stores and an area for kids, the beach town has you covered. Visit the nearby Grand Boulevard with its New Vision Theatres Boulevard 10 cinema and outdoor lifestyle upscale stores like Anthropologie, Chubbies, Hemline, Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, and Williams Sonoma. You can dine on world cuisine, including Greek, Italian, and American, or fresh seafood at the outdoor hotspots of Surf Hut and Pompano Joe's.
Navarre
Navarre is a no-secret beach destination and "Florida’s Most Relaxing Place," with waves of tranquility in its name and the gently rolling waters over the shore. Exchange the city rush, fumes, and heated steel on a hot summer's day for a weekend escape to a quiet beach town with a peaceful atmosphere that will induce a state of seductive relaxation at the end of summer. With something for everyone, Navarree is the perfect family escape, a road trip getaway for friends, or a romantic getaway into a cozy atmosphere where every view is postcard-like.
The town at the far northwest tip of the state is nestled just east of Pensacola between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Park. It is the picture of solitude and simplicity at their purest, like the beckoning 12 miles of pristine white shoreline. Crossing the Navarre Bridge is like transcending into paradise, with the emerald waters calling for cooling midday dips, sunbathing on the beach, and scenic park trails for strolls, biking, and picnics.
Niceville
The small town of Niceville is one of the best places to live in Florida, but choose to vacation or getaway along this stretch of Florida's mesmerizing Emerald Coast in the Panhandle, and Niceville will win your heart. Cozily nestled along the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, Niceville screams with friendliness through everything it touches, like nature in tame waters and scenic shoreline trails, beloved by its genuinely sweet locals and visitors of all ages and interests.
Take a stroll through or bike in the warm ambience along the pedestrian-friendly downtown with an endless variety of hotspots to enjoy summertime indoor and outdoor recreation under the sunny skies. Get all your vitamin D needs met by the end of the season with low crowds and all the fresh air, from the beaches to the pretty streets, with accolades as safest, cheapest, and family-friendly.
Pensacola
Unlike many undercover destinations along Florida's Emerald Coast, Pensacola needs no mention of its accolades, with its unparalleled beaches and experiences speaking for themselves. Come for the Pensacola Beach and stay for a "little adventure," history, and sights during all your favorite pursuits. From dives to explore the underwater habitat around the world's largest artificial reef, the USS Oriskany, to unforgettable jet ski dolphin tours, you will be breathless and eager to try everything around this rich slice of Florida's paradise.
Dig into the colorful heritage on a venture to a naval fort named after an American Revolutionary War hero, Fort Pickens, from 1834, or relax at a spa or simply lounge at the beach with a tropical drink in hand, overlooking the gorgeous emerald coast. With more than 300 sunny days a year, the outdoors is your oyster, while the "Old Florida" vibe will pull you back with nostalgia to return for more of Pensacola long before the next season.
Perdido Key
Perdido Key is your scenic escape to the emerald Gulf of Mexico waters in between Orange Beach, Alabama, and Pensacola, with easy access from all three. The popular destination, with its famous waterways, attractions, and everything from hidden, beautiful nature nooks to the most famous beach, will delight any group on a summer vacation. Dive in with plentiful relaxation opportunities, sights, and thrilling experiences like at Perdido Key State Park, best for hikes, surfing, and fishing along two miles of white sand Gulf Coast beaches with protected wildlife like loggerhead sea turtles, Perdido Key beach mice, and nesting shorebirds.
Visit the nearby Big Lagoon State Park for over 700 acres of scenic beauty to boat, fish, kayak, hike, and swim. Kayakers love the area for its over 1,515 miles of waterways, and the shore is a top spot for bird watching for ducks, 23 species of wood warbler, and sandpipers. Be the eagle when you climb the three-story observation tower to see the area around you from the mighty bird's perspective. The park and its beaches are equipped with family-friendly amenities like showers, picnic spots, a boardwalk, and boat ramps. Find a campsite for overnights under the dark skies full of stars, with immediate access to the beach in the morning and evening campfires.
Sunnyside
With a name that emanates waves of pleasantness, this small town along the Emerald Coast is Florida's hidden gem, "where family memories are made." The tranquil escape is complete with plenty of beachside accommodation options, like vacation rentals, primed for easy relaxation along Sunnyside Beach or staying active at the Tennis Resort. Sunnyside Beach is the quiet neighbor of Panama City Beach, in the lush green embrace of a real tropical paradise with sugar-white sands lapped by emerald waters.
The unincorporated town with a quality resort is unsurpassable during the summer, with a low population that gets buzzing in the summer. Enjoy easy access to this part of the larger Laguna Beach area, along State Road 30, east of Riviera Beach and west of Laguna Beach and Santa Monica, to unwind through easy-going pursuits. From your favorite sports courts, boardwalk strolls, and the amazing access to the Gulf of Mexico beaches for waterside recreation, you can stay outdoors to absorb every last drop of Florida's loving sunshine in the aptly named town.
The Sunshine State stays "woke" throughout the year, but with a special summertime vibe, it can become hot and crowded. Escape to one of the smaller towns along the intricate Emerald Coast and enter a natural embrace like you've never experienced before.
These seven towns are the real Florida Emerald gemstones. From the truly jade-shaded waters to the sugary white sand between your toes, you will relax and feel complete by the end of the season, ready to jump back into work or studies.
