Panama City

TALLAHASSEE

Rolling hills and fall foliage are just a few of Tallahassee’s unexpected delights. Whether in town for a college graduation, family vacation, or to catch a Florida State Seminoles or Florida A&M Rattlers game, visitors have plenty to see and do, from exploring the city’s diverse culinary scene to seeing the museums, art galleries, and entertainment hotspots. For art and history enthusiasts, visits to the 10-acre Railroad Square Art District, which has dozens of galleries, shops, and small businesses, and the Apalachee-Spanish living history museum of Mission San Luis are a must.

Glistening turquoise waters and sugar-sand beaches are just a few of the reasons visitors love the Gulf Coast city of Pensacola, located on Florida’s Panhandle west of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. In addition to 50-plus miles of coastline, Pensacola’s food and aviation festivals, expansive parks and nature preserves, and family-friendly attractions make this city a top beach vacation destination.

The pristine beaches of Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, and Gulf Islands National Seashore offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventures, including fishing, paddling, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing. Scuba divers have an abundance of places to explore, from reefs to historic shipwrecks and the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, which includes 12 wrecks from Pensacola to Port St. Joe.

The small, friendly port town of Apalachicola, about 90 minutes southwest of Tallahassee on Florida’s Northwest Coast, is a treasure trove of history and historic buildings, maritime culture, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

Also known as “Oystertown,” it’s hard to imagine a better place to sit down to a fresh seafood dinner and relax with a cocktail or cold beer than the restaurants of Apalachicola. Try Half Shell Dockside, The Station Raw Bar, or Owl Café, which adjoins The Tap Room.

An ideal place to start a Gulf Coast beach vacation, Apalachicola is just a scenic, 20-minute drive from the undeveloped beaches at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, which offers a plethora of outdoor recreation opportunities in some of the most pristine public lands in Florida.