The Other Side of Florida – Pensacola vs Destin vs Panama City

Would you believe it? I have taken multiple leisure trips down to Florida over the last few years, but haven’t been to Miami. For that matter, I haven’t been to any Florida beach towns on the Atlantic coast. This was not a conscious decision, rather situations just turned out so.

But sometimes I wonder how these destinations like Miami and others on the Atlantic coast will fare in comparison to the Florida beaches I am more familiar with, in comparison with the “Other side of Florida”. By this I mean the Gulf Coast beaches and the ones on the Florida panhandle.

In this post I will talk about Destin and its nearby Gulf Coast destinations and why you can choose to be there in place of the more conventional Florida destinations.

What makes this strip of the Emerald Coast so interesting?

Destin is a quaint little beach town with white sand beaches and a strong family oriented vibe. Drive 1 hr to the east and you are in Panama City known for its vibrant night life and parties. Drive 1 hr to the west and you are in Pensacola, pristine beaches which are part of a National Park Preserve. That is what sets Destin apart.

Its almost as if you can wake up in the morning and decide “who” you want to be for that day.

Pensacola/Gulf Islands National Lakeshore

• Vibe – Family fun, Adventure, Water Sports, Nature
• Crowd Level – Moderate
• Highlights
  • Gulf Islands National Lakeshore
  • Blue Angels home base
  • Events celebrating the LGBTQ community during Memorial Day weekend
  • Culturally closer to the Deep South than Florida
• Beaches
  • Gulf Islands National Lakeshore
  • Opal beach (Inside the Gulf Islands Preservation)
  • Pensacola beach

Destin

• Vibe – Cozy relaxing environment, Family, Couples
• Crowd Level – Moderate/Low
• Highlights
  • Very well maintained white sand beaches with crystal clear waters
  • Quaint little beach town atmosphere
  • Become a local by participating in Year round festivals (Annual Chili Cook-Off, Destin Seafood Festival, Concert Series, Bojamz Music & Arts Festival)
  • Weekly Fireworks during the summer (The Village of Baytowne Wharf, The Okaloosa Island Boardwalk, Harborwalk Village)
• Beaches
  • Henderson Beach State Park
  • Destin Beach
  • Navarre Beach

Panama City

• Vibe – High energy fun environment
• Popularity/Crowd Level – High
• Highlights
  • Nightlife, Live Music (Tootsie’s)
  • Seafood (Runaway Island, The Wharf, Dusty’s Oyster Bar)
  • Fishing
• Beaches
  • Panama City Beach
  • St. Andrews State Park
• Note – The local administration have made a sincere effort to change Panama City Beach’s reputation during Spring Break. But it is still best to avoid it during that time due to the crowds.

Memories!