Relax by the Gulf of Mexico

Navarre Beach sits on a strip of Santa Rosa Island between the undeveloped beaches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Eglin Air Force Base. This unique location offers a somewhat secluded destination for visitors seeking a pure- beach vacation. There are no shopping malls, entertainment centers, sprawling marinas or private beaches.

Navarre Beach has Santa Rosa Sound to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and undeveloped beaches to the east and west. For all it lacks in man- made entertainment, this beach town offers everything within walking distance, a bike ride or a short drive.

Along the narrow island, there is the longest fishing pier on the Gulf Coast, a county park with pavilions, amenities and plenty of parking, bike paths, boat launches, public parking with beach accesses, houses and condominiums, a couple of restaurants and shops and rental locations for sailboats, waverunners, bicycles and scooters.

To the north of the island is Navarre, accessed by a bridge requiring no toll. Here you will find a small town with expanded amenities including the welcome center, hotels, post office, grocery stores, restaurants, shops and other things you may deem necessary to complete your vacation.

Navarre Beach is truly a beach town, and if you want a 100% beach vacation-this is the place to have it!

CASTAWAYS

CRABS: WE GOT ‘EM
6 Casino Beach Blvd.
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 932-0700
M-W 11a-10p; Th-Sa 11-12a; Su 11a-10p
“Crabs, we got ‘em!” Overlooking the Gulf on Pensacola Beach, Crabs has the largest selection of crab on the beach. Also delicious are the fried shrimp and great steaks. Enjoy indoor dining or outdoor dining directly on the beach or upstairs at our gulf-side deck. Best Sunday Brunch with a live steel band. Kids will enjoy the playground. Look for the Red Roof at the traffic light. For more info, visit crabswegotem.com.

FLOUNDER’S CHOWDER HOUSE
800 Quietwater Beach Rd.
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 932-2003
M-W 11a-10p; Th-Sa 11-2a; Su 11a-10p
“Seafood, shrimp, oysters, fish!” Enjoy our outdoor waterfront dining, sample today’s catch from our own fleet of shrimp boats, beer battered fried oysters, Mahi-Mahi, Gulf Grouper, Yellow Fin Tuna, and of course, Flounder! Flounder’s Beach, a Key West style beach bar, features the world’s best beach bands ‘neath the moon and stars. Happy Hour 4 to 6 p.m. daily, Sunday Brunch. No
reservations needed.

H2O: A CAJUN ASIAN GRILL
12 Via DeLuna
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 343-6791
M-Su 6:30a-10p
“A Cajun Asian Grill.” One of the finest dining experiences on the beach. Enjoy casual poolside lunches or fine dining by twilight. Don’t miss the Sunday Brunch for $26.95 per person with bottomless Bloodys and Mimosas for $6.95. The brunch has over 40 food choices and 32 Bloody Mary options. Valet parking for H2O is complimentary. Child Menu-Credit Cards Accepted-Patio Dining-
Casual Dress. Reservations encouraged.

PAPA’S PIZZA
400 Quietwater Beach Blv.
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 934-1198
M-Th 11a-9p; F, Sa 11a-10p; Su 11a-9p
“Famous New York style pizzas.” Papa’s hand-tossed New York style pizzas are made freshly using a recipe that has been
around for a millenium. At Papa’s, the pizzas bear the names of famous Italians of years gone by. Order a Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, or Rocky Marciano, or you can create your own pie. Also on the menu are calzones, stromboli, salads and pasta. Located on Pensacola Beach and in Gulf Breeze.

PARADISE INN BAR & GRILL
21 Via De Luna Drive
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 916-5087
M-Su 11a-10p; Open late Friday and Saturday
“The Best Food & Live Music Destination!” Paradise Bar & Grill on Pensacola Beach invites you to “boat it, bike it or walk it” to the hottest spot on the island, where you can enjoy live entertainment every weekend. Paradise Bar & Grill is the perfect spot to kick back and relax in one of the lounge chairs and let the beat of island music carry you away. Go ahead, dip your toes in the water while you enjoy your drinks and meals.

SHAN KISHI
808 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32502
(850) 932-8188
M-Th 11a-10p; F, Sa 12-11p; Su 11a-10p
“Experience top-quality sushi!” Welcome to the wide world of sushi and hibachi at the new Shan Kishi Japanese Hibachi & Fusion Sushi restaurant. If you’re in the mood for entertainment, the hibachi tables will provide it for you. The menu includes daily lunch specials for sushi or the hibachi lunch. Take out orders may be placed. Shan Kishi is located in the Seashell Shopping Center next to
the Publix.

THE DOCK
#4 Casino Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach, Florida 32561
(850) 934-3625
M-Su 10-2a
“The place to party on the beach.” The Dock is the place to party on Pensacola Beach. This indoor-outdoor bar and grill offers great food. Enjoy a frozen Bushwacker and one of our famous Dock burgers while watching the game on the big screen tv’s, or come out  on a Wednesday night for Drinkin’ with Lincoln and enjoy unlimited drinks for five dollars. Bikini contests, Blues on the Beach and Blue Angels fly-over shows all happen right on the Dock.

Taking a stroll down the beach, the sand is sugary white and the Gulf of Mexico is a sparkling blue-green. Yes, it is hard to even imagine that there was an oil spill last year. Those visiting in summer 2011 will enjoy natural Florida beaches, friendly locals, fun Gulfside hang-outs,  first-rate fishing and everything a Northwest Florida vacation is supposed to be.

Find out the Who, What, When, Where and Why of your Northwest Florida vacation experience.

WHO SHOULD COME?

A view from the water at Portofino Boardwalk

Everyone! I mean, who doesn’t like taking a trip to the beach? Northwest Florida offers plenty of fun, from simply soaking up the sun to exploring historical sites, ripping it up in the water or aiming for a hole-in-one. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike nature trails, kayak area waterways and enjoy some of the best fishing in the world. Photographers will find no shortage of camera-worthy scenery. Those looking just to unwind will savor every second spent on the sugar white sand.

There truly is not an interest that cannot be satisfied here! What is there to do?

Northwest Florida offers kids, teenagers, parents, young adults and retirees endless opportunities for fun. “There’s lots of fun stuff for kids to do,” said Kim Gnetz, who came all the way from South Bend, Indiana with her daughter, Savanah. “We hung out on the beach, went to the (Gulf Breeze) Zoo and played miniature golf.” Tiki Island Golf and Games, in addition to mini golf, has a full arcade and operates a huge inflatable slide.

When it comes down to it, kids of all ages will enjoy a simple day on the beach, splashing in the waves, building sand castles, flying a kite and searching for sea shells. We all can remember how much fun those days were as children and we never minded a little sunburn. Adults, too, will find no shortage of enjoyable ways to spend their days in Northwest Florida.

Inside the store, you will find an eclectic mix of unique art and gifts, some of which are only available at Geronimo’s Outpost. Tiffany like stained glass art, original paintings and photography, handcrafted jewelry, pottery, ceramics, eclectic island gifts, decorative home accents, specialty wines and wine accessories, beach wear, the latest trends in high-fashion and cruise wear for men, women and children.

The store is located along with other local shops, beach bars and eateries in the plaza across the street from Springhill Suites Hotel. The address is 69 Via De Luna. Pass through the tollbooth and continue straight to Via De Luna. Drive on for about a mile and you’ll find it on the left side of the road. Geronimo’s Outpost is open daily from 10 a.m. to sunset.

Call 850-916-3102 or visit www.geronimosoutpost.com for more information.

What can you buy for a dollar? A dollar at the tollbooth of the Pensacola Beach Bridge gets you a beach, a bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

The hub of activity surrounds one traffic light at Fort Pickens Road and Via de Luna. The restaurants, bars, shops, fishing pier, marinas, watersports and beaches are walking distance from each other, and sandals and flip-flops will get you where you want to go. If walking isn’t your thing, free trolleys run from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Pensacola Beach is truly a beach town. There are no fast food chains, big grocery stores or box stores as you may find on other beaches. The beach and local businesses are the attractions here, so stock up on all your beach-going needs over the bridge in Gulf Breeze!

Gulf Breeze isn’t just the city you drive through to get to Pensacola Beach. A closer look reveals a bustling little town with quiet neighborhoods, Live Oak lined streets and beautiful homes. Explore the area by road or launch your boat and explore the bayous, Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound.

Gulf Breeze is also home to the Naval Live Oak Reservation on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The park boasts some of the most beautiful Live Oaks in the country.

Both Pensacola beach and Gulf Breeze offer a variety of sporting opportunities including fishing piers, boat-launching sites, tennis courts, skateboard parks and hiking trails.

When you’re near Pensacola Beach, don’t miss the chance to experience one or all of the restaurants at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily at H2O Restaurant. Experience dinner entrees such as Jakarta Tuna, Steak Dano, or the tasty Beach Style Shrimp (shrimp stuffed with smoked gouda, wrapped with bacon and baked with house barbecue sauce). If you’re in the mood for lunch or something lighter, ask your server for the Mahi Mahi sandwich.

Relax on the Terrace and enjoy a glass of wine from the extensive and ever changing Gulf-Front Premier Wine Cellar with your meal. Enjoy your selection while taking in the
most stunning sunset on the coast. Popular wines include Hob Nob and Menage a Trois. Try the Jordan or Frogs chardonnay for a special occasion, and if you want some sparkle, Dom Perignon or Cristal is always an excellent choice. Can’t decide which wine to choose from? H2O also offers several Wine Flights so you can taste wines from all over
the world.

Every Sunday, enjoy a fabulous brunch with over 40 food choices and the biggest Bloody Mary Bar on the beach. Sunday brunch is served 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. and is $26.95 per person. Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas are $6.95. H2O is open Mon.-Sat. from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Reservations are recommended. In addition to H2O, The Bonsai Sushi Bar is open daily 5-10 p.m. Enjoy drink specials and a convenient bar menu. Favorite sushi rolls include the Pensacola Beach Roll and the Bonsai Eel Roll.

The Butler’s Pantry, open 7 a.m.-10 p.m., features several grab and go items and is the only place on the island you’re able to enjoy Starbucks coffee. Include one or all of these dining experiences in your plans when visiting Pensacola Beach. Valet parking for H2O Restaurant is complimentary. Call 850-343-6782 or visit www.eatath2o.com. Contact Kelly Sprague if you’re interested in booking a party or private room.

Pensacola Beach. Call 850-932-1500 or visit online at www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

Amphitheatre on Pensacola Beach. Tree lighting ceremony with caroling. Call 850-932-1500. Web site: www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

Pensacola Beach. Call 850-932-1500. Web site:  www.visitpensacolabeach.com.