Emerald Coast FYI
Guides
Editorial, grounded guides to the best beaches, restaurants, activities, and local knowledge along the Florida Panhandle.
Things to do
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Snorkeling & Paddleboarding the Clear Water of Destin
The water clarity that gives the Emerald Coast its name makes it one of Florida's best spots for snorkeling jetties and paddling the flats.
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The Best Time to Visit the Emerald Coast (Season by Season)
Warmest water, lowest crowds, hurricane season, and the shoulder-season sweet spots — when to come and what to expect.
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Coastal Dune Lakes: South Walton's Rarest Natural Feature
There are only a handful of places on Earth with coastal dune lakes — and South Walton has 15 of them. What they are and how to paddle one.
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Fort Walton Beach & Okaloosa Island: The Other Side of the Bridge
Often overshadowed by Destin next door, Fort Walton Beach offers the Gulfarium, ancient Native American history, and a less-crowded shoreline.
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The Best Sunset Spots on the Emerald Coast
The Gulf faces south and west here, which makes the Panhandle one of Florida's great sunset coasts. Where to be when the sky goes coral.
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Things to Do in Destin: A Local's Shortlist
Beyond the beach: charter fishing, Crab Island, HarborWalk Village, and the destinations that make Destin the 'World's Luckiest Fishing Village.'
History
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Spanish Treasure & the Shipwreck History of the Gulf Coast
The Gulf and Florida coasts are littered with the wrecks of Spanish treasure fleets — here's the real history behind the legend of sunken gold.
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Pensacola's Most Famous Ghost Stories
As one of the oldest European-settled cities in America, Pensacola has the haunted history to match — from Fort Pickens to the Pensacola Lighthouse.
Beaches
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The Calmest Beaches for Families with Young Kids
Gentle entry, lifeguards, restrooms, and shade — a parent's guide to the Emerald Coast beaches that work best with little ones.
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The 30A Beach Towns, Explained
Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach — a guide to the 16 distinct communities strung along Scenic Highway 30A.
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Welcome to the Emerald Coast
Florida's Emerald Coast earns its name from some of the world's clearest green water and finest sugar-white sand — here's what makes this stretch of the Gulf Coast unlike anywhere else.