A Great Family Beach

Sun on your face, breeze at your back, and sand between your toes. We love it here.

Wiere do you go when you want to ake your family on a seaside escape? For a lesser-known paradise, choose Navarre Beach along Florida's northwest Gulf Coast; it's still blessedly undiscovered.

Restful Retreat

Crystal-blue water, pristine white sand, and stretches of undeveloped beach without another soul draw families to this tiny spot between Pensacola Beach and Destin on U.S. 98. Navarre Beach provides the setting for the ultimate secluded getaway.

You'll spot only three restaurants (Barracuda's, Cocodrie's, and Sailor's Grill and Bakery) and two gas stations. Sailor's Bakery boasts sweets, breads, and to-swoon-for cinnamon rolls. As for shopping, just a small boutique and a few watersports-supply stores dot the strip. That's just the way visitors like it. And so do we.

Here's the idea: Rent a condo, stock up on groceries at one of the big supermarkets before crossing the bridge to the beach, and get ready to enjoy a relaxing time. The longer you stay, the less expensive the lodging. Need some help getting started? Surf for properties at www.beaches-rivers.com.

Once you're settled in, make the most of this seaside splendor. Little ones dig around the Gulf of Mexico, catching fish and grabbing sand crabs. Dolphins jump and play, putting on quite a show. Surf-fishers want to hook the pompano, flounder, cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, and white and speckled trout that swim the shores.

Natural Wonders

For a quiet beach experience, rent a canoe or kayak, and tour on your own. Looking down through the water is like paddling over an aquarium. Scuba divers score a real treat with an offshore underwater viewing of the U.S.S. Massachusetts, a vessel that has called the deep sea home since the 1920s. Visit the Eco-Beach Shop for bike ($ 10 a day), surfboard ($25 a day), or double kayak ($25 a day) rentals.

Located on the east end of the beach, Navarre Beach State Park provides another family outing. Amenities include a 1,000-foot-long fishing pier (open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.), picnic tables, and a boardwalk. A part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Navarre's 8 miles of pure, undisturbed waterfront are perfect for long walks and quiet treasure hunts. You'll find your own tropical paradise.


by Mckenzie, Jennifer L