#Gulf island national seashore fl plus
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Visit Gulf Islands National Seashore for a unique and well-rounded beach vacation, and my guess is that your vehicle, too, will be sporting a chick magnet. Companies like Key Sailing, Dolphin Express and Condor Sailing will help you explore these waters, where the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is the largest and most prevalent mammal. Get moving with parasails, kayaks, wave runners, paddleboards or bicycle rentals. Other choices include H2O Hilton Pensacola Beach, especially for Sunday brunch, Red Fish Blue Fish and Peg Leg Pete’s. It was founded in 2009 by husband and wife team, Shawn. If you have the good fortune to meet local legend and Paradise owner Fred Simmons, you’ll be treated to his humor and in-depth knowledge from a lifetime living in the area.įor upscale dining and fresh seafood, the Grand Marlin Restaurant and Oyster Bar is a must, with views of the Santa Rosa Sound and sunsets over Pensacola Bay. Outdoor Gulf Coast is a leading digital publication on outdoor recreation along the Florida Gulf Coast. Come evening, stick your toes in the sand and enjoy live music, good food and an energetic vibe at Paradise Bar and Grill. Gulf Islands natIonal seashore preserves and interprets an interconnected system of coastal defense fortifications, barrier islands, wilderness, and coastal and. Paradise Inn is a beachy blast from the past, and a perfectly casual and inexpensive place to call home base.

#Gulf island national seashore fl free

Kids can become Junior Rangers, a fun and free way to learn about the biology and history of the national seashore.įor great lodging, restaurant and entertainment options, head for nearby Pensacola Beach, a lively juxtaposition with the mellower GINS. Santa Rosa’s another blissful barrier island, with lovely Opal Beach and a 7-mile section of the National Florida Scenic Trail.ĭon’t miss the Naval Live Oaks and Fort Pickens areas and visitor centers, and partake in a variety of excellent ranger programs, including guided walks, tours of the forts, stargazing and snorkeling adventures at several GINS locations. Drive along Perdido Key and spend an idyllic afternoon hiking, fishing or relaxing at Johnson Beach.įor dinner, visit the Flora-Bama Yacht Club, a relaxed eatery right on the sand, where families pull their boats up for an evening’s entertainment. Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, with practice flights most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, March through November.Ĭlimb the 177 steps to the top of Pensacola Lighthouse, the tallest on the Gulf Coast, for an awesome view and some active family fun.

#Gulf island national seashore fl plus

Major attractions include the impressive - and free - National Naval Aviation Museum, with more than 150 aircraft and 4,000 artifacts on display, plus an Imax theater and interactive simulators. If the family prefers the comforts of more modern lodging, Gulfport and Biloxi have many fine offerings, including Marriott’s Courtyard Gulfport, South Beach Biloxi Hotel or the recently renovated and more adult-focused Island View Casino Resort. To really get away from it all, primitive camping is permitted in designated areas. Part of the allure of GINS is that it’s mostly undeveloped, except for two campgrounds with limited water and electrical hookups for RVs and tents. Dolphins are likely to escort you during the fun, 50-minute ride, where dreamy beaches invite you to swim, relax, tour historic Fort Massachusetts and explore for an entire day.īack on the mainland and just outside GINS, Biloxi is known as a playground for all ages, with the world’s longest man-made beach, casino resorts, golf courses, museums, waterfront restaurants and a host of activities for families, including the Big Play Family Fun Center, with bumper cars, kiddie bumper boats and miniature golf. The island is accessible by Ship Island Excursions’ ferry boats in Gulfport.

From Cat Island, Mississippi, it stretches eastward 160 miles tot he Okaloosa Area east of For Walton Beach, Florida.Some of Mississippi’s finest beaches can be found 11 miles out to sea, on gorgeous Ship Island, an important part of GINS.

Its 13 areas include historic forts, shaded picnic areas, trails, and campgrounds.

Gulf Islands National Seashore is a place of myriad riches - blue-green, sparkling waters, magnificent white beaches, and fertile coastal marshes.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Site Pass.

Come explore with us today! Camping and Day Use Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of Mexico for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Great places to go near Gulf Islands National Seashore in August (updated in 2023) Here, you can find the best travel tips, transportation routes as well.