Florida Panhandle

Sounds quite idyllic, doesn't it? Open your eyes—you've just discovered Northern Florida, a place that evokes images of paradise. This is a part of Florida that doesn't contain crowded theme parks or high-energy nightlife, a Florida that many might not think of when planning a vacation to the Sunshine State.

About Florida

Nature's Theme Park

Southern accents ring out from such northern enclaves as Pensacola and Tallahassee. Tallahassee, Florida's state capital, was once populated by cotton and tobacco plantations; today it's home to state legislators and college students. The city boasts two state capitol buildings: the 1845 Greek Revival Historic Capitol, fronted by jaunty red-and-white-striped awnings, and the modern 22-story State Capitol built in 1977. Downtown's historic districts preserve the city's southern flavor with a wide variety of architectural styles, from early 19th-century Greek Revival and Federal to late 1800s Queen Anne and Gothic Revival to early 20th-century Art Deco and bungalows. Tallahassee's two large universities, Florida A&M University, founded in 1887, and Florida State University, established in 1851, lend an air of exuberance to the city, especially during football season.

Pensacola houses the Naval Air Station Pensacola, also home to the Blue Angels precision flying team. The Blue Angels engage in practice sessions at the museum most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. March through November; guests gaze upward in awe as these daredevils perform spellbinding maneuvers. Back on land and sea, Pensacola's beaches also awe with their talcum-soft sand and jade-green waters.

In March and April, students on spring break storm the shores in Panama City Beach for the college-goers' annual rite of passage. Slathered in sunblock, they toss Frisbees in skimpy beachwear among a crazy quilt of beach towels. Families can enjoy the sun and sea here, too, as well as attractions like Zoo World or a dolphin encounter cruise aboard the Capt. Anderson III. Pods of bottlenose dolphins are a common sight in Gulf waters.

If your meal anywhere in the state of Florida includes oysters, chances are those oysters came from North Florida. Apalachicola, to be exact, billed as the Oyster Capital of the World, is where 90 percent of the state's oysters are harvested. This little fishing town on the Forgotten Coast lies on the waterfront, where you'll also find charming Victorian inns, quaint antique and gift shops and plenty of fishing.

They Came with a Dream

Juan Ponce de León, who came in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, blazed a trail for the conquistadores who followed in his footsteps. A pair of Henrys—Flagler and Plant—laid the framework, or rather the railroad tracks, that enabled the state to become a major vacation destination.

Building on that framework, an entrepreneur named Walt Disney turned a central Florida cow pasture into the home of the mouse with arguably the state's most recognized face—if not surely its most recognized pair of ears.

The stylistic touches left behind by architects of many eras give Florida a rich sense of texture. A Spanish flair prevails in historic St. Augustine, where buildings are distinguished by walled patios, stately arches and roofs of burnt-orange clay tile. Ybor City's showier flourishes—wrought-iron balconies, sidewalk cafes and plazas—point to a profoundly Latin influence. Synthetic materials, pastel hues and rectilinear forms characterize the Art Deco hotels along Ocean Drive in Miami's trendy South Beach.

As diverse as the state's architecture are the people who call Florida home. Sharing a place under the sun is a seemingly haphazard mix of retirees, jet setters and adventurers, of young and old, of “conch” fishermen, business tycoons and developers, and of tourists who came to visit but decided to stay.

Recreation

At the 571,088-acre Apalachicola National Forest, towering pine trees and sturdy oaks rise from dense thickets of palmettos, accented by myriad rivers, lakes, streams and ponds. Fresh-air activities include kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, cycling, camping, horseback riding and hunting. Take a leisurely canoe trip on Kennedy Creek into a picturesque cypress swamp or cast for trophy-size largemouth bass as well as catfish, crappie and sunfish in the forest's lakes and rivers.

A large portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore resides in Florida. Spend a tranquil day at the seashore or go bicycle riding, primitive camping, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, hiking, beachcombing, bird-watching, wildlife viewing and boating. Pack a picnic and pedal one of nine hiking trails at Naval Live Oaks, including a 40-mile bike loop. The beach at Santa Rosa Sound with its calm, shallow waters is a relaxing option for families with young children. The water at the seashore is fine for swimmers, especially at beaches specially designated for swimming, including Johnson Beach, Langdon Beach and Opal Beach. Perdido Key has everything you need for a day at the beach, including a lifeguard, boardwalk trails and picnic tables. The national seashore also is famous for its numerous fishing possibilities. A license is required for most types of fishing in Florida; phone (888) 347-4356 to apply.

Panama City Beach is another hot spot for anglers, with blue marlin, cobia, red snapper, pompano and trout readily chomping at the bait. Or don scuba gear and dive into the Gulf several miles offshore, where you can ogle exotic sea life in the area's 50 artificial reefs.

If you prefer your exertion on the easy to moderate end of the spectrum, catch a breeze while bicycling on the relatively flat Florida terrain. The town of White Springs is near 15 trails, including the looping Gar Pond Trail and the Big Shoals Trail, which passes one of the state's scant white-water stretches on the Suwannee River. Looking for another lazy way to pass the day? Grab a tube and go river floating at Coldwater Creek in Blackwater River State Forest.

Endless Days of Sunshine

For the most part Mother Nature smiles kindly, although she is prone to excess when angered. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires are among the punishments mercilessly inflicted when she unleashes sporadic fits of fury.

But Floridians take it all in stride. It's considerably easier in a state that simply refuses to take itself too seriously.

As much as Florida is rolling oceans, saw grass prairies and mangrove and cypress swamps, it is bicycle-riding birds, leaping alligators, and sea lions and walruses masquerading as actors.

As much as you can make a living here growing sugar cane, catching fish or manufacturing semiconductors, you can pull on a tail to perform as a mermaid, choose a sunny sidewalk spot from which to draw caricatures of passersby, or don a wizard's robe and sing along with croaking frogs.

What other state's identity ties so closely to the unabashedly seedy treasures that lurk behind signs of brash neon? Plastic yard flamingos, seashell figurines with glued-on rolling eyes, the simple word “Florida” set amid the chaos of unrestrained tie-dye on a 50/50 cotton blend T-shirt—like no other state, Florida has its kitsch in sync.

It's a place that brings forth smiles and laughter and lets us see things in a different light. A whimsical light. A humorous light.

Recreation

At the 571,088-acre Apalachicola National Forest, towering pine trees and sturdy oaks rise from dense thickets of palmettos, accented by myriad rivers, lakes, streams and ponds. Fresh-air activities include kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, cycling, camping, horseback riding and hunting. Take a leisurely canoe trip on Kennedy Creek into a picturesque cypress swamp or cast for trophy-size largemouth bass as well as catfish, crappie and sunfish in the forest's lakes and rivers.

A large portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore resides in Florida. Spend a tranquil day at the seashore or go bicycle riding, primitive camping, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, hiking, beachcombing, bird-watching, wildlife viewing and boating. Pack a picnic and pedal one of nine hiking trails at Naval Live Oaks, including a 40-mile bike loop. The beach at Santa Rosa Sound with its calm, shallow waters is a relaxing option for families with young children. The water at the seashore is fine for swimmers, especially at beaches specially designated for swimming, including Johnson Beach, Langdon Beach and Opal Beach. Perdido Key has everything you need for a day at the beach, including a lifeguard, boardwalk trails and picnic tables. The national seashore also is famous for its numerous fishing possibilities. A license is required for most types of fishing in Florida; phone (888) 347-4356 to apply.

Panama City Beach is another hot spot for anglers, with blue marlin, cobia, red snapper, pompano and trout readily chomping at the bait. Or don scuba gear and dive into the Gulf several miles offshore, where you can ogle exotic sea life in the area's 50 artificial reefs.

If you prefer your exertion on the easy to moderate end of the spectrum, catch a breeze while bicycling on the relatively flat Florida terrain. The town of White Springs is near 15 trails, including the looping Gar Pond Trail and the Big Shoals Trail, which passes one of the state's scant white-water stretches on the Suwannee River. Looking for another lazy way to pass the day? Grab a tube and go river floating at Coldwater Creek in Blackwater River State Forest.

In Motion in the Ocean

Off the Miami coast, shipwrecks and other sunken items—such as a Boeing 727 jet lowered to the ocean floor in 1993—function as artificial reefs. Rich coral growth makes scuba diving ventures here particularly attractive. Snorkeling, especially popular at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, allows for similar encounters with marine life at a more shallow depth.

The nearly 600 varieties of fish that live off the coast lure anglers to cast their lines into the brine. Many marinas provide saltwater fishing equipment, bait and guides for deep-sea or offshore charters. Record-size specimens also swim in the state's rivers and lakes, making freshwater fishing equally rewarding.

Don't neglect to pick up a license from the county tax collector. Saltwater or freshwater licenses, required for all anglers ages 16 to 64, cost nonresidents $17 for 3 days, $30 for 7 days or $47 for 1 year; a resident license costs $17 for 1 year. Snook and lobster permits cost an additional $2 each; a tarpon tag is $51.50. Resident combination fresh- and saltwater licenses are available for $32.50 and are valid for 1 year. Subagents such as tackle shops, fish camps or hardware or sporting goods stores charge 50c extra for some licenses.

Taking to the Terrain

If you prefer your exertion on the easy to moderate end of the spectrum, catch a breeze while bicycling on the relatively flat Florida terrain. Although you won't experience many downhill thrills, you won't grunt through many uphill struggles either. The town of White Springs is near 15 trails, including the looping Gar Pond Trail and the Big Shoals Trail, which passes one of the state's scant white-water stretches on the Suwannee River.

Public and semiprivate courses all over the state make golf immensely popular. And there's a good chance you'll work up a sweat just watching a spectator sport. Major and minor league baseball and professional football, basketball and hockey teams play statewide, while horse racing, jai alai and polo draw their own crowds.

Recreational Activities

Fast Facts

About the State

Population

Area

Capital

Highest Point

Lowest Point

Time Zone(s)

Gambling

Minimum Age For Gambling

Regulations

Teen Driving Laws

Seat Belt/Child Restraint

Cellphone Restrictions

Helmets for Motorcyclists

Radar Detectors

Move Over Law

Firearms Laws

Special Regulations

Permanently disabled persons with “handicapped” license plates from any state receive special parking privileges in Florida.

Holidays

New Year's Day, Jan. 1; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. (3rd Mon.); Washington's Birthday/President's Day, Feb. (3rd Mon.); Memorial Day, May (4th Mon.); July 4; Labor Day, Sept. (1st Mon.); Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving, Nov. (4th Thurs.), and following Fri.; Christmas, Dec. 25.

Money

Taxes

Visitor Information

Information Centers

Special Note

Further Info for Visitors

National Forest Info

Fishing and Hunting

Recreation Information

Insider Info

Manatees

If you see a manatee while in Florida, both you and the manatee are lucky. You would be lucky to see one of Florida's most endangered animals, and the manatee will be lucky simply to exist. Despite protection efforts, the large gray mammals that inspired the legend of mermaids are threatened by human activity, and their future is uncertain.

Also called sea cows, manatees once ranged from North Carolina to Texas but now live almost exclusively in Florida. In winter they gather in the Crystal and Homosassa rivers, near Sanibel Island and Fort Myers, throughout the tip of the peninsula and along the St. Johns River. Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is a manatee refuge, and the animals are protected by state and federal law.

Manatees can be 8 to 10 feet long and weigh almost 2,000 pounds. They have round bodies, two front appendages, a large round tail and a square, whiskery snout. Since each eats 50 to 100 pounds of vegetation a day, they act as underwater lawnmowers, helping keep waterways open.

Although they have no natural predators, pollution and development can destroy their habitats. Manatees must be near the surface to breathe, but they have poor eyesight and move too slowly to avoid motorboats, the greatest cause of injury and death. Motorboat propellers kill up to 50 manatees per year.

Females take 2 to 3 years to bear and raise a calf, and the population grows slowly. Manatees are bred in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium in the hope that those calves can be released into the wild to benefit future generations of manatees and humans.

Beach Safety

Florida's expansive coastline provides numerous opportunities for fun in the sun, but it also requires an extra degree of caution when taking a dip: A large number of Florida beaches are unguarded. Swimming at an unguarded beach presents a risk to swimmers not only through injury or drowning, but also through the dangers of rip currents, dangerous or poisonous marine animals and other hidden hazards.

However, many Florida beaches are guarded by trained, certified ocean lifeguards. To ensure your safety and that of your family, be sure to swim only when ocean lifeguards are present. A list of guarded beaches is available from the United States Lifesaving Association and the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association, 340 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33483; phone (561) 243-7352.

Points of Interest

Did You Know

There are 882 islands in the Florida Keys.

Except for their cream-colored bellies, alligators are black, not green.

Amelia Earhart departed from Hialeah in her attempt to fly around the world.

The Gulf Between It, the first film to be shot in Technicolor, was filmed in Jacksonville in 1917.

Stephen Crane wrote his short story “The Open Boat” after he spent 51 hours in a boat off New Smyrna Beach.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, had a winter home on the St. Johns River 1867-84.

The oldest place name in North America is Florida.

In August 1870 it rained for 10 days in Orlando, soaking the town with 53 inches of rain.

Although Stephen Foster wrote about life on the Suwannee River in his famous song, he saw neither the river nor even the state in which it flows.

Of the 50 states, only Alaska has more islands than Florida.

Mastodons, giant armadillos and camels once roamed in what is now Florida.