Top Things To Do Within 30 Minutes of the Beach

Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center – Adventures Unlimited will meet all the needs of guests, ensuring an adventure-packed vacation. Suited with a fleet of canoes, kayaks, tubes and paddleboards, Adventures Unlimited allows visitors to explore the river in all different ways. If that’s not enough to satisfy your adventure sweet-tooth, try the Zip Adventures Canopy Tour where you can soar through the treetops and over Coldwater Creek on nearly a mile of zip lines. After a long day of exhilarating fun, visit the Wilderness Resort location campgrounds with private cabins, a playground, a nature trail, sports fields and a volleyball court.

Coldwater Gardens – As a unique secluded agro tourism destination in northwest Florida, Coldwater Gardens’ initial purpose was to restore and preserve the natural land and its abundance of endangered longleaf pines. However, the 352-acre property is now a vacationing hot spot with several camping accommodations. Coldwater Gardens gives camping, more like “glamping”, a whole new meaning with luxury tents featuring queen-sized beds, mini-refrigerators and a wide-range mix of furnishings.

Photo Credit: Blackwater River State Park

Blackwater River State Park – Established in 1967 and opened to the public in 1968, Blackwater River State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for all adventure lovers. Between canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing and camping, guests will never want to leave!

Navarre Beach Marine Science Station – Located at the Navarre Beach Park, the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station is a marine station dedicated to promoting the conservation of the marine ecosystem. Pre-registration for events is required.

Panhandle Butterfly House – Get a personal experience with native Florida butterflies at the Panhandle Butterfly House in Navarre, Florida. Built entirely through volunteer labor and standing as a non-profit operation, the PBH serves the community as an educational and interactive exhibit, and provides guests with the opportunity to get up-close with beautiful butterflies while learning something along the way. The PBH is open May through August on Thursday – Saturday.

Gulf Breeze Zoo  – Head over to the Gulf Breeze Zoo and meet Kelly & Gibson, giraffes born in September 2016, whom you can hand feed. Other features include: the Budgiery Adventure Aviary, Safari Express Train Ride, and hands-on animal encounters such as feeding and petting goats, pigs, sheep, llamas and other farmyard friends.

Naval Live Oaks Preserve – Just east of Gulf Breeze is the beautiful and historic Naval Live Oaks Preserve section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore — America’s first government tree farm!  The Naval Live Oaks Preserve is open daily and features a visitor center, interpretive trail, picnic areas, and winding nature trails that lead along the shores of both Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay. Recreational opportunities include swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, 7.5 miles of hiking trails, youth group camping and more.