With the cost of big theme parks, professional sports events and other attractions rapidly rising beyond many family budgets, it’s good to know there’s still a place where travelers can have fun and not break the family bank. Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, also called THE Beach, offers vacationers a variety of things to do, from marine parks to professional theater.
With 227 miles of coastline from Pensacola to Apalachicola and beyond, Northwest Florida is a mixture of incomparable white-sand beaches, turquoise gulf waters and activities and attractions to suite any budget and any taste for adventure. Many things to do along the region are free or under $10 in cost, but some “pricier” attractions are between $10 and $25. Here are a few of them.
5 Flags Speedway - 7451 Pine Forest Rd., Pensacola FL 32526, (850-944-8400) - For over 50 years, 5 Flags Speedway has thrilled stock car racing fans with high-performance action on its half-mile track. Home of the Snowball Derby, a 300-lap event held every December, the speedway’s regular event season includes Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Sportsman B: Bombers, and runs from March through October. Tickets for regular race events are $10 for adults, $ 9 for seniors and military, and $ 3 for children ages 6 to 11. Children under 6 are free.
The Zoo - 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, (850-932-2229) - Another long-time gulf coast tourist attraction is THE Zoo Northwest Florida. Over 1200 animals, some roaming free in a 30-acre wildlife preserve, a train, a petting zoo, and a giant snake pavilion make this wild animal park a day-long family adventure. Admission is $11.50 for adults, $8.25 for children ages 3 to 11 and $10.50 for seniors. Children 2 and under are free.
Florida’s Gulfarium - 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (800-247-8575) -Offering three live marine shows daily, the Gulfarium is Northwest Florida’s favorite marine park. The Bottlenose Dolphins and Sea Lions shows are the main attractions, but there are also shark, penguin and otter feed demonstrations between the shows. Special events and dolphin encounters are also available. Admission is $19.25 for adults and $11.50 for children ages 3 to 10. Children 2 and under are free with a regular paid adult.
Baytowne Adventure Zone – located at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Destin, FL 32550-7268, (850-428-2736) - High-flying fun awaits the daring adventurer on Northwest Florida’s only zip line attraction. Suspended 52-foot above the lagoon, the zip line offers a bird’s eye view of the shops and restaurants in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Other things to do include a ropes course and a Eurobungy. The zip line is $18 per person and the ropes course and Eurobungy are each $12 per person.
Booking.com
Airboat Adventures – 6513 Laird Park Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, (850-230-3822) - Tour the back waters of West Bay, rivers, creeks and marshlands in search of native Florida wildlife on an Everglades-style swamp airboat. Fun and educational, for all ages, Airboat Adventures’ captains know the backwaters and where to find wildlife such as American bald eagles, ospreys, heron, dolphins, and of course, alligators. Tours start at $18.95 for adults and $11.95 for children for a half-hour tour.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! - 9907 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Bch, FL 32407-4136, (850) 230-6113 -What looks like a shipwreck on the beach on the outside holds a myriad of weird treasures inside. Take a voyage on the U. S. S. Ripley. The usual displays of Ripley oddities can be found here as in their other tourist attractions, but two 4D movies have visitors reeling down a mine shaft or tearing through the cosmos at breakneck speed. Admission is $15.99 for adults and $12.99 for children 6 to 12. There is an additional charge for the movies but a combo price for both can be purchased for $20.99 for adults and $16.99 for children.
Dixie Theatre - 21 Avenue E, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850-653-3200) - Live professional theater, musical performances and more can be found in downtown Apalachicola at the Dixie Theatre Housed in an historical movie theatre, the Dixie Theatre was renovated to create a more intimate, dinner theatre experience and offers performances by professional thespians and musicians. Tickets vary in price from $15 to $25 depending on the performance. Booking.com
With 227 miles of coastline from Pensacola to Apalachicola and beyond, Northwest Florida is a mixture of incomparable white-sand beaches, turquoise gulf waters and activities and attractions to suite any budget and any taste for adventure. Many things to do along the region are free or under $10 in cost, but some “pricier” attractions are between $10 and $25. Here are a few of them.
Pensacola Area
5 Flags Speedway - 7451 Pine Forest Rd., Pensacola FL 32526, (850-944-8400) - For over 50 years, 5 Flags Speedway has thrilled stock car racing fans with high-performance action on its half-mile track. Home of the Snowball Derby, a 300-lap event held every December, the speedway’s regular event season includes Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Sportsman B: Bombers, and runs from March through October. Tickets for regular race events are $10 for adults, $ 9 for seniors and military, and $ 3 for children ages 6 to 11. Children under 6 are free.
The Zoo - 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, (850-932-2229) - Another long-time gulf coast tourist attraction is THE Zoo Northwest Florida. Over 1200 animals, some roaming free in a 30-acre wildlife preserve, a train, a petting zoo, and a giant snake pavilion make this wild animal park a day-long family adventure. Admission is $11.50 for adults, $8.25 for children ages 3 to 11 and $10.50 for seniors. Children 2 and under are free.
Destin Area
Florida’s Gulfarium - 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (800-247-8575) -Offering three live marine shows daily, the Gulfarium is Northwest Florida’s favorite marine park. The Bottlenose Dolphins and Sea Lions shows are the main attractions, but there are also shark, penguin and otter feed demonstrations between the shows. Special events and dolphin encounters are also available. Admission is $19.25 for adults and $11.50 for children ages 3 to 10. Children 2 and under are free with a regular paid adult.
Baytowne Adventure Zone – located at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Destin, FL 32550-7268, (850-428-2736) - High-flying fun awaits the daring adventurer on Northwest Florida’s only zip line attraction. Suspended 52-foot above the lagoon, the zip line offers a bird’s eye view of the shops and restaurants in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Other things to do include a ropes course and a Eurobungy. The zip line is $18 per person and the ropes course and Eurobungy are each $12 per person.
Booking.com
Panama City Beach Area
Airboat Adventures – 6513 Laird Park Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, (850-230-3822) - Tour the back waters of West Bay, rivers, creeks and marshlands in search of native Florida wildlife on an Everglades-style swamp airboat. Fun and educational, for all ages, Airboat Adventures’ captains know the backwaters and where to find wildlife such as American bald eagles, ospreys, heron, dolphins, and of course, alligators. Tours start at $18.95 for adults and $11.95 for children for a half-hour tour.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! - 9907 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Bch, FL 32407-4136, (850) 230-6113 -What looks like a shipwreck on the beach on the outside holds a myriad of weird treasures inside. Take a voyage on the U. S. S. Ripley. The usual displays of Ripley oddities can be found here as in their other tourist attractions, but two 4D movies have visitors reeling down a mine shaft or tearing through the cosmos at breakneck speed. Admission is $15.99 for adults and $12.99 for children 6 to 12. There is an additional charge for the movies but a combo price for both can be purchased for $20.99 for adults and $16.99 for children.
Apalachicola Area
Dixie Theatre - 21 Avenue E, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850-653-3200) - Live professional theater, musical performances and more can be found in downtown Apalachicola at the Dixie Theatre Housed in an historical movie theatre, the Dixie Theatre was renovated to create a more intimate, dinner theatre experience and offers performances by professional thespians and musicians. Tickets vary in price from $15 to $25 depending on the performance. Booking.com
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