The Best Vacation Beaches Along Florida's Gulf Coast

Florida's Gulf coast is known for its miles of sugar-white beaches, championship golf courses, fishing, and endless musings (amusement parks, museums, and aquariums). One of the things that makes the coast such a great place to vacation is its great beaches.

Orange Beach

Orange Beach is located along the tip of Northwest Florida, along Alabama's famous Emerald Coast. One of the greatest parts of Orange Beach is its 30-miles of continuous white sandy beaches and emerald shaded waters. When not at the beach, you will probably find yourself at either the golf course or aboard one of the many saltwater deep sea and back bay fishing boat excursions.

Known as the home of Red Snapper fishing, Orange Beach has one of the largest fishing boat fleets in the US. Both half-day and full-day excursions can be purchased, but you'll have to pay attention to the time of year, as fishing is seasonal. If watching fish, rather than catching them is more to your liking, the Blue Dolphin Cruises is a great way to see dolphins while in their natural habitat.

Orange Beach also has several world-class, 4/5-star, championship golf courses.

Fort Walton Beach

Summer or winter, Fort Walton is always gearing up for some sort of celebration. In June, the Billy Bowlegs Festival kicks off with a four-day celebration of pirates and mayhem. In February, The Fort brings Mardi Gras to the Gulf with the Okaloosa Island annual Mardi Gras Celebration and Ball. The celebration includes the traditional New Orleans parade, food, beads, bauble heads, and costume.

Okaloosa Island, a barrier island separating Fort Walton from the Gulf, makes a nice day trip when vacationing at the Fort. The beach community offers 24 miles of sand and surf, charter fishing tours, and the Gulfarium marine park, which is the countries second oldest sea life exhibit and dolphin/sea lion entertainment extravaganza.

Fort Walton is also known for its 1,080 holes of championship quality golf courses.

Panama City Beach

Panama City does its best to entertain all age groups, and it does this no better than with its famous, award-winning, pristine beaches. Known as the second best beach in all of the Florida, Panama City does not limit itself to just its sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters. It is also known for its pirate ship tours, turbo engine speed boats, golf courses, and water Parks.

Three major attractions of Panama City Beach, the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum and Water Park Shipwreck Iceland. The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is a two-hour tour of the Gulf is on a ship to life as a pirate, while Ripley's Believe It or Not located in its sinking its impressive, offering the collection more bizarre curiosities and illusions you have ever seen.

Shipwreck Iceland is the leader of Panama City water park with slides, wave poolSwimming pool and a lazy river.