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Perdido Key Florida

Perdido Key has some of the best beaches anywhere.

Perdido Key is a 247-acre barrier island near Pensacola on the Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, Perdido Key State Recreation Area was ranked No. 12 in a 1994 survey listing the best beaches in the nation.The survey asked geographers and coastal experts to rank beaches on the basis of 50 factors including water quality, sand, cleanliness, congestion and accessibility.

The beach, which is easily accessible from paved roads, offers both ample space for those who want solitude and amenities for folks who want picnic shelters, showers and restrooms.

Perdido Key overlooks the Gulf of Mexico between Pensacola and Alabama, making it the westernmost island in Florida.

The key is linked to both states by high-rise bridges which whisk the traveler over water and onto the barrier island, which offers nationally ranked beaches, stylish condos and memorable old-time nightspots that draw locals and tourists alike.

Perdido Key, about 15 miles west of Pensacola, was first discovered by the Spanish in 1693 and it has long been a treasured getaway island for beach connoisseurs.

But its popularity has exploded in the past decade as more people learn of its charms. Nearly 70 percent of the key is protected parkland; nearby Big Lagoon State Park offers a user-friendly setting for everything from nature walks to pops concerts; and the Perdido Key area is growing rapidly, as new homes and state-of-the-art public schools attest.

The beaches are so fine that they were rated No. 12 in the entire nation by "Dr. Beach." The Maryland geologist, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, ranked beaches around the nation on the basis of softness of sand, water and sand cleanliness, number of sunny days, smell, pests, access, crowds and crime.

Perdido Key, which means "lost island" in Spanish, offers the Gulf of Mexico on one side and tranquil Olde River on the other side.The variety makes it ideal for all sorts of family watersports, including fishing, skiing, snorkeling, surfing and swimming.

While upscale development has modernized part of the key, more than half of the island is preserved from growth by federal and state parks. The results: Plenty of access for the public and plenty of room for those who want to roam the sand or sunbathe in near-silence. The parks also provide covered picnic areas, restrooms and other amenities designed to keep tourists comfortable.

At Big Lagoon State Park, a 40-foot-high tower provides a fine view of birds and other creatures in a habitat of woods and marshes. The park's attractions range from campgrounds, hiking trails and picnic areas to a pavilion where concerts brighten the warm-weather night air.

Summer time isn't the only prime time for Perdido Key. It's a favorite spot for snowbirds each winter, when they trade Northern snow for the beach and proximity to such westside attractions as the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola Greyhound Track and a smorgasbord of golf courses, art galleries, cafes and restaurants.

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival began in 1984. It started out as a way to celebrate the end of the season for local artists and friends. Over time it has grown into an 11 day festival and musical showcase on the beautiful Gulf Coast. The festival begins on an early Thursday in November.

Pensacola, Florida - Located on Florida’s Panhandle, close to the Alabama border, Pensacola draws visitors looking for the ideal seaside vacation to play or relax on the sugar-white sand beaches next to the soothing Gulf of Mexico surf. Visitors enjoy fun in the sun and all its inherent activities, from wind-surfing to fishing, to exploring a plethora of historic sites and taking in the show-stopping Navy Blue Angels precision flying team.

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