Relax in Navarre Florida’s Hidden Gem
Travel Tips | Destinations |Travel Savings |Travel Oklahoma
Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by Santa Rosa County, Florida
When most people think of Florida they think of taking their kids to Disney World or some other busy tourist attraction but if you are looking for a more relaxing trip for you and your family, let me tell you a little bit about Navarre, Florida. Navarre is located in Santa Rosa County with a population of around 42,200 people. It’s about 5 miles east of Pensacola and about 15 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. Think white sandy beaches and clear emerald blue waters. It’s known for it’s untarnished natural beauty. 
While on my visit to Navarre, my fellow travel writer buddies and I got the chance to Zipline at Adventures Unlimited near Milton, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. The scenery here is just breath taking. They offer beautiful cabins that you can stay in as well as tubing down Coldwater Creek. It didn’t take me long to throw off my shoes to do a little wadding in the beautiful clear water.
I have been ziplining many times and have always enjoyed it but I have to say this one made me a little nervous. I am not a fan of self stopping ziplines because I am so focused on trying to pay attention to stop myself that I can’t enjoy the scenery. While I probably wouldn’t zipline here again I would definitely go back to do the tubing down Cold Water Creek.
The Panhandle Butterfly House is a must visit for any nature lover. You will get to see butterflies close up and get a chance to feed them as well. Peek under a leaf to observe pin-sized eggs or watch a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. Learn more about creating your own butterfly garden and more. What’s special about the Panhandle Butterfly House is it’s 100% run by volunteers.
After all of that adventure, you have probably worked up an appetite. If you’re looking for amazing food, Santa Rosa County has got plenty of amazing places to eat.
Juanas Pagodas is a waterfront bar & grill with lots of entertainment, including live music, beach volleyball & pool. We stopped here for lunch, did some kayaking and then relaxed on the beach. Check out the Shrimp Poboy one of the ladies ordered.
After we ate, we relaxed on the beach. Several of us sat on the beach with our feet in the water, waiting our what we like to call “Navarre Pedicure” lol. The little cleaner fish cam up and tickled our toes. The water was so nice and cool on this hot day.
JJChagos – This pint-sized, daytime eatery offering a range of eclectic Mexican & American plates in a simple space like brisket tacos, ciabatta pork sandwiches and avocado cupcakes. Don’t forget the cuban coffee.
Some other great choices are East River Smokehouse, and Lagerhead’s on the Gulf.
Where to stay: There are plenty of beautiful places to stay in Navarre. Resort Quest is where we stayed this time and we were so lucky to snag such a beautiful place right on the beach. It offers a full kitchen and we had 3 bedrooms and a balcony.
My room had a full view of the ocean. This is totally a home away from home. It even offered a washer and dryer. There is a local Winn Dixie as well as Publix where you can pick up groceries if you prefer to cook your own meals.
Did you know that traveling to Navarre is really affordable? You can actually catch a direct flight from Oklahoma City to Ft. Walton Beach on Allegiant Air at a very affordable rate, depending on the dates you choose.
What ever you decide to do remember to take time and relax, it’s vacation after all!
As a former resident of Navarre, reading this put a smile on my face. The Rib Shack is a great place to eat as well and is locally owned. I love their gumbo and their pork plate is amazing. For those who want to fish or watch others fish the pier is a great option.
Thanks Chrissy!
Chrissy, thanks so much for your comments. It’s always great to hear from someone who “knows” the area and can give us the scoop on where to visit!