19 Days Off On The Emerald Coast

Summer is winding down, but there’s still loads of fun to be had on the Emerald Coast. In fact, from August 1 to September 30, there are 19 days off —counting weekends and Labor Day—to relax or discover something new. Whether you love chasing waves, spotting wildlife, or exploring local history, there are countless ways to make more memories. From Pensacola to Panama City Beach, these 19 days are the perfect time to make the most of the season’s final weeks. 

1. Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Catch the Pensacola Blue Wahoos—the Double-A affiliates of the Miami Marlins—in action. The downtown Blue Wahoos Stadium offers expansive views of Pensacola Bay and soft serve ice cream in baseball helmets. On Saturday nights, a fireworks show lights up the sky after the final play while on Sunday nights, kids can run the bases and play catch in the outfield after the game. milb.com/pensacola

Photo Courtesy of University of West Florida

2. Historic Pensacola Village 

Explore Pensacola’s oldest streets, and learn how the City of Five Flags came to be. The 8.5-acre village features a living history component with costumed interpreters, a range of architecture dating back 450 years, and 30 historic properties, 12 of which are open to the public. Admission provides entrance to multiple museums for seven days as well as guided house tours offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. historicpensacola.org

3.Palafox Market 

Fun, friendly vibes abound at this streetside bazaar, which now has two locations: Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand in Pensacola. Vendors from across Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Baldwin counties show up rain or shine every Saturday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. to sell everything from fresh produce, meats, and cheese to soaps, jewelry, and antiques. downtownpensacola.com/

palafox/palafox-market

4.First City Arts Center

This beloved community arts center on Guillemard Street in downtown Pensacola uses art to expose people to new experiences. It offers workshops and classes in painting and drawing, hot glass, pottery on the wheel, hand building, sculpture, sewing, and stained glass. There’s also a youth program with Saturday morning classes in mixed media and clay for ages 6 and up. firstcityart.org

5. National Naval Aviation Museum

Trace the history of U.S. naval aviation at this one-of-a-kind museum spanning 350,000 square feet and 37 acres. Visitors can explore more than 150 historic and restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation, try out flight simulators and cockpit trainers, catch a film in the giant screen theater, or grab a bite at the Cubi Bar Café. navalaviationmuseum.org

6. Gulf Breeze Zoo

In late summer, peak crowds taper off at this 30-acre preserve that’s home to more than 1,000 animals from almost every continent, including gorillas, giraffes, and hippos. Visitors can ride the safari train, feed the animals, mine for gems and fossils, shop for souvenirs, and take photos from an elevated boardwalk. Open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. gbzoo.com

7. Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center

Get to know the ancient mariners of the sea at this hands-on education center located right on the beach. Guests can enjoy interactive exhibits and visit with Sweet Pea, a non-releasable green sea turtle and permanent ambassador-in-residence who lives in a 15,000-gallon saltwater pool. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. navarrebeachseaturtles.org

8. Indian Temple Mound Museum 

Head to downtown Fort Walton Beach and discover more than 12,000 years of Native American life and thousands of artifacts of stone, clay, bone, and shell as well as prehistoric ceramics. Open 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. trailoffloridasindianheritage.org/

indian-temple-mound-museum

9. Emerald Coast Science Center

From outer space and ocean life to robotics and archaeology, everyone will find something to explore
at this popular Fort Walton Beach learning space with indoor and outdoor exhibits. Open 10 a.m.–
4 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Labor Day. After Labor Day, open 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. ecscience.org

10. Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Dive into the underwater lives of sea creatures at one of Florida’s longest operating aquariums. This beachside park features habitats for dolphins, manatees, seals, and much more along with daily shows and hands-on animal encounters. Open daily from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. gulfarium.com

11. Crab Island 

For the perfect end-of-summer photos, look no further than the crystal-clear waters surrounding the popular sandbar just north of the Destin Bridge. Crab Island is the place to see and be seen—on boats, paddleboards, Jet Skis, and kayaks. Just remember to pack your water and sunscreen. crabisland.com

12. HarborWalk Village

Overlooking Destin Harbor, this vibrant, pet-friendly hub offers fresh pier-to-plate dining at waterside restaurants, unique shops, and an entire boardwalk of amusements. Ride the Cubby Caboose, play some mini-golf, or rev things up with a ride on the zipline. Open year-round. emeraldgrande.com/harborwalk-village

13. Alaqua Animal Refuge

More than 350 animals—dogs, cats, horses, birds, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, bunnies, ducks, chickens, and even emus—that were victims of abuse and neglect have found a happy home on Alaqua’s 100-acre property. Open for self-guided tours from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. alaqua.org/about-us/visit-us

14. Eden Gardens State Park

The main attraction is the historic Wesley House, an 1897 mansion with white columns and a wraparound porch surrounded by moss-covered live oaks. Visitors can tour the home, hike nearby trails, picnic, and fish off the dock at Tucker Bayou. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. Wesley House is open for hourly tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/eden-gardens-state-park

15. ZooWorld

Up-close animal experiences are the priority at this small Panama City Beach zoo, where visitors can pet and feed some of the world’s most amazing creatures. The park, which features a petting zoo, an aviary, and an alligator swamp, is home to lemurs, capybaras, giraffes, alligators, llamas, kangaroos, and much more. Open 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. zooworldpcb.com

16. Shipwreck Island

Summertime just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a classic waterpark, and Shipwreck Island has something for kids of all ages. This 15-acre park features a giant kid-friendly activity pool, 2,000-foot lazy river, raging rapids, and giant wave pool. Open through late September. shipwreckisland.com

17. Timpoochee Trail

Exploring Scenic Highway 30A on two wheels is an adventure like no other. Bicycle rentals are available at several shops along the wide, flat 18-mile trail, which starts at Dune Allen and ends at Inlet Beach. Along the way, get an up-close look at the beautiful beach towns of Seagrove, Seaside, Alys Beach, and more. visitsouthwalton.com/blog/a-visitsouthwalton.com/blog/a-guide-to-the-timpoochee-trail

18. Sea Screamer

Whether a visitor or longtime local, you can’t go wrong with a dolphin cruise across St. Andrew Bay. And everyone has a blast aboard the Sea Screamer, which offers cruises during the day and at sunset with drinks, snacks, and fun tunes. Open February through December for reservations. seascreamer.net 

19. St. Andrews State Park

With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and St. Andrew Bay on the other, St. Andrews State Park is a nature lover’s paradise. Go for the day and catch the shuttle to nearby Shell Island, or camp for a few days while enjoying everything from bicycling and fishing to snorkeling and birding. Open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/st-andrews-state-park