Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Pensacola, Florida
With more than 160 miles of seashore territory stretching from Santa Rosa Island (east of Pensacola, Florida) to West Ship Island in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach it is hard to know just where to start. And with pure white sand beaches, bright azure waters, thick maritime forests, military forts, nature trails, and lush coastal marshes, trying to figure out what to do first is also an issue. "Doing" the Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach with gusto is no small feat, but it is something all beach lovers simply must do. With miles upon miles of water for top notch fishing, swimming, and boating, and long stretches of sparkling white sands for soaking up the sun, Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach offers some of Florida's best vacation fun.
So where do you start? The Florida park headquarters are located at Naval Live Oaks, on U.S. Highway 98, just east of the town of Gulf Breeze. Your first stop should be The Naval Live Oaks visitor center to get the low-down on the what-where-how of Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach. An added bonus, if you want to hangout for a while, Naval Live Oaks includes a long stretch of sand that encircles Pensacola Bay with picnic areas and showers as well as more than 1,300 acres of woodlands (hiking trails included). Other visitor's centers are located at Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas, but if you want to pick up the leaflets and arrange a do-it-yourself kind of vacation, the areas of Okaloosa, Perdido Key, and Santa Rosa Island are always favorite beach vacation destinations.
Sink bait anywhere along the Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach and you will go home with a bucket full of fish and a stock of good tales to tell your buddies. Surf fishing is allowed along nearly all of the parks' beaches. A fishing pier is available at Fort Pickens and the islands' bay side offers two fishing bridges to help you reel in the catch. Fish the bayous, try to snag the offshore gamefish, or take one of the ranger-led lessons in the art of throwing cast nets.
If you want to skipper your way through the Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach, boating is the most unique way to explore the area—56,450 acres of the park can be reached by boat only. But boating through Florida's section of the barrier islands requires an expert hand at the hull; boats must be 20 feet or longer and an updated nautical chart is an absolute must. Keep your wits about you for shallow areas, shoals, and tidal fluctuations and make sure you have the right anchoring equipment. If you would rather be driven, ask at Fort Pickens about their water taxi service.
To take to the water like a fish, swimming is available on just about every stretch of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The only lifeguarded section, however, is at Johnson Beach in Florida's Perdido Key Area. To keep your feet on dry land, Gulf Islands National Seashore offers a wide range (and many miles) of hiking and wildlife observation options. Hiking the Gulf Islands National Seashore's winding trails is the best intro to the coastal habitats including woodlands, freshwater and saltwater marshes, dunes, and maritime forests. More than 280 species of birds spend their days and nights cruising the Gulf Islands National Seashore sand, water, and airspace, so be sure to throw a pair of binoculars into the suitcase. Four species of sea turtles hatch along Gulf Islands National Seashore's dune sections during the summer months. Watch where you step and you just might see a turtle baby making its merry way across the sand.
Getting to the Naval Live Oaks, Fort Pickens, and Santa Rosa areas is easiest from U.S. 98 east (you can pick this up near Pensacola, Florida). Most areas of the Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach are accessible by car, boat, or bicycle. Check with the visitor centers for updated maps and routes. With more sand and water than you can imagine, Gulf Islands National Seashore Beach should be right up there at the top of your list of beaches to visit during your lifetime!