FINAL BRP spring15

Perdido Key
{BEACH TOWNS}
66 • Beaches, Resorts & Parks
By Larsen Lien
Perdido Key:
On the State Line. On the Beach.
On The Way to Being Your
Best Vacation Ever
E
Explore Perdido Key
It’s hard to call spring or fall
“off-seasons”
“off-seasons” here in Perdido
Key, because our beautiful
island has something to do
year round for visitors, locals, families and everyone
in between. We’ve even had
exciting events happen here
on our island since 1693 when
Siguenza, a Spanish explorer,
found himself on Perdido Key
after a storm blew his ship off
course. Perdido Key’s discovery was quite by accident.
Our name alone tells the tale
of how hidden our little piece
of paradise really is. Perdido
Key is Spanish for “lost island.”
And we’ve remained the lost
island ever since our discovery
hundreds of years ago. Much
to the relief of our locals and
dedicated visitors, Perdido Key
escaped the early explosion of
beach development mostly due
to its remoteness.
Ask people what they love
about Perdido Key and, inevitably, the water will be among
their top answers. There’s just
something about being on the
Gulf of Mexico that makes a
vacation memorable. There is
also the Intracoastal Waterway,
which is perfect for kayaking or
stand up paddle boarding, and
Pensacola and Perdido Bays for
sailing or fishing. Memories are
made in the water on Perdido
Key every day, and there’s an
experience waiting just for
you. Whether it is the thrill of
parasailing or a memorable
moment watching dolphins
play in the water, you will find
exactly what you are looking
for on shore and off in beautiful Perdido Key.
Spend a relaxing day on the
Beaches, Resorts & Parks • 67
Perdido Key
sugar-white sand, play in the Gulf
and savor the freshest possible
Gulf Coast seafood. Take in the
world’s largest Naval Aviation Museum, sail with the dolphins and
enjoy live music overlooking the
water. Whether it’s your first visit,
or your family has been coming for
generations, you’ll find a world of
unique and unforgettable things to
explore on Perdido Key.
More than 60 percent of Perdido
Key is composed of state and national parks, preserved forever for
public use. The wetlands, woods,
beaches and waterways serve as
protective environments for a
number of endangered animals
and plants, including the Perdido
Key Beach Mouse, sea turtles and
the carnivorous Pitcher plant.
Hidden along the Key are prime
spots for camping, birding, hiking, biking, kayaking and, well,
just relaxing. They’re all part of
the federal and state parks, which
protect nature and limit development of our coastal community.
Gulf Islands National Seashore has
access to both the Gulf of Mexico
and Big Lagoon.
If you’re looking for a vacation
that includes adventure, romance
and uniqueness that won’t weigh
on your wallet, you may never
68 • Beaches, Resorts & Parks
want to leave Perdido Key.
Adventure
Moonlit strolls on the beach
are a great way to enjoy Perdido
Key after dark, but if you’re in the
mood for a more unique afterhours experience, keep reading.
Volunteer for sea turtle nest patrol
during hatching season—unforgettable! Take a sail aboard the
53- foot catamaran Wild Hearts,
which starts its 90-minute cruises
at sunset from Perdido Beach
Resort’s Soundside Pier (sailwildhearts.com). Or, climb the 177
steps to the top of the Pensacola
Lighthouse … if you dare. Some say
it’s haunted!
Romance
There’s something about Perdido Key that makes you want to
escape with that special someone.
Charter a boat (captain, licenses
included) for a day of deep sea
fishing. Experience the rush of
tandem parasailing over the Gulf
of Mexico. Unwind with a couples
massage at Serenity at the Beach
Salon (serenityatthebeach.com).
Pack a picnic and head to the
covered picnic tables at Perdido
Key State Park. Rent paddleboards
and explore the coastline of Gulf
Islands National Seashore.
Unique
For another unforgettable nighttime experience, observe otherworldly phenomena on the beach
after dark, when waves sometimes
light up with a neon glow as they
roll onto the shore. The light
comes from tiny animals living
in the water, “ocean phosphorescence.” Kick your leg through the
water and watch it glow with thousands of tiny sparkles of bluishgreen light.
Free
You don’t need a huge vacation budget to enjoy Perdido Key,
where there are many free and
low-cost things to do all year
round. Perdido Key is just a few
miles from Pensacola NAS, where
the Blue Angels perform practice
shows twice a week during flight
season. The Blue Angels team,
named after a New York nightclub,
was formed after World War II to
remind people of Naval and Marine aviation, to encourage them
to enlist and to boost the morale
of current service members. An
estimated 15 million people attend their shows each year! On
Wednesday mornings after the
practice, visitors can meet the
pilots, take photos with them and
even ask for their autographs
at the National Naval Aviation
Museum. Also at the museum,
see hundreds of aircraft display.
Admission and tours are free—and
your tour guide might even be a
former pilot who flew one of the
aircraft on display.
Dining
Thankfully for our appetite’s
sake, Perdido Key offers more than
just beautiful beaches and fun
adventures. We’re also home to a
delicious and wide variety of cuisine. Whatever you’re craving that
day, Perdido Key is sure to have it.
We’ve got everything from juicy
steaks to completely homegrown
menus to fresh and local seafood
to some of the best burgers you’ll
ever try.
Waterfront views with remarkable sunsets are almost required
when dining on the Key. Everywhere you turn, you’ll be able to
enjoy your dinner with a view.
The new Flora-Bama Yacht Club
is an open-air restaurant with a
unique menu that includes tasty
Firecracker Calamari and massive
Greek Shrimp Nachos. Don’t worry
about the chill, though. They Yacht
Club has clear protectors for the
walls, so you can still see the
beautiful water while enjoying the
warmth from their indoor heaters.
Across the street is the renowned
Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and
Oyster Bar, where you can taste
oysters served an infinite number
of ways: Cajun, McClellan, Perdido
and raw—along with a full menu
of seafood and burgers. With its
boardwalk leading right down to
the Gulf of Mexico, the popular
Crab Trap is a perfect laid-back
eatery for families—don’t miss
their Blackened Mahi Mahi and
mouth-watering hushpuppies and
marmalade butter. The Perdido
Key Oyster Bar Restaurant and
Marina sits directly on the bay
beside Theo Baars Bridge and
offers one of the best views. You’ll
go for the sunsets and beautiful
sailboats, but you’ll come back for
the cuisine and specialty cocktails.
Directly down the road from the
Oyster Bar sits a locals’ favorite,
Sunset Grille. Due to its unobstructed view of the sky and water,
it gets its name for obvious reasons. And the kids will love playing
in the large, enclosed playground
there! For Sunday brunch (or
breakfast anytime) don’t miss Trip
Advisor’s 2014 Certificate of Excellence Award winner – Trigger’s
Restaurant. When you’re looking
for something besides seafood,
try a piping-hot homemade pizza
or other Italian fare at Lillian’s
Pizza. Hub Stacey’s at the Point is
located at the public boat launch
off Innerarity Point Road and is
a favorite with locals, known for
its waterfront views and hearty
sandwiches. Try “The Innerarity”
sandwich—it’s big enough for two.
Sports lovers, head to The Sports
Bar of Perdido Key, where you can
watch your favorite teams, shoot
a game of pool and savor some of
the best Buffalo wings you’ve ever
tasted. And across the street from
The Sports Bar, you can get your
Mexican cuisine fill at Vallarta.
They’ve got classic Mexican dishes
with an amazing atmosphere and
even better drink specials.
More great food and unusual
settings are in store when you
cross the Theo Baars Bridge
heading east. Fisherman’s Corner,
nestled under the bridge, will lure
you back again and again for its
Cajun Creole cuisine. Everything
on the menu is made from scratch
and made-to-order. Be sure to try
their one-of-a-kind fried green
tomatoes. The Original Point Restaurant on Innerarity Point Road
serves live bluegrass music with
a house band named “Bubba and
Them.” Say hi to Robin, the beautiful redhead mandolin player, aka
“Bubba.” Along with fresh, local
Beaches, Resorts & Parks • 69
seafood, their Point Gumbo and
Fried Bay Scallops are unforgettable.
A beautiful beach inspires artists, and Perdido Key and Pensacola shops and galleries are
filled with an ever-changing array
of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, metal works and other unique
art. A number of talented artists
exhibit at Artworks Gallery at Villagio (850) 261-9617. The work
includes many beach-oriented
pieces, but you will be surprised
by the variety of other art turned
out by talented local artisans. You
can find glasswork, jewelry, watercolors and other articles (facebook.com/ArtworksOnPerdidoKey). Just a short drive inland will
get you to a number of galleries
and museums that you definitely
can’t miss.
Perdido Key
Outdoor Fun
For outdoor fun, laid back style
or highflying adventure, Perdido
Key has it all. You will find the best
hiking, birding, diving, fishing,
kayaking, canoeing and golfing on
the Gulf Coast.
Johnson Beach State Park (the
Gulf Islands National Seashore)
is simply miles upon miles of the
whitest sand and quietest waves.
If you’re looking to relax with
70 • Beaches, Resorts & Parks
the family or plan a picnic with a
special someone, there’s no better
place to do so. The pristine and
beautiful Johnson Beach is named
for Rosamond Johnson Jr., who
was a Private during the Korean
Conflict. He bravely saved two men
in combat but was killed when he
went back for a third, thus making him the first African-American
from our area to die in that particular conflict. We honor him the
first Saturday in May each year
with Rosamond Johnson Day.
A few miles down the road from
Johnson Beach is Perdido Key
State Park. With parking available at two entrances, the beach
is easily accessible to anyone
who’s never been here before.
Just park your car and head down
the boardwalk to escape the busy
world you left behind. Slip off
your shoes and sink into the white
sands of Perdido Key.
Tarkiln Bayou State Park is home
to more than 100 rare plants and
animals, plus 4 species of carnivorous Pitcher Plants that populate
the bayou. Tarkiln has three trails
covering eight miles of the bayou.
The longest, the Perdido Trail,
ambles 6.5 miles round-trip along
a dirt road. At the trailhead there
are restrooms and picnic tables.
Big Lagoon State Park’s three
story observation tower sits right
on Florida’s Birding Trail and
offers spectacular panoramic
sweeping views of the coastline
and nearby Osprey Eagles’ nests.
Stop by the park ranger’s station
on your way in and borrow a pair
of binoculars to get the best view.
Big Lagoon’s two trails cover more
than five miles of wetlands and
other coastal habitats of flora and
fauna.
Divers will find picturesque
reefs and submerged objects to
explore in the brand new Perdido Key Snorkeling reef, located
just off of Johnson Beach Road
about 500 feet offshore. The most
popular underwater destinations
include five ships wrecked near
Perdido Key, ranging from the
world’s largest artificial reef—a
former Navy aircraft carrier, the
USS Oriskany—to a barge and a
fruit freighter. The sunken vessels
are part of the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail (floridapanhandledivetrail.com), which includes 12
shipwrecks scattered across North
Florida from Pensacola to Port St.
Joe.
Whether you prefer saltwater or
freshwater fishing, there are plenty of choices on Perdido Key. The
beaches along the barrier island
provide the perfect launch site for
casting a line. Or, you can set out
in search of a more challenging
catch–cobia, mullet, mackerel or
redfish, to name a few. Fish from
a charter boat, where everything
you’ll need is provided, even the
fishing license. Or, enjoy a quiet
day fishing from a kayak or canoe,
which will give you access to areas
that a larger boat can’t reach.
If you like kayaking and canoeing, explore the scenic Perdido
Key Blueway paddling trail, a link
on Florida’s 1,515- mile Blueway
Trail. The Perdido Key segment
extends 5½ miles along the south
shore of Big Lagoon. (Launch site:
Johnson Beach)
Golfing is more than just a hobby
here in Perdido Key. We take pride
in our luscious green courses.
Lost Key Golf Course is a par-71
championship course and the first
in Florida to be certified as an
Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary. Perdido is also
home to the Perdido Bay Golf Club,
where you can follow the footsteps
of legends like Payne Stewart,
Jack Nicklaus and Curtis Strange,
who played there. The premier
championship course was the site
of the Pensacola Open, a longtime
stop on the PGA Tour. Both golf
clubs have restaurants and bars
attached, so when you’ve finished
on the final green, head inside to
warm up with a delectable plate of
food.
Events: The Treasures of the
Shoulder Season
No need to wait for summer
when there’s so much to do on
Perdido Key all year long! The
fall, winter and spring months,
referred to as the shoulder season
is one of the best times to experience Perdido Key. With temperatures still enjoyable in the 60’s,
you may come for the weather,
but you will experience the many
special events, which nurture this
off-season.
January also marks the start of
one of Perdido Key’s favorite seasons: Snowbird season. We welcome our wonderful winter guests
with multiple Snowbird Roosts.
This year they will be on Jan. 8,
Feb. 12 and March 5. Held at the
Perdido Bay Community Center,
our roosts are only $5 and feature
a delicious lunch, prizes and tons
of vendors for our snowbirds enjoy. We also have Snowbird Cards,
which will allow our snowbirds to
get special discounts at participating locations through March.
Many may not know this, but
Pensacola and Perdido really come
alive during February. Our locals
treat our visitors – and the community as a whole – to a 10-day
long Mardi Gras Festival! It begins
on Feb. 7 with the Pirates of Lost
Treasure Flotilla. The Pirates are
a local Perdido Key krewe who
love getting together to celebrate
our rich history, as well as Mardi
Gras. They, along with anyone else
who wishes to participate in the
parade, dress in fun costumes,
decorate a boat and host a parade
down the Intracoastal Waterway
out in Perdido Bay. Mardi Gras
events happen throughout the 10
days, including a huge Mardi Gras
parade in downtown Pensacola, an
all-day festival at a local restau-
Beaches, Resorts & Parks • 71
Perdido Key
rant on the bay – complete with
vendors, great food and nighttime
fireworks – and so much more!
Be sure to check out VisitPerdido.
com/mardi-gras to view the full
lineup of events.
By the time April rolls around,
the water is warming up and the
mullets are ready to be thrown!
Don’t worry, we mean the fish,
not the hairstyle. On April 24-26
this year, the Flora-Bama hosts its
annual Interstate Mullet Toss. Visitors and locals flock to the beach
for a chance to toss a mullet fish
across the Florida/Alabama state
line. It’s a weekend for the books,
with approximately 35,000 people
heading to Perdido Key for this annual fun-filled fish event. So plan
ahead because Perdido Key will be
filled up before you know it, and
we definitely want you to come!
Also in April, Perdido Key has
its annual Wine & Art Fest. For the
past few years, it’s been a two-day
festival under large tents with
local vendors. This year, however,
you’ll have a chance to experience a new and longer version on
Wine & Art. It will be an entire
weekend (April 3-5) and multiple
restaurants and bars along the
coast will participate by offering
wine choices and parings, if you
have the “passport” you purchase
to participate. We hope not only to
promote community involvement,
72 • Beaches, Resorts & Parks
but also community exploration. It
gives our visitors, and even locals,
a chance to try new places and get
to know the Key a little better all
while enjoying delicious wines.
Come June, the weather is hot
and the sand is hotter. Come cool
off during our annual Shindig on
the Sand at the Flora-Bama. The
local Perdido Key Chamber of
Commerce sponsors the event that
draws thousands of people. It’s a
weekend filled with fun, sun and
fantastic live entertainment. Last
year’s Shindig on the Sand brought
us country music star Billy Currington.
Pirate Ship Tank
For Perdido Key residents and
visitors, getting “Lost on the Lost
Key” is a way of life. The Perdido
Key Chamber operates the Perdido Key Visitors Center located
at 15500 Perdido Key Drive. The
Visitors Center welcomes visitors
and provides information, directions and references for activities
and businesses in the Perdido
Key area. Come and see our most
recent addition to the Visitors
Center – a 403 gallon aquarium
shaped like a Pirate Ship! This
unique fish tank was designed,
built and installed by Animal
Planet’s “Tanked” show. The crew
made their way out to Perdido
Key for two days in June 2014.
Throughout those two hectic days
of filming and installing our beautiful tank, our staff and locals got
the chance to watch and be a part
of the excitement. Our episode
aired on Animal Planet on Sept.
17, 2014, so be sure to keep a look
out for a rerun! The Pirate Ship
Fish Tank is available for viewing 7
days a week until 4:30 pm.
Since you’ve made it this far,
you’re definitely ready to book
your stay on the Lost Key! We do
our best to please everyone here
on the island, so we have a number of diverse accommodation
choices. You can rent daily, weekly
or even monthly. Whether you
choose to stay in a cottage with
a beautiful golf course out your
back door or rent a beach house
with a one-of-a-kind view of the
Gulf of Mexico, Perdido Key can
please any vacationer. Or perhaps
you want to pack up the family and
bring the RV down for a laid-back
family trip. If so, we have a number
of wonderful RV parks, all with
great views. For more information
about accommodations or any
of the activities and events listed
in this article, please contact the
Perdido Key Chamber & Visitors
Center toll-free at (800) 328-0107
or visit us online at www.VisitPerdido.com.
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