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Trip Tip Few places in Florida capture a feeling of nostalgia like Apalachicola, especially at night when you park your bike, walk the quiet streets, and tune into silence broken only by the cooling pings of your engine. endless Gulf waters. The 15 miles to Navarre Beach offer pure riding pleasure along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. You may want to pull over for a swim. A bridge at Navarre connects to the mainland and Highway 98, your main road from here on out. Low and level, you ride into the heart of Fort Walton Beach and into a type of time machine. The small hill opposite a row of eclectic shops is an Indian mound that was the center of religious, political, and social activity thousands of years ago. A small museum showcases Native American artifacts, weaponry, and information about the tribes. A high bridge leaps over sparkling waters, and from the road you’ll see the Gulfarium, an aquatic attraction, next to shops and restaurants. Assuming it’s near lunchtime, there are multiple choices for dining with a waterfront view. Even more impressive is the view from the pier that reaches a quarter-mile into the Gulf and frames the coastline’s wide, arcing sweep. Buy
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a pass to walk the pier or stop by the small bait and tackle stand for everything you need to grab the catch of the day.
The coast is clear FWB’s twin town, Destin (“Florida’s Luckiest Fishing Village”), is a charming place with marinas, resorts, restaurants, attractions, and soft sugar sands. While you may want to stay over, ride a few more miles, navigating unwelcome congestion through the planned community of Sandestin. Ahead, drop south from 98 to hook up with Highway 30 and then 30A to Grayton Beach, a secluded community frozen in time. Cottages and seaside shacks are largely hidden beneath a canopy of oaks. There’s a downtown, but not by much, and people live here because they can’t imagine living anywhere else. The Old Florida feel is everywhere, and is emphasized when you enter Grayton Beach State Park. The pristine 2,200-acre park’s sand dunes and sea oats open to brilliant views of the Gulf, and here is where you’ll find one of your best lodging options—fully equipped cabins just a short walk from the protected shore. Sleeping six and affordably priced, they’re a perfect place to rest before another day of riding.
