Sunny Florida: Perdido Key

I'll admit to being a little skeptical about this vacation.  My father-in-law was spending a month in Perdido Key and, since I'd never heard of it before, I wasn't sure what to expect as far as activities and sightseeing were concerned.  But, when it came to finding things to do, this stretch of beach did not disappoint.

First and foremost, we were there during February and, while it was far better than the snow storms brewing at home up north, it still wasn't warm enough for swimming and sunbathing.  Perdido Key is the western-most point of Florida, right on the ocean, so we were too far north for what you'd typically expect of Florida winter weather, but sunshine and 60s were perfect for all of the things we found to do to stay busy.

By the time we arrived, my father-in-law had already been in Florida for a few weeks, so he became the designated tour guide.  He'd done an amazing job of finding fun things to do, but I can assure you that this location has far more to offer than we ever could have accomplished in the 5 days we were there.

Even with the cooler weather, we managed to spend a few hours at the beach.  This stretch of beach is absolutely gorgeous... white sand and ocean as far as the eye could see.  And even though the water was chilly, we managed to venture in far enough to get our feet wet...

Refreshing!

For our first adventure, we took a day trip to Fort Morgan, which was pretty amazing, even for me... and I'm definitely not someone that gets too excited about history-related sightseeing.  Nevertheless, there was something there for all of us... I got a chance to play with our new camera, my husband got to read about the fort's amazing history and our son had the pleasure of running wild through the tunnels, up the steps and through the fields. 

This is one of my favorite pics from the fort

For our next day trip, we drove the short distance to the Pensacola Naval Air Station for a visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum.  This was a pretty cool trip, as well, and, while our son lost interest in reading about each of these amazing aircraft, he did love that you could actually sit in some of the airplanes.  At 3 years old, he was probably a little young for this museum, but this would be a great visit for anyone with kids over 5.

All smiles in the cockpit

And, of course, when we weren't sightseeing, we were eating.  I can't even begin to tell you about all of the great food we ate that week, but I will specifically mention a few that are definitely worth checking out...

Lambert's Cafe is a MUST SEE!  This restaurant is huge, has a very friendly staff and amazing food!  Not only that, but the servers come by with unlimited side dishes, throw rolls to you from across the room and like to play pranks on unsuspecting patrons (I won't ruin it for anyone, but they're all harmless and absolutely hilarious, even if you're the one they choose to pick on... like me).  And, as if unlimited side dishes weren't enough, their portions were huge. 

This is my rib dinner... served in a skillet

 

 

In nearby Pensacola, you'll find another amazing, must-see restaurant: McGuire's Irish Pub.  This place is massive and filled with more character than you can even imagine, countless dollar bills hanging from the ceiling (the first dollar tip tacked to the bar for good luck in 1977 has been joined by over 1 million more over the years), drinks so strong that patrons are limited to 3 per visit (The Irish Wake), and bean soup for 18 cents (they haven't raised the price since 1977).  The food was fantastic and the service was second to none.

 

Also, if you're a fan of oysters, be prepared to be in heaven during your stay. 

 

With a toddler in tow, we didn't have a chance to experience the nightlife in the area, but if you're looking for more of a party crowd, I strongly recommend heading west into Orange Beach, Alabama.  It was a 3 minute drive from where we were in Florida and appeared to have far more options when it came to bars, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.  

 

Tips and tricks for a successful vacation in Perdido Key:

 

1. This is definitely the kind of place where you'll need a car to get around, so plan to rent one if you're flying in. 

 

2. If you're looking to get a tan, don't count on 80 degree weather during the winter months.  February was a great time to visit, but I look forward to going back sometime during the warmer summer months.

 

3. Plan to eat out!  There were so many great places to eat in the area and you really don't want to miss out.  And as far as your attire is concerned, start the week in your 'skinny clothes' and plan on stretchy waistbands toward the end of your stay.

 

Happy traveling!