Perdido Key Local Guide
Where exactly is Perdido Key?
Perdido Key, FL is connected on the east by bridge to the city of Pensacola and to the west by bridge to Orange Beach, Alabama. A little further west is Gulf Shores,
AL. So, we are within 30 minutes either way of all the summertime commotion and secluded enough to relax while listening to the waves crash along the shoreline.
Perdido Key rentals are popular for many reasons. The most obvious are the beaches. Our barrier island has been featured by top travel
magazines in the top 5 beaches in the U.S., rated the #1 swimming beaches in the US by GORP (Great Outdoor Recreation Pages), ranked by Dr. Beach as among the Nation's top 20 beaches, and even
on The Travel Channel's "
Top Secret Beaches of the World" series in 2002 as the only continental U.S. destination among the 20 beaches featured worldwide! The Perdido Key beaches
offer a variety of activities to be enjoyed under the sun. This natural delight can provide you with a picturesque and relaxing setting to let everything go or a great access point to your
favorite water activities. You can discover unique and colorful creatures while snorkeling in the surf or get active and go surf the Perdido Key waves. Being a beach bum is always perfectly
acceptable too - bring a book and find a relatively quiet stretch of sand for some much needed rest. Bringing the kids along for a family vacation? Grab a skim board, boogie boards, and sand toys
so you can keep everyone entertained and comfortable. We could go on an on about the beaches... and you likely will too once you return home from your Perdido Key vacation!
Everyone loves a Florida vacation at the beach, but you may wonder 'is there anything else? You bet. Perdido Key events are unlike anywhere else. We ring in the year with our Polar Bear Dip,
in late-April the Interstate Mullet Toss is always a popular event, Thunder on the Gulf roars in every August, The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in November brings in
singer-songwriters from across the country, and the Jellyfish bar hosts the Perdido Key martini Festival the day after Thanksgiving. Make sure you visit our
Perdido Key local events page to learn more.
On The Island
Beach Gulf Islands National Seashore
This 7 mile stretch of pristine beach is our favorite. Equipped with restrooms, showers, picnic tables, a large covered pavilion, large parking lot, 2 miles of road in which one can find a private
piece of sand, lifeguards, and rangers. The rangers station sponsors guided barrier island walks, educational wildlife and sea life events during the summer months. This portion of
federally-protected beaches provides various habitats including wetlands and marshes on the northwestern side and dune spotted with sea oats all along the southern side. The view from Pensacola
vacation rentals are beautiful, but Perdido Key rental homes and condos boast an unspoiled view that is largely in part to the development cap enforced here on the island. Nature is beautiful,
especially if you know where to look, and this is one of the must-see places!
Fort McRee Ruins
Located on the west-side of the Pensacola Pass, an inlet from the Gulf of Mexico to the Intracoastal Waterway, this Civil-war era fort helped to guard passage into the Pensacola Bay area. Its
neighboring fort, Fort Pickens which is just west of today's rentals Pensacola Beach area, guarded the east-side of the Pensacola Pass. There is not much left of Fort McRee other than tattered ruins
of the fort's foundation as a result of erosion, hurricanes, and fires although it is still a popular stop for boater. Many even ride out to the old fort and camp along the shoreline!
Lost Key Golf Course
Do you like golf? You need to play this Florida golf course! Designed by Arnold Palmer, it is sure to challenge you and has even earned the nickname "Lost Ball" from the locals. And, if you have a
friend in the cart who is not much a golfer then the fact that it is also a Audubon Signature Cooperative Sanctuary might be of interest. The bird-watching coupled with a premier round of golf makes
for a spectacular outing. Hungry after your bout with the greens? The Golf Club has an impressive restaurant on-site in the Club House as well.
Perdido Key State Park Area
This is the sister-property to Johnson Beach. Rather than being a 7-mile stretch of Perdido Key beach along the eastern-most side of the island, the Perdido Key State Park Area is in the center of
the island. You can't miss it. As you drive from one side of the island to the other you are bound to notice where all development stops and protected seashore begins. The parking areas here are
equipped with restrooms, showers, and picnic areas for your convenience. If you are in an off beach front rental in Perdido Key, then this area would be a good choice as would Johnson Beach when
headed out to the Gulf.
Near the Island
Big Lagoon State Park
This 600+ acre Florida State Park separates Perdido Key and the mainland running along the Intracoastal Waterway. An ever popular stop in the park is the lookout tower which is 40 feet tall and
allows visitors a panoramic view of the area. Once through the gates visitors can launch a boat, stroll along the nature trails which feature informational placards along the way, rent pavilion
space for a large function, go camping, participate in water activities, or just play on the playground. Home to many migrating birds in the fall and spring seasons, the park is buzzing all year
long with interesting fauna and flora.
Tarklin Bayou Reserve State Park (Watershed)
Hoping to discover some of the area's wildlife? After you check out Big Lagoon, you need to swing by Tarklin Bayou... Just be sure to have your walking shoes on. The park has boardwalks and trails
all of which are abundant with fauna and flora, among which includes fields of pitcher plants - one of only two carnivorous plants in the world!