Northwest Florida

Northwest Florida's Top Places

Pensacola, FL

Pensacola is the westernmost major city in Florida, the county seat of Escambia County, and has a population of almost 500,000 in the greater metropolitan area (Pensacola, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Century, Jay, Ferry Pass, and Brent).

Pensacola features many festivals, events, historic tours, and more. From the Seafood Festival and Crawfish Festival (both held for over 30 years) and the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival to the walking tours of 18th-century era neighborhoods, Civil War landmarks, and the Pensacola Lighthouse, the city has a rich history and culture that attracts tourists all year round.

It is also home to the United States' first Naval Air Station, NAS Pensacola, the base of operations for the Blue Angels.

Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee is Florida's capital, the county seat of Leon County, and has a population of almost 400,000 in the greater metropolitan area (Tallahassee, Monticello, Crawfordville, and Quincy). Tallahassee is the main hub for trade in the Northwest Florida and Southwest Georgia regions.

Tallahassee is home to the Florida Governor, Supreme Court, and Florida State University (Seminoles) as well as a number of museums, food festivals, wine festivals, and more. Springtime Tallahassee, a celebration of Tallahassee's history and culture, and the Tallahassee Wine and Food Festival are both held annually.

It is also home to the Alfred B. Maclay State Gardens, an 1100+ acre state park and botanical garden.

Apalachicola National Forest

The Apalachicola National Forest is a United States National Forest, the largest forest in Florida, and features a number of fresh water streams, rivers, lakes, and natural springs. Popular destinations include the Leon Sinks and the Apalachicola River.

Swimming, hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing... the Apalachicola National Forest is a recreational paradise with over 900 square miles of nature.

Emerald & Forgotten Coasts

The Emerald Coast is the unofficial name of the 100+ mile stretch of coastline in the western counties of Northwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Featuring emerald-green waters, the Emerald Coast is home to Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Panama City, as well as some coastal communities in the neighboring state of Alabama.

Directly east of the Emerald Coast is the Forgotten Coast, a registered trademark for the largely undeveloped and uninhabited stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachee Bay.

Northwest Florida Counties

Northwest Florida almost always includes the ten counties west of the Apalachicola River, with it's eastern boundary loosely defined.