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Northwest region of Florida
Photo: Noles1984, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Florida Panhandle is a region of Florida, in the northwest of the state. It has long been popular for its beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. It includes the inland city of Tallahassee – the state capital and home of Florida State and Florida A&M Universities, and Pensacola, a city close to the border with Alabama.
The Emerald Coast, also called the Miracle Strip, is in the Florida Panhandle and consists of the coastal regions of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. The region is informally known as the "Redneck Riviera".
The Forgotten Coast is a coastal stretch of the Florida Panhandle so named for being left out of Florida tourism promotions for several years in a row. This region is comprised of Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties.
Middle Florida is a region in the Florida Panhandle between the Apalachicola and Suwannee Rivers. It includes the six easternmost counties of the Panhandle (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla).
For the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, see Florida West Coast. West Florida is in the Florida Panhandle region of Florida.
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Driving along US 98 between Mexico Beach and Panacea is like travelling the Pacific Coast Highway, but at sea level. Three of the four historic lighthouses in the area are along this stretch. Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, St. George Island and Carrabelle are a few of the highlights. The speed limit is 45 mph (72 km/h), so relax and enjoy casually driving through forests, interspersed with views of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Panama City Beach · Regional · ECP
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the state capital and largest city in the region
Apalachicola is a city on the Forgotten Coast of the Florida Panhandle, on the Apalachicola River and Bay.
Fort Walton Beach is a small city in the Emerald Coast region of Florida, 40 miles east of Pensacola.
Marianna is a city in West Florida.
Destin is an upscale resort town in the Florida Panhandle.
Panama City Beach is a town on the Emerald Coast of Florida. It is approximately halfway between the state capital, Tallahassee, and Pensacola.
the second largest city in the region
Perdido Key is a barrier island at the western tip of Florida's Panhandle. Perdido Key is a short distance south west of the city of Pensacola.
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