Northwest Florida -- Our Best Kept Secret

OK, it used to be a well-kept secret. But now the word is getting out. The natural, sugar-white beaches of Northwest Florida are the most beautiful in the world. Blue-green waters lap the sugar-white sands of the Gulf of Mexico. Bayous, lazy rivers, and green forests complement the shoreline, making this region truly a place of peacefulness and beauty.

In the morning, open the door to the balcony overlooking the beach and sink into a chair with your first cup of coffee. Watching a sunrise or sunset on the Gulf of Mexico is nothing short of breathtaking – a gorgeous show of light and surf, where the emerald green waters curl into waves and crash onto the shore.

It is one of those rare places that immediately feels like "your" beach. It is family friendly, where waterfront condo rentals are preferred for their proximity to the beach and for the amenities of a full kitchen, washer and dryer, as well as a cool spot for tired kids to nap between activities.

Put your feet in the sand, though, and you are addicted. The stuff between your toes is shiny quartz and almost as fluid as the water, forming the dunes and soft paths that make you understand why tourists who come here are so loyal to this piece of Florida paradise. Composed of 99 percent pure quartz, the sugar-colored sand covers 150 miles of beachfront from Pensacola to Port St. Joe. The Gulf of Mexico is like a liquid emerald, alternately green and blue, a perfect setting for the whitest beaches in the world.

Also, the temperate climate makes our beaches worth visiting any time of the year. Visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a series of natural harbors and waterways protected by a necklace of tiny islands. Hike across the same sand dunes that Spanish Conquistadors walked across hundreds of years ago. The National Seashore is part of the National Park System and a wonderful way to enjoy nature. Whether vacationing or searching for your dream home, you’ll be happy that you came to the beautiful beaches of Northwest Florida! From miles of sugar white beaches to historic districts and museums, shopping, and nightlife, this area has something for everyone.

Right smack in the middle of the 150-mile long "Miracle Strip" of Northwest Florida is the Emerald Coast, the playground of the Gulf Coast. Fishing, boating, swimming, sunning, sailing, sports, scuba diving or just relaxing, you can have it all. Five main factors stand out on the Emerald Coast: the military impact, the high tech industry located here, the abundant educational opportunities, the cost of living, and the lifestyle advantages.

Residents of Northwest Florida enjoy a lifestyle that is the envy of the rest of the country. Our beautiful, clean and uncluttered beaches are the world’s finest. The weather is to die for most of the year, but even our winters are mild. Oh sure we have a hurricane every now and then, but just to keep the excitement level up. If you had experienced this community's spirit pulling together to help each other out, you would move here in a heartbeat. But don’t tell anyone else about Northwest Florida. It should be our secret.