You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Your Guide to a Stress-Free Spring Break in Navarre Beach

There are plenty of places in the Florida Panhandle to choose from for spring break. However, if your ideal getaway leans more towards relaxation than revelry, Navarre Beach is your perfect escape. Think of our destination as an oasis where gorgeous natural surroundings, a vast, uncrowded beach, an easygoing pace, and some much-needed peace and quiet can make your spring break rejuvenating rather than exhausting.

Here in Florida’s Most Relaxing Place, taking it easy doesn’t mean missing out on the fun. Whether you’re building sandcastles with the kids, exploring nature, or enjoying fresh seafood, Navarre Beach offers the ideal balance of attractions to keep you both relaxed and entertained. Keep reading for a few suggestions of things to do during your spring break stay!

Say Hello to Sweet Pea

Kick off your spring break with sunshine and sea breezes on Navarre Beach, where the gentle waves and wide-open shoreline make for the perfect family beach day. Just a short walk away, the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center provides the perfect chance to sneak some educational fun into your itinerary.

The center, home to Sweet Pea (a rescued green sea turtle), allows kids and adults to experience marine life up close while learning how to protect it. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, check out the 15,000-gallon saltwater pool, and learn about the incredible local efforts to save Florida’s sea turtles.

Walk the Longest Pier on the Gulf

Stretching an impressive 1,545 feet, the Navarre Beach Pier is the longest in Florida—and the entire Gulf. Stroll its perfectly straight boardwalk 30 feet above the water and take in breathtaking views of white sands, rolling dunes, and the endless blue horizon. Along the way, watch anglers reel in their latest catch, surfers carve through the waves, and, if the water is clear, spot fish and other marine life just beneath the surface.

At the pier’s end, a spacious 3,800-square-foot octagonal deck invites you to sit down and soak in the surroundings. Admission is just $1 for adults and free for children five and under.

After your walk, make sure to stop by Windjammers on the Pier—one of our favorite places to eat in Navarre—conveniently located at the pier’s entrance. It’s a great place to watch the sunset! One last reminder: while leisurely strolls are encouraged, running on the pier is a no-no.

Rent Watercraft and Gear

With all this water-filled adventure, you might need to rent a few essentials. Three operators can handle all your needs, from a simple paddleboard to a double-decker pontoon boat. Navarre Family Watersports has the most elaborate list: wave runners, kayaks, paddleboards, and pontoon boats. Plus, they’re also home to a Wibit Waterpark Obstacle Course and a new Ropes Course and Zip Line that the kids will love!

Sage Golf Cart Rentals, located right on the Gulf side of Navarre Beach, rents kayaks, paddleboards, golf carts, bicycles, and beach chairs. Navarre Beach Ski & Sail, located in the Juana’s Pagodas complex, rents kayaks, paddleboards, Hobie Wave sailboats, Sea-Doos, and 22-foot pontoon boats, plus beach chairs and umbrellas. They’ll also take you on a 10-minute parasailing flight!

Wild Encounters at Gulf Breeze Zoo

Just seven miles west of the Navarre Beach Causeway, Gulf Breeze Zoo sprawls across 50 acres and is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Start with the Safari Line Limited, a 15-minute train ride that runs every hour, taking you through a 30-acre preserve where rhinos, hippos, zebras, gorillas, and antelope roam. Feeling adventurous? Feed a giraffe or get a close look at American alligators at one of the feeding stations.

Step into the Budgiery Adventure Aviary, where colorful little birds might land on your hand—or even your head! Over at The Farm, kids and adults alike can pet and feed friendly goats, pigs, sheep, and llamas. Or, make your visit extra memorable with a behind-the-scenes animal encounter, where a zoo keeper will introduce you to unique zoo residents, like giraffes, rhinos, hippos, or even sloths!

Book a Fishing Charter (Kids Can Come, Too!)

Captain Chuck Kemper has spent his life on the water, from surfing world-class waves to competing in fishing tournaments worldwide. After 22 years in Maui, he returned to his hometown of Navarre to launch Lucky Chucky Charters. Now, he guides inshore and near-shore fishing excursions in the Gulf’s gentle waters, targeting redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, and more.

Offering four and six-hour trips—including bait, tackle, and licenses—Lucky Chucky Charters departs from Navarre and Gulf Breeze, making it easy for anglers of all levels to get on the water. That means the kids, too! In fact, Captain Kemper offers a special two-hour catch-and-release trip just for your little ones. They’ll get hands-on experience learning the basics, exploring the boat, and discovering the local fish.

Set Sail with Lazy Lizard Tours

The sparkling, blue-green waters of Navarre Beach are a wonderland unto themselves. So get out there! Lazy Lizard Tours offers an array of excursions. The most popular is the two-hour sunset cruise aboard the Lazy Lizard—a roomy, double-decker pontoon boat—in the calm, protected waters of Santa Rosa Sound.

You can bring a group of up to six passengers aboard. And, of course, make sure to point your camera west to collect some fantastic sunset shots for your Instagram!

Snorkel the Navarre Beach Artificial Reefs

For an up-close look at Navarre Beach’s colorful marine life—without the need for scuba certification—snorkeling is the perfect alternative. With just a mask and fins, you can explore the crystal-clear waters almost anywhere along the shoreline. Nonetheless, we highly recommend checking out Navarre Beach’s three incredible near-shore artificial reefs!

Each provides a distinct experience, but all are breathtaking—and perfect for the adults and older kids in your group. Navarre Beach Marine Park is the best place to access these snorkeling sites, and is a county facility that features restrooms, freshwater showers, and pavilions. Snorkeling is free from sunrise to sunset, and basic gear is readily available at local shops!

Visit Blackwater River State Park

Although the beach is certainly a huge draw, the area is also close to all sorts of other exciting wonders of nature. For example, at the nearby Blackwater River State Park, you’ll find some of the purest sand-bottomed waters in the country, perfect for canoeing, kayaking, or tubing down the slow-moving river. The white sandy beaches make for great picnic spots, and if you’re up for it, you can camp out under the stars or take a scenic hike through the surrounding forest.

Zipline at Adventures Unlimited

Just down the road, Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center is another great choice for couples as well as families. Here, you can paddle along Coldwater Creek, take a tubing trip, or—if you’re feeling especially adventurous—soar through the treetops on a zipline. They also have cozy cabins, treehouses, retro train cars, and campsites if you’re looking for a unique place to stay during your trip!

Skip the crowds and enjoy a peaceful, fun-filled spring break at Navarre Beach—Florida’s Most Relaxing Place. From white sand beaches and outdoor adventures to delicious dining and family-friendly attractions, your perfect getaway awaits. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, or YouTube for more planning tips and inspiration!

Get Inspired

Endless inspiration.
Many ways to relax.

Within these stories you’ll find a relaxing blend of waterfront beauty and backwoods adventure that begs to be explored on your next Florida vacation. So read on. Plan your visit.