The beaches of the Panhandle, another version of Florida

The Panhandle is an astonishing name for this part of Florida, which has retained some of the major characteristics of its state, while at the same time standing out culturally. Welcome to a mix of dreamy Floridian landscapes and the Deep South of the USA!

Surprisingly, the administrative capital of the State of Florida, Tallahassee, is located in the Panhandle. This sleepy city most of the year has very few tourist attractions... Nothing to do with Miami, Orlando or Tampa, which it governs! The time difference is so great that it even affects the time of day: the region is in the same time zone as Florida. When it's 12pm in the Panhandle, it's 1pm in the rest of Florida!

In the end, the Panhandle, although Floridian, seems much closer in its mindset and way of life to its neighbouring Deep South states: Alabama, of which it is the logical geographical extension, and Georgia. This is how it earned its nickname, the Redneck Riviera, to be taken ironically. The presence of several military bases is no doubt a factor in this reputation.

But don't let the stereotypes fool you, and enjoy the change of scenery the Panhandle offers compared to the rest of Florida! The Emerald Coast from Pensacola to Panama City Beach, and the Forgotten Coast around Apalachicola and St. Georges Island, the Panhandle has some wonderful surprises in store for you.

As is often the case in the United States, it's on the road that you discover all the beauty of the Panhandle: by following the route mapped out by Highway 98, you leave the inland areas behind and drive constantly along the coast, ready to turn off at the right moment to enjoy a beautiful beach.

Beautiful beaches are the Panhandle's great speciality, and its major tourist attraction. They all share the common features of dazzling white sand stretching for miles, warm, clear turquoise waters and the benefits of the climate of the northern Gulf of Mexico, which is airy and less stifling than that of southern Florida.

The Emerald Coast is known as the busiest stretch, and the liveliest thanks to its few developed towns and seaside resorts. Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Panama City are all good stops along the way.

Not to be missed is the famous Scenic Highway 30A, which serves Grayton Beach State Park in particular, where you can hike in the dunes that line the superb beach.

Further east, the Forgotten Coast lives up to its name. Less developed in terms of seaside resorts and wilder, it seems to have been somewhat forgotten... and so much the better!

Continuing along Highway 98, you reach the leafy town of Apalachicola, a small fishing port specialising in oysters that lies dormant in the Florida sunshine. A pleasant base from which to explore the natural riches of the surrounding area.

Inland, we turn to Apalachicola National Forest, a vast protected forest criss-crossed by hiking trails and inhabited by some of Florida's most emblematic animals: alligators, black bears and the very rare Florida panther.

As for the coastline, there are still some magnificent beaches on offer, this time on the islands.

Completely protected and accessible only by boat, St Vincent Island has the look of a virgin island: here, no building spoils the forest-lined seafront. A paradise for nature lovers, hikers and kayakers, it is home to all kinds of local animals, including a pack of endangered red wolves.

Then there's the great St George Island, linked by a bridge, where you'll find seaside civilisation, but without excess. Holiday homes along the dunes, a 45km-long beach, white sand and seashells, and at its tip, St George Island State Park, an ideal playground for snorkelling and observing turtles and underwater life, or taking a kayak trip.