Navarre Beach Bucket List

Cover photo by Simon Ray.

Navarre Beach is a quaint beach town in Florida that has attracted families and visitors for years. While most people know Navarre for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Navarre also has a one-of-a-kind beach town charm that visitors have come to know and love. This secluded beach town has had the reputation of being a sleepy town with a slower pace of life for locals and visitors. Navarre Beach continues attracting tourists looking for a more secluded beach vacation. Families enjoy making memories by fishing, snorkeling, learning about sea turtles, and relaxing on the beach.

It's easy to create traditions in Navarre Beach. Many businesses are family-owned, and there are fewer crowds to fight when traveling to different activities or restaurants. With the more leisurely pace of life and friendly community, even visiting certain restaurants or exploring parks can make this vacation destination feel like a second home. Of course, there's a plethora of things to do and explore in Navarre Beach, so we've highlighted a few bucket list items that are a must-do in Navarre. Check out these Navarre Beach bucket list items and feel like a local on your vacation:

Outdoor Activities

Of course, when visiting Navarre Beach, you must spend time outside on the gorgeous beaches, partaking in thrilling watersports or exploring the ocean by snorkeling and diving. One of the main reasons Navarre has gained popularity is because of the great outdoor activities. This sleepy beach town enjoys excitement through exploration, whether learning about unique wildlife or visiting one of the local parks. Visitors and locals alike are attracted to Navarre Beach's picturesque scenery and outdoor adventures, so plan on adding some of these outdoor activities to your Navarre Beach bucket list.

Visit Navarre Beach Marine Park

The Navarre Beach Marine Park is a 4.5-acre park with a pier, pavilion, and picnic area. Upon arriving, you'll find covered tables and benches among the dunes, public restrooms, and parking. It's an ideal place to relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. At Navarre Beach Maritime Park, popular things to do are picnics, flying kites, and picking up seashells. In addition to the relaxing beach activities, Navarre Beach Marine Park offers access to the artificial snorkeling reefs in addition to the relaxing beach activities.

Another popular way to pass the time at Navarre Beach Marine Park is visiting the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Navarre Beach is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, which include charter boat fishing or fishing from the pier. The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier is the longest in the Gulf of Mexico and continues to attract both beginners and experienced fishermen looking to catch mahi mahi, amberjack, red snapper, and many other species. On sunny afternoons, you'll likely find locals hanging out on the pier casting a line and even the locals' favorite heron, Fred, hanging around.

Fred the Heron

Photo from Live Like Fred on Facebook.

Explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is a beautiful stretch of coastline that includes Navarre Beach. It's an ideal place to hike, bike, or explore beautiful scenery. Beachgoers can find walking, jogging, or cycling trails along the beaches. Even driving along Gulf Islands National Seashore is a breathtaking experience as you see the white dunes and untouched seashore. This national park is also a popular spot for visitors to go camping or spend the day exploring. In 2022, Gulf Islands National Seashore was one of the country's top 10 most visited National Parks, so it's worth adding to the bucket list!

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Photo from Gulf Islands National Seashore on Facebook.

Go Snorkeling / Diving at Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary

Snorkeling is a great way to explore underwater ecosystems and learn more about the ocean. Luckily, you don't need to visit a natural spring or exotic beaches to go snorkeling. Several snorkeling options exist within the Destin, Navarre, and Pensacola area on the Gulf Coast. Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary offers near-shore artificial reefs in the Santa Rosa Sound and Gulf of Mexico. All reef sites in the Santa Rosa Sound and Navarre Beach Marine Park are open to the public and free to use during sunrise and sunset. Divers and snorkelers can take a break from the beach and get familiar with the wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.

Snorkeling Reefs Navarre Beach

Photo from Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary on Facebook.

Play at Navarre Family Watersports

For those who crave adventure, watersports are an exciting outdoor activity to add to the bucket list for Navarre Beach. Navarre Family Watersports is a trusted name in Navarre Beach that provides paddleboard, kayak, and watercraft rentals. They even offer a kid's water park and guided fishing charter tours.

Year after year, Navarre Family Watersports remains one of the top attractions for fun things to do in Navarre. Splashing at the water park or exploring on watercraft is a great way to see more of the ocean and switch up the beach day routine. For a little adventure, add watersports to the bucket list if you're visiting Navarre Beach soon.

Navarre Family Watersports

Photo from Navarre Family Watersports on Facebook.

Enjoy Fresh Gulf Seafood

Of course, you can't visit the Gulf Coast and skip out on the seafood. Those who are local to Navarre have a handful of their favorite places to go for shrimp, crawfish boils, grouper, and sushi, and visitors have also made a tradition of enjoying seafood on vacation. One of the best parts about the seafood selection in Navarre is enjoying the delicious food while dining on the water, and it's easy to see why so many people fall in love with Navarre after a sunset seafood dinner on the beach. For a selection of top seafood restaurants in Navarre, read more here.

Dewey Destin's Navarre

Photo from Dewey Destin's Navarre on Facebook.

Treat Yourself!

After spending time in the sun, a cold sweat treat is the perfect way to cool off. Navarre Beach visitors make special memories by grabbing shaved ice with the kids at Tommy's Sno-Balls, enjoying custom ice cream from The Twist, or indulging in sweet treats at Navarre Beach Bakery & Creamery. These family-owned and operated businesses charming, and they offer a wide selection of desserts to make your beach trip even sweeter. If you ask a local or anyone who has vacationed in Navarre, grabbing a sno ball at Tommy's is pretty much mandatory.