Your day-by-day plan

1
Arrive & Orient
Morning:Arrive; unpack once.
Breakfast & coffee:Deb's Coffee Drive-Thru - Navarre, FL
Afternoon:The Henderson Beach State Park scrub trail and a first swim.
Lunch:Surfing Deer
Evening:Sunset at Norriego Point and a harbor dinner.
Drinks & nightlife:Basmati's Asian Cuisine
Insider Tip:Pick up the flag-system and turtle-season rules today; they govern the next nine days.
2
Dune Lakes Day
Morning:A dawn Western Lake paddle at Grayton.
On the water:Wet-n-Wild Watersports
Afternoon:The Deer Lake boardwalk and a Stinky's lunch.
Lunch:Rick's Crab Trap
Evening:The Red Bar early, stars late.
Drinks & nightlife:Fokker's Pub
Insider Tip:Fifteen coastal dune lakes line 30A; hitting two in one day is the sampler course.
3
Preserve Day
Morning:Topsail Hill Preserve's long walk to the pristine mile.
Breakfast & coffee:Tropical Boho
Afternoon:Point Washington State Forest trail miles.
Lunch:Brotula's Seafood House & Steamer
Evening:Simple dinner and field notes.
Dinner:Mi Casita Mexican Grill
Insider Tip:Topsail's effort is the crowd filter; the emptiness is the exhibit.
4
Bay Day
Morning:A clear-kayak seagrass tour.
On the water:30A Water Sports LLC
Afternoon:The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center turtle-rescue visit.
Family fun:Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade
Evening:A local-catch dinner on the harbor.
Dinner:Thai Hut Garden 2
Insider Tip:Ask the kayak guide about seagrass scarring; you'll never anchor carelessly again.
5
Springs Day
Morning:Morrison Springs immersion.
Family fun:The Grand 16 - Pier Park
Afternoon:The Ponce de Leon Springs boil and picnic.
Lunch:Black Bear Bread Co.
Evening:Back to the coast; gear rinse and rest.
Drinks & nightlife:Chiringo
Insider Tip:The springs are the trip's only freshwater chapter; bring the underwater camera.
6
Navarre Sanctuary Day
Morning:The sanctuary-reef snorkel off Navarre's sand.
Snorkeling:Destin Snorkel
Afternoon:The turtle center and the longest-pier walk.
Shopping:Carter's
Evening:A casual Destin dinner.
Dinner:George's At Alys Beach
Insider Tip:The pier's end is the region's easiest pelagic-watching platform; bring binoculars.
7
The Observation Day
Morning:A sunrise shorebird walk on the quietest stretch you've found so far.
Breakfast & coffee:Beach Happy Cafe
Afternoon:Journal, hammock, and an unhurried review of the species list.
Drinks & nightlife:The Big Chill 30a
Evening:A 5 pm dinner and an early night before the expedition day.
Dinner:The Perfect Pig @ Seagrove Beach
Insider Tip:One deliberately slow day mid-trip is when the week's observations actually organize themselves.
8
Shell Island Expedition
Morning:Drive to St. Andrews State Park and take the Shell Island shuttle to seven undeveloped miles.
Breakfast & coffee:Bruno’s Pizza
Afternoon:Shelling, jetty snorkeling, and swimming with nobody in frame. Pack out everything.
Snorkeling:Salty Fins Dolphin and Snorkeling Tours
Evening:Drive home; quiet dinner.
Dinner:Shades Bar & Grill
Insider Tip:Bring all shade and water; the island's emptiness is the amenity and the challenge.
9
National Seashore Day
Morning:Drive west to Fort Pickens on Gulf Islands National Seashore: dune ecology wrapped around 19th-century brick.
Breakfast & coffee:Dunesider Grill by The Old Florida Fish House
Afternoon:A Gulf-side swim on the seashore, then the sound-side flats for wading birds.
Lunch:Bad Ass Coffee
Evening:A Palafox Street dinner in Pensacola, then home.
Drinks & nightlife:The Grey Taproom
Insider Tip:The sound side at low tide is the birding bonus round most visitors skip.
10
Final Paddle & Depart
Morning:One last dawn dune-lake paddle.
On the water:Sunshine Watersports Destin
Afternoon:Pack; a farewell local-catch lunch.
Lunch:Dewey Destin's Harborside
Evening:Home with a species list and a low footprint.
Drinks & nightlife:The Old Beach Bar
Insider Tip:Ten days here spans more distinct habitats than most national parks; write the trip up while it's fresh.