Back in Indiana today from ten rejuvenating days in Perdido Key. The island is a long-time favorite of mine for it’s stunning white sand, turquoise waters and super low-key atmosphere. And while I like exploring new places, my heart belongs to Perdido Key and I try to visit twice yearly for some biannual beach bliss.
My first visit to the area was nearly 20-years ago, when my mother and I spent an afternoon at the aptly named Perdido Key State Park. I fell in love with the area which is seemingly less developed and lacking the throngs of beach-goers that hit Gulf Shores, Fort Walton, Destin, PCB and other nearby hot spots. While there is a slowly growing number of high-rise condos, it is as yet untouched by mini-golf courses, go-kart tracks or department store sized beach outfitters offering tacky souvenirs. If you’re a ocean-lover like me and want to spend the better part of the day by unfettered beach beauty, then Perdido Key is your jam.
Perdido Key is flanked on the eastern edge by Johnson Beach National Seashore. A National Park’s Pass or Military I.D. will gain free entry and the dune views of the gulf on the south shore and the Big Lagoon on the north shore are outstanding. There is also a canoe/kayak launch that offers paddlers easy access to the Big Lagoon if you’re into that sort of thing. My husband and I did take our kayaks down a couple years ago and had a blast.
Nearby Pensacola is home to a large naval air station and some world-famous fly-boys—the Blue Angels. The Naval Aviation Museum is definitely worth a visit any day of the week, and the Blue Angels practice most Tuesdays and Wednesdays from March through November on-site.
When we do decide to get away from the beach for a few hours, the iconic Flora-bama is located on the island at the state line. The Flora-bama Yacht Club is always a pick for good eats and we went for a Halloween seafood dinner.
We followed our meal with a short drive over to Orange Beach on the north side of Bayou Saint John for a visit to Pleasure Island Tiki Bar—it seemed like an appropriate choice, as my daugher was costumed as a hula girl. The bar has live-music most evenings, draws a good crowd and is a fun little beach-themed watering hole.
As I wind down on this post, I find myself rehashing my favorite moments once again and waxing a wanderlust for my next seaside retreat.
My little hula girl 
Beach baby, beach baby, under the sun
Love,
L.N.
The write dish 