The many shades of the Caribbean Sea can be seen from on high in the Toro Negro Forest Reserve, home to the island's tallest mountain and its highest lake. At Rio Camuy Cave Park, a spectacular cave system takes spelunkers to one of the world's largest underground rivers. But by doing so, visitors to Florida's Gulf Coast would miss out on dozens of attractions and activities that make the region a destination in its own right. Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City- delightful cities strung like jewels across a chain of shimmering gold. These towns are full of enticements, from historical attractions to deep-sea fishing.
History comes alive in Pensacola, where tours are available of three historical districts.
At Fort Walton Beach, warm Gulf waters lap at the miles and miles of sandy beaches. For an upclose look at marine life, the Gulfarium presents live performances by dolphins and sea lions, and the exhibit, the Living Sea- where sharks, moray eels and sea turtles can be viewed in their natural habitats. The stories from more than 10,000 years of the American Indian presence in northwest Florida unfold at the Indian Temple Mound Museum. Next to the museum is the temple mound, constructed around 1400. Deep-sea fishing is the sport of choice at Destin, where upscale resorts intermingle with lively and inviting nightspots.