Navarre Beach is a slice of heaven, a diamond in the rough, a tropical paradise and peaceful oasis. Here's the TOP TEN reasons why I love this beautiful beach.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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We all know that some of the best places to vacation are beach destinations. What you may not know, is that there's a place that you can make unforgettable memories with your friends. It's called Navarre Beach. I spent last week there with some of my dearest friends and I can't wait to get back! One of my Top 5 Vacations of ALL time. Here's why you'll want to visit this quaint and picturesque town in Northwest Florida.

#10 - HUNTING SEASHELLS

I didn't do any snorkeling while I was there, but had fun hunting for all of the unique seashells on the shore. I was addicted to the hunt of it all. A nice gentleman stopped me on the beach to ask how my hunt was going. I shared that I was disappointed that I didn't find any larger shells. He proceeds to give me the handful that he had just collected. Yea me! I also learned that the best shelling opportunities happen during low tide, so that's something to remember. It was a blast and I brought home a nice haul, but next time there will be some snorkeling in my future.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#9 - THE WATERFRONT CANAL

Robin and Tony's home is nestled on the water canal where Chris, Scott and Tony all threw in a line or two. They saw a stingray pass by and we saw so many cool birds like cranes, pelicans, herons and more. It was amazing to sit on the back patio, without a care in the world, and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and surroundings.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#8 - THE FOOD & DRINKS

We ate at many amazing restaurants while on vacation. Juana's on Navarre Beach was my favorite for specialty drinks and the lunch was delicious as well. It's just a short ten minute drive to Pensacola where we ate at some great seafood restaurants. Flounder's Chowder House was a resounding favorite. I was told the seafood was out of this world and just look at those portion sizes! Because this girl doesn't like seafood, I got a delicious ribeye steak that was cooked to perfection. YUM

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#7 - THE MARINE LIFE

We saw a wide variety of marine life while on vacation. The sea turtles were breathtaking, the dolphins were stunning and the stingrays....were scary! Chris snagged fish that he'd never seen before and even caught a crab. The entire time we were there, purple flags were out because of the jellyfish. We counted hundreds in the water at any given time. We had to have a spotter on shore, to alert us when one was near our swimming location. And, yes. I threw in a parrot picture that was at a restaurant we ate at. The manager even let me feed it sunflower seeds. So FUN.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#6 - THE SUNSET

We have beautiful sunsets in Owensboro, don't get me wrong, but there's just something about the sunset in the Gulf. Who doesn't just LOVE a beautiful sunset? Every night was an amazing painting in the sky. We stopped every night to take photos.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#5 - THE BEACH

#4 - THE WATER

Let's start with the crystal-clear water. It was warm, inviting and I didn't want to get out of it at the end of the day. I loved floating with the waves. I've never seen such  emerald-green colored water. It was beautiful and I miss it already. There was only a handful of families anywhere near us so it was like we had the entire beach to ourselves.

There's nothing better then putting your toes in the sand! The beach was one of my favorite parts of the trip. And, did you know that "Navarre Beach occupies the greatest strand of white sand on earth – the panhandle beaches of Florida"? The white, soft sand is perfect to play in and lay on. Just be sure to watch your step for crabs and shells. Oh, and if you sunburn easily, be sure to pack the SPF 100 as the white sand radiates the sun! Trust me, I lathered up all day.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#3 - RECREATION

Navarre Beach may not be known as a "family beach" like Panama City or Destin, but there's many fun things that the kids would enjoy. I saw visitors that were parasailing, biking, fishing on the pier, taking a boat tour, snorkeling, paddle boarding, riding jet skis and so much more. We decided to take the scooters to Pensacola to grab some lunch. I was a nervous when I learned that we'd be riding on the road with other cars, so Chris took me in the car scooter. It was so much FUN. The views were incredible.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#2 - MAKING MEMORIES

Chris and I have been together since 1996 and sometimes life can get into a routine. We get busy with work, the dogs and life. It was nice just to spend time in this low-key beach town and enjoy each other. We soaked it all in and just made the most of our time together!

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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#1 - SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS

The best part of the trip was spending it with my friends enjoying the beach life. There were no "Real Housewives" moments. We all just grew and learned more about each other. We swam together, laid out together, ate together, road scooters together, cooked together and made so may memories that I'll cherish for a lifetime.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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Grab your friends and family and get ready to make your own memories at this slice of heaven. Navarre Beach.

I think my car looks pretty good in the driveway! Thanks to Tony and Robin for inviting us to spend the week at their beachside resort. Can't wait to come back.

Barb Birgy
Barb Birgy
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