15 Best Things To Do In Perdido Key, FL - Updated 2024

1. Sunbathe and swim at Perdido Key Beach

When in Florida, one of the most popular things to do is hit the beach! It is the Sunshine State for exactly this reason. Come down to Perdido Key Beach for all things fun and exciting. The year-round warm temperature makes the beach the most frequented tourist attraction here. Perdido Key Beach things to do include checking out the various shops and restaurants. If you run out of adventures in town, going to the beach is always a good idea.

2. Go fishing with Twisted Palms Salty Adventures

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Some other adventures that you can try while in Perdido Key are fishing and boating. One of the most trusted tour agencies in town is Twisted Palms Salty Adventures which offers various tours for different needs. If you’re into a more laid-back excursion, choose their sunset dolphin eco-tour, which costs USD 50 per person. For a day of family fun, sign up for the four-hour or six-hour float and play excursion. There are also fishing charters available at Twisted Palms Salty Adventures.

Twisted Palms Salty Adventures

Address: 13948 River Rd, Pensacola, FL 32507, United States

Website: Twisted Palms Salty Adventures

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 7:30am - 5pm

3. Explore the ruins of Battery Center

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Are you a fan of simple and low-key adventures? If so, Battery Center in Fort McRee may just be the place to visit for you. This historical landmark was a coastal artillery battery constructed in 1899 and was named after Lieutenant John P. Center, adjutant to the 6th US Infantry. He was killed on Christmas Day in 1837 during the Second Seminole War at Okeechobee, Florida. Go back in time and explore the ruins of this important piece of history.

Battery Center

Address: Fort McRee, Pensacola, FL 32507, United States

4. Get your cravings fix at Shrimp Basket Perdido Key

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Looking for the best place to have your seafood cravings fixed? Shrimp Basket Perdido Key has got you covered. This casual restaurant offers seafood baskets and platters that are made from only the freshest ingredients there are. For the house specials, you must try the coconut shrimp basket, grilled shrimp and grits, and blackened redfish. Some of their other must-tries are the crab cake burger and the shrimp of whitefish tacos. Make it a delicious night out with the family and dine at Shrimp Basket soon!

Shrimp Basket Perdido Key

Address: 14600 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507, United States

Website: Shrimp Basket Perdido Key

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm

5. Dine and hang out with friends at Flora-Bama

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Planning a night out with your friends at Perdido Key? One of the best places for such an occasion is Flora-Bama. This lively beach bar was established in 1964 and has since become a local favorite when it comes to hangout spots in town. Live music graces this iconic bar regularly, along with popular events like Polar Bear Dip on New Year, 4th of July Party, Flora-Bama’s Freedom Run, Oktoberfest, and Santa Drop. It’s a place that brings the community together, even first-time visitors!

Flora-Bama

Address: 17401 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507, United States

Website: Flora-Bama

Opening hours: Mon: 9am - 3am; Tue - Sun: 11am - 2:30am

6. Learn at the wildlife reservation

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge was established as a unique habitat for various species of neotropical migratory songbirds, beach mice, Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles turtle, gray foxes, blue herons and more. As the wildlife is finding their refuge here, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge has become a place for education, students, and scientists alike. They are drawn here for wildlife-oriented public recreation and education programs. Pay a visit to the reserve in case you don’t know what to do near Perdido Key.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 12295 Alabama 180, 36542 Gulf Shores, AL

Website: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

7. Get wet at Perdido Key State Park

Perdido Key State Park takes advantage of the barrier island of Perdido Key, situated near Pensacola on the Gulf of Mexico, which protects the Florida mainland from storms and provides natural habitats for shorebirds and other coastal animals. Its white sand beaches and rolling dune with sea oats are visitors’ favorites. Swimming, sunbathing and surf fishing are the most popular activities around here.

Perdido Key State Park

Address: 15301 Perdido Key Dr, 32507 Pensacola, FL

Website: Perdido Key State Park

8. Be enchanted by the view of nature at the Big Lagoon

Hardy hikers are loving this trail system at the Big Lagoon situated between Pensacola and Perdido Key. The Big Lagoon is known for its high observation tower and campground. The entire park allows any walkers to have a scenic, natural walk greeted by the sunshine, soft sand and hills at every turn.

Big Lagoon

Address: 12301 Gulf Beach Hwy, 32507 Pensacola, FL

Website: Big Lagoon

9. Get excited by the Wildlife Show at Gulf Islands National Seashore

When you get to the seashore, you will discover another great place for the wildlife show. Watch the osprey and great blue herons flying above, with their huge nests at the treetops. Do not miss the sea turtles, rays, gopher tortoises and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. If you spend time and pay close attention, you can find more than 300 bird species of shorebirds just like the beautiful black skimmers, the least terns, loggerheads turtles, sand dollars, starfish, crabs, and fish.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Address: 3500 Park Rd, 39564 Ocean Springs, MS

Website: Gulf Islands National Seashore

10. Enjoy dolphin watching at Dolphin Tales

Try this affordable and family-friendly cruise to see dolphins and other sea creatures along the Alabama’s Gulf Coast. You can board the eco-friendly cruise from Perdido Key and look at the wildlife in the ocean. Swim freely in the scenic Back Bay. This cruise sure is one of the best things to do in the area

Dolphin Tales

Address: 25991 W. Perdido Avenue, 36561 Orange Beach, AL

Website: Dolphin Tales

11. Get close to the endangered plants and animals

At Tarkiln Bayou Preserve, you can find at least four species of endangered pitcher plants and other rare and endangered plant species. Look out for the unique carnivorous white-top pitcher plant at Gulf Coast, which can be found only between the Apalachicola and Mississippi rivers. More awaits you at Tarkiln Bayou Reserve with close to 100 other rare plants and animals, which are dependent on the wet prairie habitat, including the alligator snapping turtle, sweet pitcher plant, and Chapman’s butterwort. Have a picnic and take a hike to observe the plants and animals along the way.

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve

Address: 2401 Bauer Rd, 32506 Pensacola, FL

Website: Tarkiln Bayou Preserve

12. Go golfing at the Lost Key Golf Club

Located along the emerald Gulf of Mexico waters, 30 minutes from Perdido Key, Lost Key Golf & Beach Club features an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course set amongst more than 120 hectares (300 acres) of natural preserves. Lost Key offers the best environmental charm from the area’s sugar sand beaches, Gulf breezes and rolling dunes overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Lost Key Golf Club

Address: 625 Lost Key Dr, 32507 Pensacola, FL

Website: Lost Key Golf Club

13. Soar high at National Naval Aviation Museum

Looking for your next Perdido Key activity? Just 30 minutes away from Perdido Key, the National Naval Aviation Museum brings you more than 150 restored aircraft from Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation. This 32,000-square-meter (350,000-square-feet) complex is the largest Naval Aviation museum in the world and one of the most visited museums in the state of Florida. The admission is free, so you can see all to your heart’s content from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and get high with the historic and one-of-a-kind aircrafts!

National Naval Aviation Museum

Address: 1750 Radford Blvd, 32508 Pensacola, FL

Website: National Naval Aviation Museum

14. Get “peeked” by birds

You will be ‘peeked’ by all kind of birds at Alabama Coastal Birding Trail (24 minutes from Perdido Key) as it is home and paradise for the birds. See the blue herons slide their way across the Mobile Bay sunset and pelicans nose-dive into the Gulf. You will be joined by many birdwatchers along the way. The trail offers visitors many ways to view more birds.

Alabama Coastal Birding Trail

Address: The Gulf Shores, Orange Beach Loop begins at the bridge over Perdido Pass, east of AL 59 on AL 182

Website: Alabama Coastal Birding Trail

15. Get an education with the near-extinct animals

Have an educational experience at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, 28 minutes from Perdido Key, where the animals are the ambassadors for their wild relatives to greet visitors. Many species in the zoo are near extinction, so enroll in their free educational programs (offered throughout the year) to join their effort of the wildlife preservation.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Address: 1204 Gulf Shores Parkway, 36542 Gulf Shores, AL

Website: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Get lost in Perdido Key

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Perdido Key in her white sand beaches, wildlife reserves, parks, and zoo. You will get lost in no time! These Perdido Key attractions and other nearby places make this a great summer holiday destination.