The beautiful city of Navarre is a beach community in Santa Rosa County, northwest Florida Panhandle.
Also known as “Florida’s Best Kept Secret,” Navarre is popular for its crystal-clear beaches and thriving businesses and hotels.
There are plenty of things to do in the city, but if you want to enjoy without spending a dime, here are 15 free things to do in Navarre, Florida:
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Start your trip at the jewel of Navarre: Navarre Beach.
Although Florida is littered with beautiful beaches and colorful and vibrant nightlife, what separates Navarre Beach from the rest is its less crowded, peaceful beaches that offer relaxation and solitude for families, travelers, nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, and water sports enthusiasts.
Navarre Beach has 12 miles of beautiful, pristine white shoreline stretching across the Gulf of Mexico.
Its crystal clear and emerald waters make the waterfront view even more unique and breathtaking.
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There are plenty of things to do here at Navarre Beach besides just hanging out on the white sand and basking under the warm sun.
You can swim in the beautiful waters, stroll around the beach, admire the view, and go paddle boarding, golfing, and fishing.
Navarre Beach also hosts seasonal special events ranging from live music to performances, terrain racing, and more.
With so many things to do, Navarre Beach is a fantastic place to spend time with friends and family.
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Sound Side Park is one of the sandy parks in Navarre.
It offers an alternative beach experience to the more popular Navarre Beach; you can have a nice and secluded area to swim in, as it has its own shore.
It’s also very close to the large and spacious parking lot, highly accessible, and perfect for picnics in the back of the car while the kids enjoy their time in the waters.
There are also nearby restaurants and places to shop.
A tiny deck that recently had its new kayak launch pad is also available for anyone to enjoy.
Sound Side Park is located at Navarre Beach Boulevard and is the perfect place for a peaceful beach experience.
Navarre is full of stunning views and scenery perfect for capturing photos.
At a small hike northeast of the Sandpiper Pavilion, you’ll be able to find Savannah Point.
Savannah Point is a scenic spot at Navarre Beach facing the Navarre community shoreline.
It’s at the very tip of the landmass, making it a unique and amazing spot to take in and photograph panoramic views of the Navarre community shoreline.
It’s also a secluded area for relaxing while looking at the sparkling Navarre night lights in the evening.
Navarre Beach Marine Park is a beach park right next to Navarre Beach.
Off the Navarre Beach Bridge, the beautiful sandy dunes connect the Santa Rosa Sound with the Gulf of Mexico, with beautiful attractions above and below the sea level.
Marine Park is one of the few beaches in Florida not surrounded by high-rise buildings, so you can enjoy the beautiful nature views.
Among the attractions here is the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station, a science center perfect for those who want an educational experience about marine life in Florida.
There’s also the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center with a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium featuring sea turtles; it’s also the home of the Shanna Litterst Education Center.
The Navarre Black Hawk Memorial is a memorial park and monument right next to the Navarre Park Event Pavilion at Navarre Parkway.
The monument is a tribute to the lives lost during a black hawk helicopter crash in 2015, resulting in the deaths of four national guard flight crew and seven marines.
The military-oriented community of Navarre immediately worked hard for 18 months to erect the memorial, designed by local artist Randy New and made by Corey Swindle.
The monument shows an eagle with the American flag atop a towering monument.
You can visit the Navarre Black Hawk Memorial, take photos, read the plaques, and appreciate the craftsmanship made in sole dedication to the fallen.
Navarre Central Bark is the most popular dog park on High School Boulevard.
Although it only has 0.5 acres of space, this dog playground is still an amazing place to visit with your beloved pet.
The park is divided into two separate fenced areas for dogs to enjoy.
One area is for small dogs, where they can safely run around and socialize with other small dogs.
The other enclosure is for big dogs.
This park allows your pooch to go off-leash, allowing them to run around the park.
The Navarre Soccer Complex is a soccer park and field at 9299 Military Trail.
It offers beautiful green spaces and fields for all sorts of outdoor activities.
This 30-acre land has five soccer fields of various sizes.
At Navarre Soccer Complex, you can enjoy a soccer game with friends and family, as every field has netted soccer goals.
You can also sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the games from the covered pavilions or at the picnic tables.
Navarre Seafood Market offers the freshest seafood in the community.
It offers the day’s catch, as each of the goods is from the local fishermen and family businesses.
Browse through stores with a wide selection of frozen and fresh fish while learning about the locals and their culture.
Navarre Seafood Market is located at Navarre Parkway.
The Boardwalk Shop is a specialty boutique store.
It offers beach essentials, rental businesses, and a gift shop with all sorts of merchandise.
You can go window shopping and see all the colorful items and beautiful art for sale.
If you have money to spend, there are bikes you can rent for a nice beach ride.
They also have food items you can enjoy at the picnic tables fitted with umbrellas.
The Boardwalk Shop is located at Gulf Boulevard.
Navarre Park is a popular attraction with picnic tables, pavilions, a playground, and a splash pad.
It’s located at Navarre Parkway, just on the shoreline, giving a glimpse of the fantastic view beyond.
The kids can enjoy playing at the colorful playground as the adults relax by the shaded pavilions or picnic tables.
If you want the best park experience here in Navarre, Navarre Park is the ideal place.
Although Navarre is famous for its beautiful beaches, it also has a vibrant Downtown Navarre area.
The Downtown Navarre area provides an amazing experience surrounded by fabulous shopping opportunities, delicious restaurants, and gorgeous hotels.
Small businesses and local-owned and operated establishments dominate this area.
The Downtown Area spans Navarre Parkway at an amazing spot overlooking the beautiful shoreline.
If you want to see most of Navarre’s bustling nightlife and vibrant businesses, don’t forget to hang around at Downtown Navarre.
With just an eight-minute drive north, your kids can have a blast playing at the Holley Ball Park.
This charming little park has an all-inclusive play area and playground especially made for little children.
Here you can take a seat under the covered pavilions while the little ones can socialize and play together safely as the surfaces are rubberized to absorb the impacts of falls.
You and your kids can also play by the many swings at the park.
Holley Ball Park is on Tolbert Road.
With just a 20-minute drive west of Navarre Beach, you can reach Pensacola Dog Beach.
Pensacola Dog Beach is a popular spot to play around with your pets on the beautiful white sand, facing the gorgeous emerald waters.
Here you can watch your pup run around the sand and play in the waters while you enjoy breathtaking ocean views.
When you visit, remember to leave only foot and paw-prints behind!
People aren’t the only thing you’ll share the beaches with in the Gulf of Mexico, as they’re also home to many large birds.
These birds include Canada geese, teals, grebes, white pelicans, doves, plovers, sandpipers, terns, and more.
One beautiful place to see such birds is Ross Marler in Okaloosa County, just a 25-minute drive east.
Besides being an amazing area to swim and stay at with its various amenities, it’s also a perfect place to go birdwatching.
Birds near threatened can be found here, providing you a rare chance to see them before it’s too late.
If you’re up for an amazing hiking opportunity here in Navarre, you might want to check out the Florida Trail Weaver Creek.
The trail is north of Navarre, going through 14.3 miles of high and dry sandhills surrounded by longleaf pine forests and planted pines.
You can enjoy the beautiful scenery at certain spots of the trail, and through this long trek, you might encounter low-flying aircraft above the trees as the area is an active military installation.
Before entering the Florida Trail Weaver Creek, you must grab your free permit online.
This trail is an amazing opportunity for a nice change of pace from the beaches and waters.
Navarre Beach is such an amazing place—it’s no wonder many people visit to relax by the emerald beaches; some even stay permanently!
With lots of activities to do on the beach, thriving nightlife, and diverse shops and businesses, both at the beach and on the mainland, you have so much to do here in Navarre.
Check out these free things to do in Navarre, Florida, to help you with your next trip itinerary.
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