Northwest Florida on a Budget

A vacation in Northwest Florida can be a lot cheaper than, say, a trip to Orlando's theme parks or a Caribbean cruise, but it doesn't have to be any less entertaining.

That's especially true for families with young children. The area boasts a low-key, laid-back appeal rather than the hyped-up, go-go-go atmosphere of Disney or other more commercialized destinations. So visitors here can actually relax on their vacations, and kids can enjoy real-world attractions -- white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, dolphin-spotting and so on -- rather than contrived and artificial ones.

And when you've all had enough of the sun and surf, there's still plenty to keep you entertained without the need for endless visits to the nearest ATM: free play areas, bargain shopping and low-cost, family-friendly amusements.

So what stops should the budget-conscious family consider for its Northwest Florida vacation itinerary? Check out some of these:

Navarre Beach. Cost: Free entrance, free parking. (The former 50-cent toll-booths at the beach entrance off of Highway 98 have been removed.) Plus, the miles-long beach has recently been replenished with native white sand (to replace sands washed away by the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005).

Eco-Beach. Cost: $10 will rent you a beach cruiser bicycle for the whole day, and there are miles and miles of smooth bike trail along the main beach road. Eco-Beach, which also sells beach gear, beach-wear, snacks and beverages (including beer and wine), also offers 24-hour fishing pole rentals for $10.

Cocodrie's. Cost: $1.50 and up. This friendly, New Orleans-style restaurant on Navarre Beach serves cocktails, appetizers and full meals at a variety of prices. A side of rice or sourdough bread will set you back only $1.50 (minus tip), but the best deal is the soup and salad. For $8.95, you get your choice of a bowl of soup (a BIG bowl) and a house or Caesar salad. Go for the shrimp and artichoke soup: it's creamy, filling and to-die-for ... well worth the price.

Sailor's Grill (with Juana's Pagoda's beach bar right next door). Cost: Varies. This restaurant right along the main road into Navarre Beach is as popular with locals as with tourists; you'll find reasonably priced, fresh-baked sticky buns, muffins and more, a delicious selection of breakfast entrees, juicy burgers and grouper sandwiches, salads, soups and kid-friendly choices like cheese nachos (made with real cheese, not the gooey, glow-in-the-dark yellow stuff from a jar, so it'll please the adults at the table too). Plus, there's outdoor deck dining overlooking the soundfront beach, so parents can linger over their coffees or margaritas while the kids play in the sand in full view.

Navarre Park. Cost: Free. Located right where Highway 98 meets the Navarre Beach bridge, this relatively small but action-packed park throngs with kids year-round. It features two play areas, one for younger kids, one for the older and more daring, along with swings, picnic areas, a paved path encircling a large pond full of ducks, geese and turtles, and (during the warmer months) a colorful, rubber-tiled splash-and-play area with spraying jets and sprinkling hoses for children to run through (bring bathing suits or towels along). Plus, the park enjoys a view like few others, being located directly on Santa Rosa Sound overlooking the barrier island of Navarre Beach.

The ZOO of Northwest Florida. Cost: $8.25 and up. While the regular admission rates to this small but charming zoo aren't cheap -- $8.25 for kids 3 through 11, $11.50 for adults and $10.50 for seniors (kids under 2 get in free) -- you can get a good sampling of what it has to offer twice a month during the ZOOTots program. From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, kids ages 18 months to 5 years can join their parents and a ZOO guide for a narrated train ride through a 30-acre wildlife preserve, then get a hands-on introduction to a few of the ZOO's friendlier inhabitants: creatures like hedgehogs, lizards, baby bats, ferrets and non-biting snakes. After the program, kids also get a light snack (crackers or cereal) and juice. The cost for non-ZOO members is $7 for one adult and one child, with each additional child getting in for $3 (additional adults pay $5 apiece). Best of all, no reservations are required; just show up in time.

Peg Leg Pete's and Flounder's. Cost: Varies. These popular restaurants on Pensacola Beach offer more than fresh seafood and cold beverages: both also feature outdoor playgrounds for the kids, with nearby benches, tables and decks where parents can sit and relax while the kids burn off some steam. Both also offer special menu items for children.

Pelican Park. Cost: $7 and up. It's a longish drive (11000 University Parkway in north Pensacola) for those staying in Navarre, Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach, but it's worth the trip when you need a break from sun and sand. The minor league baseball team, the Pensacola Pelicans, plays nearly 50 home games here between May 10 (opening day) and August 25. Even if you're not familiar with the league, you'll find an entertaining, family-friendly atmosphere, a variety of concession items, a souvenir shop, fun promotions and a play area where kids can run and bounce in an inflatable trampoline room. Plus, tickets are reasonable: $7 a person for general admission and kids 4 and under get in free.

National Museum of Naval Aviation. Cost: Free. Even if you're not a fan of military history, this is a place anyone will find fascinating. Located on the grounds of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, this huge (nearly 300,000 square feet) museum houses more than 140 military aircraft from every era of aviation, as well as other exhibits like a recreation of an aircraft carrier flight deck, an eerie depiction of military planes that crashed into Lake Michigan, a recreation of World War II military camps and more. Upstairs, kids can sit and play in the cockpits of dozens of different planes from throughout history, including one of Pensacola's world-famous Blue Angels. There's also a free bus tour of the museum grounds, a motion-based flight simulator (prices vary), an IMAX Theater (again, prices vary), a restaurant and bar that duplicates the Cubi Point Officers' Club once famous in the Philippines, a gift shop and an indoor play area for the little ones. While donations are welcome, there's no guilt-trip-inducing for those who don't pay, and it's a great place to spend time on those rare occasions when it rains all day in the Sunshine State.