5 things to do: Florida Gulf Coast

• Advocate Marketing Staff
• Published: Apr 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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1. Explore the community of Seaside by foot

Take a stroll through the community featured as one of the filming locations for the 1998 film “The Truman Show.”

Halfway between Fort Walton and Panama City, this small beachfront community boasts numerous cottages, shopping, dining, a post office, amphitheater, school, chapel and more.

For more information, visit http://www.seasidefl.com. To rent a cottage, contact the Cottage Rental Agency at (800) 277-8696.

2. Visit the National Naval Aviation Museum
At the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., the National Naval Aviation Museum is the largest museum of its kind. Spanning the museum are 180 historic, restored aircraft from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation.

Located at 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C, it is open daily except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (850) 452-3604, e-mail museuminfo.navalaviation@mchsi.com or visit http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org.

3. Visit St. Andrews State Park
Located just a few miles east of Panama City Beach, St. Andrews State Park features sugar white sands and emerald green waters.

The park spans a mile-and-a-half of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Florida’s Grand Lagoon.

Open from 8 a.m. until sunset, St. Andrews has a little something for everyone.

From water sports such as boat tours, swimming, fishing and canoeing to land-based activities such as camping, picnics and trails, there is more than enough to do in the park.

Cap off a trip there with dinner at Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant and Waterfront Market on Panama City Beach. Taste fresh local seafood at an establishment that recently celebrated 40 years in the community.

St. Andrews State Park is three miles east of Fla. 392 in Panama City. Admission is $5 per vehicle and $1 for pedestrians. Camping fees are $24 plus tax.

For more information, call (850) 233-5140.