Living In Navarre

They say that once you get the white Gulf sand between your toes, you'll never want to leave.  Whether its the sand, sun or surf that brings you here, it will be the overall experience of Navarre that makes you want to stay forever.  Residential growth has more than doubled during the past 10 years.  Its no wonder were the fastest growing community in Santa Rosa County!  Living in Navarre is like being on vacation year-round. When much of the country is experiencing cold and snowy weather, the water here is a beautiful emerald green, the beach is warm, and the sand is white. Seeing a glorious sunset over the Gulf, watching a heron wade through the marsh grass, feeling the water lap at your feet while you walk along the beach, enjoying the dolphins as they play in the water.  Not a week goes by that you can't experience one or all of these treasures!  Our residents enjoy the best that Northwest Florida has to offer. Navarre offers both new and existing homes in a variety of neighborhoods gated communities, wooded areas, on the beach, Sound side, bayside, or within any number of new and established subdivisions.

With Navarres strategic location in the heart of Northwest Florida, we're at the center of it all! Featuring gift shops, pet stores, island clothing, day-spas, surfboard gear, bicycle rentals, custom gift-baskets, furniture, antiques, and more.  Navarre has a growing variety of local retail stores, with virtually any goods and services.  Our area also has several national grocery, pharmacy, and large retail stores represented.  Enjoy local, waterfront and seafood dining at area restaurants, as well as your favorite nationally known fast food and eat-in establishments.  Nearby Santa Rosa Mall, in Fort Walton Beach, features several large department store chains as their anchors, along with other popular franchises. You don't have to drive far to find what you need.  For details (phone, addresses, websites) on dining establishments who are members of the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce click here.

The Navarre Beach area is landscaped with crystal clear streams, bays and rivers throughout.  Enhancing this naturally beautiful place are preservation areas on both the east and west ends, a seashore trail, multipurpose trail, abundant wildlife, and much more!

Navarre Beach offers dazzling white beaches bordered by the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico on one side, and just a few steps in the other direction, you'll find the calm waters of the Santa Rosa Sound, an intercoastal waterway.  Whether you are seeking a quiet, relaxing afternoon by the shore or an outdoor adventure with exciting attractions for the entire family, Navarre Beach provides plenty of activities to keep everyone busy.  Ecotourism abounds, with ample opportunities for kayaking, surfing, boating, snorkeling, hiking, bird watching, fishing and much more! Navarre Nature Walk Park celebrates an expanded children's area with swings, new equipment and a splash pad for hot summer days. Located near the Navarre Beach Bridge along the Santa Rosa Sound, the park features a brick path that runs along the shore, a spring-fed fish pond, playground, picnic areas and a butterfly house.  Many species of birds, such as geese, ducks and heron can be spotted on the walk, along with turtles, squirrels and indigenous wildlife.

If your idea of fun in the sun includes golf, our mild weather temperatures allow you to enjoy this favorite pastime year round.  Take advantage of our outstanding local golf courses, including the Club at Hidden Creek, rated the finest golf facility in Northwest Florida.  For specific links to Chamber Members offering recreation services (Golf, Kayaking, Bicycles, Beach Chair Rentals, Wedding Services, a ZOO, and more) please refer to our membership directory by your desired category.

A variety of health care options can be found in the Navarre area.  Baptist Medical Park is a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Navarre with diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and laboratory as wells as a host of personal, family and specialty physicians.  A dialysis unit opened in 2005, and new physicians are being added to support the growing population of Navarre. Nearby Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton offers 24- hour emergency care, cardiopulmonary therapy, and a critical-care unit, among its many services.  An emergency room can also be found in nearby Gulf Breeze.  Gulf Breeze Hospital, also part of the Baptist Health Care System, consistently earns the nations top rankings for inpatient satisfaction.
Other medical-related services include chiropractic care, optometry, orthopedics, dental, podiatry, OB/GYN, pediatrics, veterinary care, drug and alcohol recovery, and more. For a complete directory of Chamber members offering these services, search our membership directory by medical category.

The Holley Navarre Seniors Association, Inc. was organized in 1989 and a Seniors Center was built in December 1993. The 5,000-squarefoot center, located at 8476 Gordon Goodin Lane, is considered a community treasure. It offers its 400- plus members a place to go for social activities and a range of programs such as arts and crafts, bridge and other games, line dancing as well as other entertainment. In addition, the Area Agency on Aging provides a nutritious lunch for members. The center is a resource for the entire community.

Navarre Youth Sports Association (NYSA) is a massive volunteer effort that includes parents and others interested in investing time and energy as coaches, umpires, committee/ board members and mentors for the children of Navarre.

Comprehensive team sports include T-ball, softball, cheerleading, baseball, basketball, football, soccer and gymnastics. The objective of NYSA is to implant the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, courage, and respect for authority in the children of the community so they may be well-adjusted, stronger and happier.

Betty J. Pullum Family YMCA offers numerous programs in the Navarre area, including after-school programs, swim classes, summer day and teen camps, aerobics, karate, gymnastics, teen leadership development programs, youth sports, and many other fun programs. The new, full-service YMCA building is located at 2379 Pawnee Dr. Navarre, FL 32566. The organization annually distributes more than $10,000 in scholarships to youth, teens, and families who cannot afford the established fees.

Navarre is proud to be the home of the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk, the first visual arts and cultural facility in Santa Rosa County. It’s located along Highway 87 in nearby Holley. The Anagama Kiln is the first of several kilns that will comprise the Kiln Walk – a lifelong dream of Marty and Brenda Stokes, on whose property the kiln is located.

The Anagama Kiln is based on a 5,000-year-old design from Asia. It’s big enough for a person to stand up in, and it’s 32 feet long and holds 750 to 1,000 pieces. Other firing methods used will include Raku, Soda, Salt, Pit and Sawdust. The Kiln Firing is an annual event, and more kilns are planned for the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk.

The Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote awareness of ceramic arts through onsite tours and traveling exhibits, as well as educate the community through schools and clay related activities, bringing students of all ages from college to kindergarten together to celebrate our heritage and pass it on to future generations. The Kiln Walk is projected to become a significant attraction in Northwest Florida to artists, current and potential residents, as well as tourists.

To further develop and promote the arts in the Navarre Area, the Greater Navarre Beach Arts Association (GNBAA) was established in 2006  One of the long term goals of the association is to have a public arts complex on the beach.
For more information, e-mail: info@gnbaa.org.