Gulf Islands National Seashore

 The Destin and Pensacola area offers some scenic rides along pristine seashore.  The seashore features offshore barrier islands with sparkling white quartz sand beaches (along miles of undeveloped land), historic fortifications, and nature trails. There are two areas that are also part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The first, Okaloosa Island, is between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. On July 8, 1950 the federal government conveyed an 875-acre (3.54 km²) parcel of Santa Rosa Island with 3 miles of Gulf frontage to Okaloosa County. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction. The portion of Santa Rosa Island transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island. The twelve-mile long beach road onto U.S. Air Force property, west of the Okaloosa Island portion of Santa Rosa Boulevard, was unguarded and accessible into the 1980s, but heightened security concerns have since led to it being guarded or blocked at all times. Various military missile launch and test facilities exist on Santa Rosa Island south and southwest of Hurlburt Field. The remained of the island remains with the National Park Service as part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.  The NPS portion of the island is monitored by a NPS host camper.

The second is at the next bridge to Santa Rosa Island at Navarre. The communities of Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach are located on this part of the island. On the northern side of the island, are Pensacola Bay on the west and Choctawhatchee Bay on the east, joined through Santa Rosa Sound. Driving from Navarre Beach Blvd to the National Seashore you will see many interesting homes on of which is the igloo-looking Dome of a Home. 

 
The Dome of a Home is an incredible monument of dome design and construction. Located on Pensacola Beach, Florida, this 6,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor living space provides spectacular views of both the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound.  Built by Mark and Valerie Sigler, this home features advanced construction and design techniques to help defend against huricanes and other forces of nature.