A Perfect Navarre Beach Day: Coffee, Beignets & Sunshine.

Some days you just need sunshine, something sweet, and your toes in the sand. That was exactly the plan when Matt and I set out for a slow, easy day at Navarre Beach, and it turned into one of my favorite days since we moved to Florida.

If you've never been, Navarre calls itself Florida's most relaxing place, and honestly? It earns the title. It sits on Santa Rosa Island between Pensacola Beach and Destin, so it feels tucked away and peaceful but still close to everything.

Here's how we spent our perfect Navarre Beach day: great coffee, the cutest beignet truck, and a long, lazy afternoon on that white sand.

Stop 1: Coffee at Craft on Scenic

We started the morning with coffee at Craft on Scenic, right on Scenic Highway in Pensacola, before heading east to the beach. It's the sit-down cafe from Craft Gourmet Bakery, so you get real table service and a whole case of from-scratch pastries and cakes staring back at you.

Their espresso drinks are made with Parlor Coffee beans out of Brooklyn, and the syrups are house-made, which you can absolutely taste. I ordered a chai tea latte, and Matt got an iced vanilla latte. The brunch menu runs until 2 PM if you want to make a real breakfast of it.

Good to know: Craft on Scenic is at 615 Scenic Hwy in Pensacola, about 45 minutes from Navarre Beach. It's the perfect first stop if you're coming from the Pensacola side.

Stop 2: Beach Babe Beignets

Okay, this was the highlight. Beach Babe Beignets is a food truck on Navarre Parkway run by a mother-daughter team, and I loved them before I even took a bite. As a woman who ran her own shop for over ten years, I will always cheer for women building something of their own.

They make the dough fresh every morning, and the beignets come out hot, light, and buried in powdered sugar, just like New Orleans. There's a whole lineup of dipping sauces, plus sea creature shaped beignets that are almost too cute to eat. Almost. We got the traditional beignets with a dirty soda and an iced coffee, and they were OUT OF THIS WORLD.

They also serve coffee and dirty sodas, and there are picnic tables if you want to sit and enjoy them warm. Grab a few extra napkins. You'll need them.

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Good to know: Beach Babe Beignets is at 8508 Navarre Pkwy in a little food truck court. They're a morning truck that usually closes around noon and can sell out, so go early and check their Facebook page for the current hours before you head over.

Stop 3: The Beach

With coffee and beignets in hand, we crossed the bridge to Navarre Beach and spent the rest of the day doing a whole lot of nothing. The sand is powdery white, the water is that unreal emerald green, and even on a sunny day it never felt crowded.

We walked the shoreline and out on the pier, watching for dolphins. If you have the energy, the pier is so worth the stroll.

I kept thinking about where we were a year ago, bundled up for another long Minnesota winter. Sitting on that beach in November, sun on my face, I felt so grateful we took the leap.

Tips for Your Own Navarre Beach Day

• Get the beignets first. The truck closes around noon and can sell out, so make it your morning stop.

• Parking is easy. Right after the bridge onto Navarre Beach there are free public lots on both the Gulf and Sound sides.

• Bring the basics. Chairs, an umbrella, sunscreen, water, and wet wipes for powdered sugar fingers.

• Go in the shoulder season. Fall is warm, quiet, and so peaceful. It's my new favorite time to be on the beach.

• Stay for sunset. If you can, linger until the sky turns pink over the Gulf.

Until Next Time

Good coffee, sweet treats, and a quiet beach. Sometimes the simplest days are the ones you remember most. If you're local or just visiting the Gulf Coast, I hope you steal this little itinerary and make it your own.

Have you been to Navarre Beach? Tell me your favorite spot in the comments. I'm always looking for our next adventure!

XO - Kari Lynn