Florida Panhandle recommendation on where to stay for a day or 3.

Going to a wedding in April in Panama City Beach. Flying into Pensacola on Thursday morning, wedding is Saturday night (so will be staying in Panama City Beach, Saturday), leaving Sunday out of Pensacola.

Not opposed to driving past Panama City Beach, or having to drive 3 hours day of the wedding, have no experience with Panhandle beaches, just wondering if I could get some real world feedback on where to spend Thursday and Friday night. Best way I can think to describe what the wife and I like would be to relate it to places we have gone: If we stay around Charleston, we favor Folly Beach. If we stay around Tampa, we like Indian Rocks Beach. If we go to the Outer Banks of NC, it's Hatteras or Ocracoke. Ideally would like to get a couple of good meals and not have to dodge 100 "tourist trap" style businesses. Bonus points if we can golf cart around. We avoid places like Virginia Beach, Ocean City (MD), Myrtle Beach, Clearwater Beach, etc in the summer/spring break as if they're rife with Plague.  That might be unfair to such places, but life's short, I'll be okay missing out on the hidden gems that I might be missing...

Any recommendations?

If you head east you'll find everything is built up for hours.  I'm almost wondering if the Gulf Shores in AL might be better.  Take that advice as someone that lived in the area 20-30 years ago.

In reply to Spearfishin :

I'll echo Stampie's recommendation.  My family has vacationed in Gulf Shores a few times and at the hidden Gem further West of there: Dauphin Island.  Very laid back and not too touristy on the island.   (hint: take the ferry from Ft. Morgan historic site over to the island if your coming from Pensacola)

I agree. Gulf Shores is a nice town, but unless you're staying on the beach side of the road your view is pretty much completely blocked, so if that's important keep it in mind. 
 

I think Dauphin Island feels a bit cozier, plus you can tour Fort Gaines, then take the ferry across & tour Fort Morgan. There's also the aquarium & sea lab across the street from Fort Gaines, and both are right by the ferry landing.