We loved the panhandle when we did our retirement trip. We went all along the Gulf coast from Sarasota to Galveston and the panhandle was the nicest. We stayed at HoHum in Carabelle and Topsail Hill SP in Santa Rose Beach. Also stayed at Buccaneer SP in Waveland MS. The panhandle doesn't have the crushing congestion of central and south Florida. There are several private and state parks in the area.
We also enjoyed the Homasassa area about an hour north of Tampa. Once again, it's not like the rest of FL.
South of I-4 is fine is you have to have 70 degrees all winter. But parks down there are already booked for next year.