Our trip to the Florida Panhandle seems like a blur. We were off to this place that few people outside the South seem to visit, but it’s a paradise: great beaches, wonderful food, warm weather, interesting sites, etc.. Unless you live in the Southeast, it’s a major trek to get to the Pensacola-Destin-Panama City area, I think most people go by car based on the number of out-of-state license plates making their way along Highway 98. Some fly in using the Atlanta hub or come via Houston. But if you want to come from the Northeast, Northwest or West Coast, you cannot (easily) get from there to there. And that's sad.

My highlights:

The beaches.
The warm water of the Gulf of Mexico
The Bay County Farmers Market (of course, my camera was left in the on position overnight and had no juice when we arrived there). It was there someone told me to make sure I fix me some ‘tater salad when I cooked my shell beans.
The Southern Star Dolphin Cruise
Destin Ice Seafood Market
Dewey Destin Seafood Restaurant
Marina Oyster Bar in Pensacola
Everything along Highway 30-A
Justin Gaffrey’s art (winging its way here as we speak)

The best thing of all: we certainly will be back!