BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Tag: Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020

  • The Scenic Route

    The Scenic Route

    As we continue our road trip to escape Wisconsin’s winter, this morning we leave Panama City Beach – our home away from home for the past two weeks. As much as we’ve enjoyed it here, it’s time to move on to see new stuff!

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Moving our “home base” was an excellent opportunity to see some sights that were just out of reach on a day trip. If you follow this blog or if you know Jim and I at ALL, you know that we seldom take the fastest route when a short diversion (or six) will make the trip more interesting.

    We already have a taste for lighthouses, with two Great Lakes bordering Wisconsin. When I came across a map of Florida lighthouses, it presented itself as a challenge. Since we are planning another Florida trip next year with a slightly different route, can we see every Florida lighthouse over the next two years?

    We found out almost immediately that this may be a bigger challenge than we originally thought. Hurricanes and erosion have wiped out a few, some have become private residences, and in some cases urban sprawl and/or thick vegetation blocked our view from the opposing shore. So we revised our goal to check out the ferry situation and see as many as possible.

    Lots of Lights

    A large concentration of lighthouses were “on our way” from PCB to our next accommodations in St. Pete’s Beach. We canceled a high-point Saturday night in our timeshare for a hotel stay part-way there so we could enjoy more time on this coastal route without feeling rushed.

    As you may remember from a previous blog, The Emerald Coast spans the Gulf of Mexico from Pensacola to Panama City. Today we’ll travel along Florida’s Forgotten Coast (Mexico Beach to St. Mark’s) and the Big Bend Coast (the Apalachicola River to Anclote Key). The coastline between Apalachicola and St. Mark’s are part of both.

    Our first stop of the morning was Port St. Joe, a small beach town on the shore of St. Joseph Bay. If the day had been less gloomy, we would have taken a closer look at its historic downtown, but for today we’re on a mission.

    Old Information

    This is where we discovered that my trusty Florida lighthouse map was not quite up to date. Cape San Blas Lighthouse was built in 1849 (actually in Cape San Blas), and the light of the original 85-foot conical brick structure could be seen for up to ten miles. After years of winds and erosion – several rebuilds, redesigns and relocations were necessary to keep the lighthouse in working order. In 2014 the lighthouse, two keepers quarters’, and the oil shed were relocated to Port St. Joe and were opened to visitors. Just a year later, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit this link for some really beautiful photos.

    Repurposed

    We traveled south of Port St. Joe for about two miles to find St. Joseph Point Lighthouse. There was no sign and we were slightly confused when we saw a car in a driveway. Turns out this lighthouse is now privately owned and closed to the public.

    When we pulled up, a carpenter met me at the door. He wasn’t particularly thrilled about us being there at all – so he sure wasn’t going to let us in for the tour we were hoping for. I snuck a peek while he talked, and he was doing a fantastic job turning this once functioning lighthouse into a modern day residence. I wished I would have been brave and asked if we could go up into the tower, but I lost my nerve. There are some nice photos and some history about this area at the link that I found quite interesting.

    “From the southernmost point of land along Florida’s Panhandle, Cape San Blas extends like an arm three miles west and then fifteen miles north, forming the oblong St. Joseph Bay. The bay was known to be one of the best harbors along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and in 1836 the town of St. Joseph was established on its shore.” – READ MORE

    After a heartbreaking history which included yellow fever, the city of St. Joseph didn’t survive to see Florida become the 27th state in 1845. After about fifty years, people started to return to the area and the city of Port St. Joe was established about two miles north. Although there wasn’t much to see, we drove to the end of the Cape before getting back on track on our way to Apalachicola.

    We Brake for Owls

    From the minute we arrived, we really liked the vibe in Apalachicola, and pencilled-in an overnight here next year. Click the link for a walking tour of the town. We have a group of timeshare friends called the OWLs, so this was an obvious choice for lunch. Our slightly early arrival helped us beat the crowds which later arrived, and our meal was fantastic!

    Great Old Building

    The deck of the Owl Cafe provided an OWL’s-eye view of this small town, and maybe on our next visit the weather will be more conducive to dining al fresco. The top-down view of the gutted building looked interesting, so we went around front to see what it was all about. Although I couldn’t get any information on what this building used to be (or is going to be), I thought it was pretty cool.

    Across the Bay

    After our quick visit, we took two lengthy bridges over Apalachicola Bay to St. George Island – one of four barrier islands in the Big Bend Coast of Florida.

    “St. George Island consistently rates as one of the top beaches in the U.S., with miles of uncrowded expanses for sunning and shelling, clear Gulf waters for swimming and fishing, and pristine marshes for wildlife viewing.

    St. George Island is protected by low-density zoning and strict building codes. This makes St. George Island a tranquil beach community with no high rises or chain stores. Visitors can rent a quaint beach cottage, a multi-story luxury beach home, or lodge at one of the two island hotels or inns.” – READ MORE

    Full Moon Climb

    While preparing this blog, I read about the Full Moon Climb. Once a month, visitors climb up to the lantern room of St. George Island Lighthouse and see the sun set over Apalachicola Bay and the full moon rise over the Gulf of Mexico – with stunning views of St. George’s Island. As with most lighthouse tours, it’s not an easy climb, but it sure sounds fantastic!

    Crooked River Lighthouse

    Three brick towers were built on Dog Island in 1838, 1851 and 1873 – and each were destroyed by hurricanes. The iron skeleton structure of the Crooked River Lighthouse has remained since 1895, was restored in 2007, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This historic 103-foot lighthouse is the tallest on the Forgotten Coast and has a great little playground in the adjacent park.

     

    Land and water activities are plentiful at Bald Point State Park. The park is located near Alligator Point – where Ochlockonee Bay meets Apalachee Bay.

    “Coastal marshes, pine flatwoods, and oak thickets foster a diversity of biological communities that make the park a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing”.

    Perhaps on another visit we can explore this park to a greater extent to give it the attention that it surely deserves. Today’s weather wasn’t pleasant and recent rains made for muddy conditions. We did see some deer though, so that made my day!

    St. Mark’s Lighthouse

    We have already added St. Mark’s National Wildlife Reserve and Lighthouse to our itinerary for another visit next year, because we had no idea this place would be so fantastic! We arrived later in the day and lost light quickly as the sun sank below the horizon.

    “For nature lovers, wildlife abounds. Bobcats, alligators, and the occasional black bear can be seen. Many bird species nest and raise their young at the refuge. For those interested in history, the recently restored century-old St. Marks Lighthouse offers a glimpse into the rich history of the area. This is truly a special place. A sanctuary for wildlife and people.”

    Here are a couple of great links for a nice video with some AERIAL VIEWS of the lighthouse and for some HISTORY about the lighthouse. This place was a great find!

    More Beautiful with a Sunset

    It was not easy to get a good shot of the lighthouse since we were so close to it and trees were in the way of most good shots. Once we put some distance between us and the lighthouse, it was a little easier.

    Next year we’ll get out our trusty Playmate and bag chairs and hang out by the marshes for more (and better) photos of the birds. A bald eagle was perched in a nest across the marsh, but he was too far away and the lighting was terrible, so you’ll have to wait till next year for better photos. From here we headed inland – to Perry – for a good night’s sleep.

    Cedar Key Museum

    The next day was pretty frustrating from a lighthouse-hunting perspective, but pretty great in other respects. After learning there would be no visual of Cedar Keys (Seahorse Key) Lighthouse from the shore, we had a great talk with a retired camper-worker at the Cedar Key Museum about its vast history before and during the Civil War.

    “Cedar Key Museum State Park encompasses 18 acres and offers an opportunity to imagine yourself as naturalist John Muir, taking a quiet walk past large pines and oaks down to view Cedar Key’s expansive salt marshes. John Muir did in fact spend a few months in Cedar Key in 1867, commemorated with a state historic marker located on the museum grounds.

    The historic Whitman home also sits on the grounds, commemorating the life of St. Clair Whitman, whose collections of seashells and native American artifacts are featured in the museum. The home [is being] restored to how it would have looked in the 1920s, offering yet another portal into the past.” – READ MORE

    A graphic designer by trade, I absolutely LOVED the incredible museum displays – now vintage examples from the 1950s to 1960s by the U of Florida design team. When I get the opportunity to learn the history, but also LOVE the way the information is displayed, I am one happy camper. The displays below were two of my favorites. The work that went into the information alone is impressive. Then to display it in such a beautiful manner – really impressed me!

    Maps, dioramas, and so much information.

    More Frustration

    We tried to catch a view of Anclote Key Lighthouse across the gulf from a point that seemed to be the closest, but the viewing area is now residential (and gated). When we were parked trying to get googlemaps to tell us where the heck it was, a man sporting a Packers decal on his car pulled out of his driveway. Since we had Wisconsin plates, he was more than happy to help us out, but he dashed our hopes when he told us the lighthouse could not be viewed from here. Of course we talked about the Packers’ disappointing end to the season, but we both agreed – there’s always next year!

    By this time traffic was getting ridiculous, we were tired and we wanted to get checked in. No more sightseeing for this day!

    Next up: Island Living

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Farewell PCB

    Farewell PCB

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    The Noise is so Annoying

    We are finishing up our stay in Panama City Beach. The construction noise has been steadily increasing as the crew makes their way down the stairwell towards our floor. Day trips have become mandatory and another visit to Conservation Park was very calming to us. I posted some photos from there in a previous post. Visit Pines, Swamps and Springs if you want to take a look.

    Camp Helen State Park

    Camp Helen State Park was only about ten minutes from our condo, so we passed by it several times over the course of our two-week stay. If a park is given the State Park designation, more than likely there will be a fee to get in and that fee is determined by the services provided there. The fee isn’t much in most cases, but we looked into an annual pass just to be sure. Since we were only going to be in Florida for two months it was a wash, so we opted to pay as we went. This beautiful afternoon cost us $4 and was well worth it!

    “Camp Helen is a place where visitors can explore an environment rich in natural and cultural resources. The park is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and by Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in Florida. This 180-acre park is for day use only. Activities include swimming, beachcombing, nature study, hiking and both freshwater and saltwater fishing.” – READ MORE

    According to the sign pictured below: “From the first hotel built here in the 1920s to Camp Helen’s hey-day between 1945 and 1987 as a recreation camp for employees of Avondale Mills, our park has been a source of ocean-front fun for decades.”

    A Family Home

    In the 1920s the Inlet Beach Hotel lured visitors to this place because of its beautiful scenery, fishing and beach. The goal at that time was to develop the property into a retirement complex. When the hotel burned and the property changed hands, Margaret Hicks took over. In 1932 she had several structures built that became part of a public vacation spot to help supplement her income during the Depression. The lodge in the first photo below was built as a family home, and many other structures are still standing and have been restored.

    In 1945 Avondale Mills of Alabama purchased the property for use as a vacation camp for their employees, and in 1997 the state of Florida opened it to the public as a state park. There is some very interesting history about the years that Avondale Mills owned the property here if you’d like to read more. I always love to reminisce about days gone by – when companies took care of their employees like family.

    Peace and Quiet

    A little ahead of the season, we had this place completely to ourselves. We enjoyed the solitude (and quiet) and we were amazed that somewhere this peaceful could be so close to the hustle and bustle of Panama City Beach.

    Please Save the Birdy Babies

    Out onto the beach where the Gulf meets Lake Powell, the erosion becomes more obvious, although the birds didn’t seem to mind.

    Where Fresh meets Salt

    Not many fresh water lakes have an inlet from the Gulf of Mexico. The meeting of the fresh and salt water at Lake Powell causes quite a combination at the inlet.

    Into the Green

    A wonderful nature trail rounded out the trip. The smell of the woods provides a calm like no other. The fabulous live oak trees with their waxy leaves provided shade and the beautiful “green” that we crave during the winter months at home.

    Final Day of Noise

    On our final day, we suffered through some of the worst of the construction noise of our stay since the crew made their way down to our floor over our two-week stay. A generator was parked right outside our door for hours on end and the drilling or scraping or whatever was going on in the stairwell right beside us, was driving us insane. We had put it off long enough and we were forced to stay inside today to do laundry and pack for our next destination. As much as we hate to leave this area, we’re glad to leave all the noise behind us.

    Next up: The Scenic Route

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Gator Lake*

    Gator Lake*

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    <To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    They Don’t Call it the Sunshine State for Nothing

    We continue our nine-week road trip in Panama City Beach. The cold temps and snowfalls at home haven’t even come close to last year’s at this time, but we sure have enjoyed Florida’s sunshine – something that’s usually pretty elusive during the winter months at home. We’ve had to don our stashed winter coats more than once, but there’s something about the sunshine, white sands, and blue water that makes our winter attire more tolerable.

    We’ve Got Company!

    We made arrangements with my cousin from New Orleans to join us for the weekend. I referred to Darlene in The Emerald Coast because of her knowledge of gators. She made the trip here rather than meet us somewhere halfway because we had a spare bedroom for a more extended stay, and she had never been to Panama City Beach. Since we were new here too, we thought we’d check out St. Andrews tomorrow, which was only about half an hour away.

    After catching up for several hours, Mike’s Cafe and Oyster Bar called our names. This establishment came with several recommendations and with its convenient location – kitty-corner from our condo – we were able to walk to great seafood! The place was packed – which was a good sign and large portions provided plenty of leftovers for another dinner.

    The next morning started with two dolphins swimming west in front of our condo! Thank goodness we were looking out the patio door at just the right time. My only regret was that I didn’t have my camera at the ready for such an opportunity. We had talked to someone in the elevator a couple of days earlier who had seen dolphins pass by, but we weren’t having any luck seeing them ourselves – until today!

    Historic St. Andrews

    Our day trip to St. Andrews started with a waterfront farmers market and a walk around the historic town. It was a perfect day in between several not-so-perfect days, and it was fun to be out and about again, especially with my cousin.

    We bought some items at the market, some trinkets at a few shops and had a great lunch at Thai Basil. If you love authentic Thai food, checking out the gallery on their website will make you really hungry. I ordered the Volcano Chicken, which was absolutely fantastic! After lunch, we settled our stomachs with a nice walk through “Oaks by the Bay” park. We could have easily spent the afternoon here rather than the short time we had allotted.

    Panama City Publishing Co.

    A free guided walking tour of Historic St. Andrew starts at the Panama City Publishing Co. Museum on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1pm, and a self-guided audio tour is available on the “Florida Stories” app. Since we prefer a living, breathing tour guide, we are waiting until our next visit to check out the tour.

    The museum housed Panama City’s first newspaper in 1920 and was high on our list of things to do today, until we discovered it was closed for renovation. The building is chock-full of photos, newspapers, original printing presses and office furnishings which were still in use in 2005. In October of that year the city purchased the building, and over the next few years they restored it and opened it as a museum.

    Gator Lake

    Our next stop was the fabulous St. Andrews State Park. The $8 fee/car was totally worth the great afternoon we spent here. We got started at Gator Lake, which we met with great anticipation. Surely we would see some gators here! This is where my cousin dashed my hopes with her facts about gators not being active in temperatures below 70. Oh man! They should put an asterisk on the sign below stating this, so us Yankees would know not to expect much here during this time of year!

    It was a nice little lake and people came and went – all wondering where all the gators were holed up. Then we noticed the small island in the center of the lake was teeming with long-legged birds! I was a little confused when we started seeing all of the herons. I know there’s another area in the park called Heron Pond, but the sign clearly says that this is Gator Lake. Oh well, I put on my zoom lens and got a closer look at all that was going on just across the lake. We took the trail for another vantage point to see the lake.

    Building Project

    This is where we realized there was a family project underway. Although we had no way of knowing, we assume the male was foraging for sticks down the path and returning to his mate. She would take the sticks and place them just so on a nest in progress – in the tree right above us! The rest of the path was closed due to nesting that was occurring all around the lake. Now that was exciting!

    St. Andrews Bay

    We made our way to where the park meets St. Andrews Bay and enjoyed the sparkle of the sun on the water. Folks were by the water (some in the water), but it was a little chilly for such activities today in my humble opinion. We enjoyed the beauty from afar, and a deer in the parking lot as we were leaving the area.

    Amazing Beach Views!

    We drove to another area with restrooms and a gift shop which lead out to this fabulous pier. To the right were great views of Panama City and to the left was more sparkling white sands and the fabulous waters of the gulf.

    The man who was fishing at the end of the pier said that a shark had just made two swipes at his bait. We waited around for a third, but didn’t have any luck. It was fun though, thinking about him hauling in a shark. There are restrictions on what kind of shark would have to be returned to the water and not ended up as dinner. He never really got a good look at the beast, so unless he caught it after we left, he would never know.

    A Plan and a Goodbye

    We have the tour of the publishing museum, a walking tour (with a guide) of the town, and another lunch at Thai Basil on our list of things to do on our next visit to St. Andrews. I can hardly wait!

    After an awesome day, we enjoyed the Fish & Chips special at Temperley’s British Eatery for $10 which was absolutely delicious! After a nice long walk on the beach the next morning, we said goodbye to Darlene, until our visit to New Orleans next year.

    Next up: Farewell PCB

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Pines, Swamps and Springs

    Pines, Swamps and Springs

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    For the first time in years, our family’s spring breaks miraculously came together! Since you all know how much this family likes to vacation, we had two 2BR condos all lined up to accommodate our kids and grandkids, happily adding two more weeks to the end of our nine-weeker to make it work seamlessly. For the final week our trip, the plan was six nights in Williamsburg, VA and one night (two days) exploring Washington D.C.

    We left Wisconsin on our eleven-week road trip thinking: “Hmm. This may be a bit long.” Little did we know that fate would hack off those last two weeks for us anyway.

    Conservation Park

    We continue our stay in Panama City Beach (PCB) with a couple of day trips to see some surrounding areas. Conservation Park was less than ten minutes from our condo and since the weather had warmed up significantly, we took advantage of our good fortune and decided on a walkabout. What we found was a beautiful area that was created “in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the enjoyment of hikers, bikers, and nature lovers” – just up our alley!

    “Encompassing over 2900 acres, the Conservation Park has 24 miles of trails and over a mile of boardwalks that lead through Cypress domes. The trails range anywhere from 0.6 miles to 11 miles, with 12 different trails to choose from. Parking and public restrooms are located at the Trail Head building along with picnic tables and a covered pavilion which is available for rent. Hours of operation are dawn to dusk, 7 days a week. Be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras for bird and wildlife watching.” – MORE INFO

    As we entered the park, we had the feeling we were back in Oregon with its tall and slender lodgepole pines. Here in northern and central Florida they are actually called longleaf pines but whatever name they go by, the smell of the woods accompanied us all along our walk, bringing back memories and adding even more to this fantastic day.

    Plenty More where that Came From

    Several days later we returned again, but in both of those visits we barely scratched the surface of the park’s 24 miles of trails – leaving plenty more for a future visit.

    Beautiful Boardwalks

    Adding to the interest of this place was over a mile of boardwalks that spanned the swampland. On the park’s website there were comments about all the wildlife and birds that could be seen from these fabulous boardwalks, but we were not that lucky. I stared over the bridges in search of some sign of life, but instead I noticed a solid surface of green. If anything had been in that muck recently, there surely would have been tracks on the surface or a break in the green.

    I had to keep telling myself that we are in northern Florida where it’s still pretty chilly, so be patient as we travel further south. A trip just a month or two later would be wonderful – when more leaves are on the trees and there may be more chances to catch a glimpse of the creatures who reside here in the warmer months.

    Beautiful Reflections

    Vortex Spring

    On another day we ventured about an hour straight north from PCB in search of Morrison Springs – only to find two more springs within a short drive. I love it when a plan comes together!

    Vortex Spring is a little run down, but is undergoing some renovation. Take a look at their website and see a transformation, just by adding some sunshine and leaves on the trees! This would be a perfect destination for a party weekend (if we were in our twenties), or if we enjoyed scuba diving into caves – with a well-equipped dive shop, lots of waterslides into the crystal clear water, lounge chairs for relaxing, fire pits, campsites and cabins for rent.

    “Created by Doc & Ruth Dockery, Vortex Spring is home to the Red & White “Diver Down” Flag and is one of the largest diving facilities in the state of Florida. Vortex Spring Adventures is recognized as one of the best and safest diving resorts in the country. This 500+ acre Resort produces approximately 32 million gallons of crystal “gin” clear water daily at a year round temperature of 68 degrees.

    Our property is packed with experiences for the entire family whether it be scuba diving with our trained and certified instructors, exploring our nature trails, taking a dip in the spring, sliding down one of the 10 slides and so much more. A mecca for diving, snorkeling, and swimming enthusiast alike. If you love the water this is the place for you.

    We also offer beautiful campgrounds and recently renovated lodging facilities.” – READ MORE

    Diver Down

    The inventor of the “diver down” flag opened this place after his discharge from the navy in 1949 and recently handed it down to his kids. Check out the Gallery on their website for some fantastic photos of this place in full swing – as well as photos taken during dives into one of the largest known cavern systems. With near perfect visibility and wide open space, this is the perfect location for new divers, and training and certification are available onsite!

    Ponce de Leon Springs

    Ponce de Leon Springs State Park has a $4 entrance fee, but it was so worth it! Although we did NOT check it out today, the water temperature of the springs remains a constant 68 degrees year-round and probably feels pretty good in the Florida heat. “The main spring is a convergence of two underground water flows, and produces 14 million gallons of water daily.”

    A nice little park leads to the springs, where metal ladders let you safely ease into the crystal clear water. Had the sun been shining I’m sure the water would have been even more blue.

    The Overflow

    The overflow from the spring flows into a crystal clear river which merges downstream with Sandy Creek’s tea-colored water. A boardwalk took us over the river to a nice trail which lead us back into the woods. Rangers conduct guided walks during the warmer months.

    Lunch Time

    Although threatening rain, this has been a great day so far, so we pulled out our trusty Playmate and enjoyed our picnic lunch so we’d have the strength for our final stop. I love road trips!

    Morrison Springs

    Morrison Springs was awesome! With no entry fee and plenty to do, this was a great find. Someone spent a bundle on the brick pavers for the parking lot, and Live Oaks and their signature Spanish Moss framed a beautiful gazebo.

    Care for a Swim?

    Another boardwalk lead us out to a floating dock. This spring is one of the most popular diving spots in northwest Florida and produces an estimated 48 million gallons of crystal clear water each day – and sometimes more! Since we were the only ones here, we enjoyed total silence and great reflections of the trees standing in the water. 

    More Awesome Reflections

    By the time we got to this point in our day, what was left of the sun was gone. In some ways these are some of my favorite photos – not to say I wouldn’t want to return when the trees are all leafed out and the warmth of the sun would keep my teeth from chattering.

    Warming up to Florida. Wish it would Warm up!

    What an absolutely fabulous day here in the panhandle of Florida. I will say, this state is growing on me and we haven’t even gotten to the nice weather yet!

    Next up: Gator Lake*

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • The Emerald Coast

    The Emerald Coast

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To see the first post in this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Welcome to Florida!

    After a short visit with friends in South Carolina (hi Laurie!), we set up shop for two weeks in Panama City Beach (PCB). PCB is located on the Emerald Coast – the hundred-mile stretch of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico from Pensacola to Panama City. It was so interesting to see the different hues of “emerald” presented to us each day, depending on the sun, the wind and the surf.

    Thanks to Hurricane Michael, the Landmark Holiday Beach Resort was under construction for our entire stay, and at times it was unbearable. We usually spend a fair amount of time away from “home” anyway, so we were gone (or we left) during work hours whenever we could and returned to the quiet of our two-bedroom condo after the workers were done for the day. Under normal circumstances this resort would be perfect – right on the beach and close to restaurants, shopping, attractions, and some beautiful state parks. It was a great location to see the sights in and around PCB and short distances in each direction along the coast.

    A Little Chilly

    We unloaded in light rain and temps were in the forties. Although most-times twice the temperature of home, it was still pretty nippy, so we waited a few days before we got our feet wet in the gorgeous waters of the Gulf. The sound of the waves crashing is one of my favorite things about the beach and that would have to do for the first couple of days. One morning steam was rising from the warmer waters into this particularly cold morning air, which was pretty ominous.

    Go Pack Go?

    We arrived just in time to rush on over to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Green Bay Packers dash their Super Bowl dreams, so unfortunately the first photo below wasn’t a prediction as we had hoped. I suppose that was a lot to ask from a first-year coach, no matter how good-looking he is! The Landmark is the darker brown building on this end in the second photo.

    I Don’t Think We’re Far Enough South

    Our first day trip took us along the gulf coast toward Destin on Hwy 98, with a stop at Grayton Beach State Park. With the temp a chilly 43°, we walked along the beach in our winter coats and gloves. We had them stowed in the car with hopes of not seeing them again for at least another ten weeks – but looking on the bright side – the sun was shining brightly and we were on the Emerald Coast in Florida for heaven’s sake. We sucked it up, moved on, and let a beautiful boardwalk guide us down to the beach.

    At first glance, we could have been back in Wisconsin by Lake Michigan with a dusting of snow on either side of our walkway but on further review, it was the pure white sands blown into dunes from the coastal winds. There was a fair amount of dune and beach erosion going on at most of our stops throughout this trip. Fences provided barriers in some spots which kept stomping feet away from the rebuilding progress of the dunes.

    Gross? or Cool!

    We came upon three jellyfish that had washed ashore, which was quite an adventure. When I posted these photos on Facebook, I got all kinds of replies from gross to beautiful to alien-like. Whatever you see in these washed-up creatures, you have to marvel at the complexity of nature. I was amazed and took a lot of pictures to get good ones, since the waves kept washing them up and back.

    Why No Gators?

    On our way back to the car, we noticed another area of the park that had some nice water views, so Jim navigated us over to it. Signs about gators were posted here – and pretty much everywhere in Florida. Since a significant portion of this state is boggy with tall grasses all around, who knows when they’ll show up, right?

    I was hoping (yet not hoping) to see one after seeing our first sign and with all the places we visited at the beginning of our trip, I didn’t really understand why we didn’t even catch a glimpse of one. Then my cousin (from gator country) offered an explanation, which was confirmed by our tour guide on a later outing: Alligators stop feeding when temperatures dip below 70. When it’s much colder, they dig out a den in the bank of a pond or river and go dormant until it warms up again.

    Since there wasn’t much chance of seeing gators on a chilly day like today, we’ll just have to be patient till temperatures warm up as we head farther south.

    Lovely Beach

    A little further down the road, we came upon the South Walton neighborhood of Miramar Beach. We opted for inside seating at The Whales Tail – a great stop for lunch – and a stroll on the beach afterwards. The water was an extraordinary blue and the pure white sand made this place pretty appealing for a big event that may be on your calendar. Yes, it’s a designated wedding area and I can see why!

    Definitely Worth a Return

    With brisk winds prevailing, we made a quick stop at Mattie Kelly Pier – a fishing/crabbing pier in Destin. Located at a bayou wetlands preserve, the pier offered great water views of Choctawhatchee Bay. Had this been a warmer day, we may have paused a little longer on the boardwalk or visited the small park and nature trail that was across the street. Although the trail is not very long, it comes with very few tourists and that’s always a bonus to us.

    The pier is named after Mattie May Kelly – a Destin matriarch and founder of The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Cultural Arts Village. The arts village provides a great location to celebrate cultural arts in Destin. One series that looks worth pursuing is the Concerts in the Village series. It has an awesome lineup on Thursday nights – after all the current social distancing is a distant memory, of course.

    Great First Impression

    Since it took us a while to get to Destin and the weather was pretty chilly, next trip we’ll spend more time here. Choctawhatchee Bay and the small towns surrounding it look like a fantastic way to spend a day. We delayed our trip through Point Washington State Forest to get to the warmth of our condo. We’ll come back another (warmer) day.

    Today our goal was to see water and we definitely achieved that goal! Traveling along the gulf coast with stops at a few interesting spots where water was only part of the beautiful views, our first impression of this area is very favorable. Even though the temperatures weren’t as warm as we had hoped, the day was bright and sunny and the beautiful white sand beaches of the gulf, along with the gorgeous emerald waters offered a great alternative to the cold and snow of Wisconsin.

    Next up: Pines, Swamps and Springs

    Happy trails,
    Barb