trying to figure out the best beaches in the South East. White Sand and blue water. I live in North Florida. The beaches here are OK. But, I'm looking for Great. Thanks all

The Panhandle beaches, Destin and vicinity, are the prettiest in the state IMHO, for both sand and water color.

When would you want to go? Many fantastic beaches in the SE (including the FL panhandle) aren't exactly great beach destinations in the winter. And some are god awful hot during the summer. Time of year can mean everything....

While the Florida Panhandle beaches are very nice and quite beautiful, Siesta Key gets my vote.

The panhandle from Panama City to Pensacola has snow white sand and crystal clear green/blue water. I especially like the Beaches of SOuth Walton. Go here for photos:

http://www.sowal.com/photos.html

Beaches of South Walton, no question. I returned recently from Seagrove Beach...click on my name for a TR.

Good Lord SunshineSue! Those pics are fantastic! Makes me want to book a vacation home there right now!

I ditto GoTravel those pics were awesome. South Walton here we come!! Thanks for all the info.

Just looked at your pics Sunshine Sue. They are great!

The emerald water and white sand was definitely at Seagrove Beach (right next to Seaside) when we visited last month.

GoTravel:

re vacation homes, there has been a lot of real estate activity in Destin and the Beaches of South Walton in the last 10 years. When I was in college, I did an internship with a very successful lobbyist in Tallahasse who owned a beachfront house in Destin. He bought it for $800k back then (2000) and it's probably worth at least 3X that amount now.

That being said, there are still some good opportunities for gulf view property in the Beaches of South Walton area. Look at garrettrealty.com

Lest there be any confusion, I didn't take the pics on the south Walton web site, just sharing them. But they really are fantastic, aren't they?

GoTravel, come on down.

mah1980, there are probably a lot of bargains to be had right now. The panhandle market was in orbit for the past few years then went flat last summer. We have done quite a bit of buying, selling and building from St. George Island to Destin and did well but now we are having to "suck it up". Selling is very slow so if you are in the market for coastal property in the panhandle, now is definitely the time IMHO!

Sunshine Sue,

Prices have probably went down due to the non-stop fear of hurricanes us in the SE feel right now. People are so scared post- Ivan, Katrina, and Rita!

When we were in Seagrove we looked at quite a few For Sale booklets. The prices really weren't that bad at all.
There are a couple of new North Side properties being built along Hwy. 30 that would be great, with beach access.

One day!

BTW: Do you live in the panhandle?

Yes. Absolutely the hurricanes had a lot to do with it but I suspect it was time for a market adjustment as well. Things just could not have continued at that pace much longer. When you can almost double your money on a gulf front lot in less than a year, you know an adjustment has got to come along soon. Unfortunately, (or fortunately if you are a buyer now) a lot of people are stuck with beach property they are desperate to get rid of.

I do live in the panhandle, Tallahassee. You said you interned here. Did you go to FSU?

Yes, I went to FSU for undergrad, although I left for law school and now practice in New Orleans.

I started going to Sandestin with my family as a teenager in the Midwest. My husband and I have been going annually, although after a particularly crazy/zoolike experience at the Sandestin Hilton last May we opted for Seagrove beach instead. We couldn't have been happier with the choice and plan on finding time to go back schedule permitting this October.

Sunshinesue, the photos are wonderful . . . love the ones of the kids playing on the beach! Oh, to be able to take pictures like that, huh?!

Where is the area where cars are allowed on the beach around Ft. Walton? We go to Destin/Ft. Walton area off season, early fall usually, but not familar with a beach open to vehicles. Thanks!

These pictures are of Walton COUNTY. Ft. Walton is in Okaloosa county as is Destin. A little confusing.

The Beaches of South Walton are along highway 30A which is located between Destin and Panama City Beach, but as you can see from the pictures, it is a world away from either of those places.

http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/

To drive on the beach you must be a full time resident of Walton county, have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and purchase a permit. There are designated areas for driving and you can't drive after 10:00 pm. Full time residents can also purchase permits to take their dogs on the beach.

mah1980, October is, hands down, my favorite time at the beach. The crowds are gone, the air is cooler and the water is still warm. Perfect!

Oh, also BayouGal, in some of the pictures you can see the silhoutte of tall buildings in the background. That is Destin.

Just to add, it is not just fear of hurricanes that is contributing to a real estate market correction in Fl, it is also the (realistic) fear of skyrocketing insurance rates.

Fear of skyrocketing insurance? How about the fact that insurance companies are pulling out of coastal areas like crazy.

Our coast insurance skyrocketed for sure.