florida in february
 

Two friends and I have rented a condo in Panama City Beach for February. We are laid back, retired and love exploring and just walking the beaches and eating fresh seafood. I've heard there is a natural park near there. Has anyone been there?

Last year I went to Galveston and San Antonio. You guys came up with such useful information. I really appreciated it. Especially Boudros in San Antonio.

Thanks in advance for any info you can give me

Take a day trip to the Forgotten Coast! Take 98 east to Port st Joe and 30A to 30E into Cape San Blas, you can go to Salinas Park and explore the beautiful beach, you can drive to the end of the Cape (18miles) to St Joseph State Park OR you can take 30A into Indian Pass, on the left hand side of the road,stop at the Indian Pass Raw Bar. It is a 1929 converted gas station with plastic tables and chairs. Help yourself to beer and wine in the coolers along the wall, have a seat and order the best oysters ever!!If you dont like oysters, the shrimp with crab is also great.

After lunch, and if you have a cell phone, call 850-229-1065 (sometimes they only run once a day)and see if there is a boat to St Vincent Wildlife Refuge, if so, take to street directly across from the Raw Bar to the end and wait at the General Store. You can explore the island for a couple hours and return to the General Store for $10.00 round trip.

On your way back to Panama City, if hungary, stop in Mexico Beach at Toucans. It's on the beach and wonderfull food, especially oysters rockefeller! yummmmmm

We are staying in Cape San Blas for two months and it is beautifull and isolated with great beaches in the whole area to walk.

Have fun!

Thanks CD. It sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

If you find any others in your travels, would appreciate hearing about them.

Canada
If you're interested in riding horses on the beach, you can do it at Salinas Park. You have to call first at 850-899-ride and they will bring the horses to you. It is walk only with experienced guides and cost $50.00 for an hour.

Canada,

Agree with everything cd has said. I own a house on Cape San Blas and, believe me this is a part of Florida that is disappearing in a hurry. Go and enjoy. ( Ask Starrs about the Raw Bar!)

But don't forget to go west as well and explore the Beaches of South Walton. Check our Seaside, where the Jim Carey movie, The Truman Show was filmed. Here are some websites about the 30A area:

A bicycle path runs the entire length of highway 30A. Drive over and rent bikes.
http://www.discover30a.com/tour/tour.html

http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/

http://www.seasidefl.com/

http://www.rosemarybeach.com/

http://www.graytonbeach.com/
Grayton Beach is a FL classic. Go and have lunch or dinner at the Red Bar.

Check out the Destin forum on Trip Advisor. Do a search for 30A or South Walton.

Also, go over the Destin for a day. Check out the harbor. Lots to do there. Several state parks in the Destin/South Walton area.

Have a great time!

Thanks Sunshinesue, This exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.
I have a friend who has been to Destin and that was definitely on my list of things to see.

The websites are great. I wish I could still ride horses, that would be a lovely way to spend some time, riding on the beach, but alas my riding days are over. The bike riding trails look good though.

How about north and east of Panama City. Any suggestions? We have a whole month. Our original reason for coming down here was to get out of the cold we're experiencing this year. We're not ones to just lay around a pool. We like to find out as much as we can about where we are staying. When I started researching the area, I realized we had struck a gold mine.

Last year. I am glad we explored as much as we did as I understand the Bolivar peninsula where we stayed,and a major part of Galveston got hit extremely hard by the hurricane. I'm a photographer and I was able to capture the town and beaches in all their beauty.

I hope to do the same this year. Not the condos and crowded part of the beaches (staying there is only a means to an end). but all the glorious places you are describing.

I can hardly wait to tast the oysters.

Keep the suggestions coming. I truly appreciate all the advice.

canada
The suggestions I gave is an hour east of Panama City.

Thanks cc.

Hey, Try going on a eco tour in the area. It is such a rewarding experience getting out on the water. Find a good Captain and just relax and take in the scenery. Real cool!

Good idea USOBE! This is definitely going on my list.

I was talking to a friend today who mentioned Destin has an awesome market for fresh fish and whole foods. Does anyone know anything about that. She couldn't remember the name, just that it was somewhere close to Walmart.