Gulf Coast beach house rental?
 

My family of 4 and another family of 4 have shared rental houses on the North Carolina shore (Hattaras, Emerald Isle) for a number of years. I'd like a change of scene this year. I've heard that the Gulf coast, esp the Florida Panhandle, has quite nice beaches and clean water. Any recommendations for a place with beach-front rental houses? The name and website of a rental agent would be great too.

Living in New Orleans, only a 3 hour drive to the west coast of Fla., I travel there 3-4 times a year. I consider the water and beaches to be some of the finest in the world, although in late summer there are patches of seaweed. I found that the farther you travel toward Tampa, the beaches become more course and brown. As a result, I stay anywhere between Pensacola (Santa Rosa Island in particular) and Panama City. My favorite, with town distinct from the holiday resorts, is Pensacola and Santa Rosa Island. At the end of the island is a wonderful fort (Pickens) which you reach after traveling along side miles of national seashore. For accomodations in this area, try www.10kvacationrentals.com/ads/fl/pnsacola.htm or call Sandcastle Realty -- my favorite-- (904) 932-9723 or Pensacola Beach Realty (800) 874-9243. There are plenty of large houses on the east side of the island, many of which are new construction. Otherwise, Destin, Fla is also beautiful, although more of a resort town. I understand the Seaside development is worth a try.

Living in New Orleans, only a 3 hour drive to the west coast of Fla., I travel there 3-4 times a year. I consider the water and beaches to be some of the finest in the world, although in late summer there are patches of seaweed. I found that the farther you travel toward Tampa, the beaches become more course and brown. As a result, I stay anywhere between Pensacola (Santa Rosa Island in particular) and Panama City. My favorite, with town distinct from the holiday resorts, is Pensacola and Santa Rosa Island. At the end of the island is a wonderful fort (Pickens) which you reach after traveling along side miles of national seashore. For accomodations in this area, try www.10kvacationrentals.com/ads/fl/pnsacola.htm or call Sandcastle Realty -- my favorite-- (904) 932-9723 or Pensacola Beach Realty (800) 874-9243. There are plenty of large houses on the east side of the island, many of which are new construction. Otherwise, Destin, Fla is also beautiful, although more of a resort town. I understand the Seaside development is worth a try.

Living in New Orleans, only a 3 hour drive to the west coast of Fla., I travel there 3-4 times a year. I consider the water and beaches to be some of the finest in the world, although in late summer there are patches of seaweed. I found that the farther you travel toward Tampa, the beaches become more course and brown. As a result, I stay anywhere between Pensacola (Santa Rosa Island in particular) and Panama City. My favorite, with town distinct from the holiday resorts, is Pensacola and Santa Rosa Island. At the end of the island is a wonderful fort (Pickens) which you reach after traveling along side miles of national seashore. For accomodations in this area, try www.10kvacationrentals.com/ads/fl/pnsacola.htm or call Sandcastle Realty -- my favorite-- (904) 932-9723 or Pensacola Beach Realty (800) 874-9243. There are plenty of large houses on the east side of the island, many of which are new construction. Otherwise, Destin, Fla is also beautiful, although more of a resort town. I understand the Seaside development is worth a try.

My husband and I have stayed in the following Florida Panhandle areas: Destin, Panama City Beach, and Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola. Our favorite beaches by far are those on Santa Rosa Island, on the west end near Fort Pickens Park. The beaches are pure white, fine sand, and are wide with grassy dunes. There is a serious effort to protect the dunes and it is having a marvelous effect on the quality of the beaches. There are many lovely new beachfront homes and condos on Santa Rosa. We did have one unpleasant situation with JME Realty on Santa Rosa, rented a condo from them which was not maintained well at all. I would suggest you consider another realty management company if you decide on Santa Rosa Island or the Pensacola area. A plus to staying on Santa Rosa is you're very close to Pensacola NAS, which has the best Naval Air Museums in the world (if you're into that stuff... my husband, retired Navy, is and I enjoy it too... we go there every time we visit the area because the exhibits always change). You're also within an hour of Mobile Bay, which has the USS Alabama and several other attractions in the Mobile, Alabama area. Fort Pickens is an extremely interesting restoration of a fort which has been in operation since the Civil war, through WWII. Beaches within the Fort Pickens Park are very nice, and there are a few nature trails there as well as picnic areas.

Have fun!

Abbott Realty in Destin rents alot of houses in the Destin, Seagrove and Grayton Beach areas of Fl. Grayton was voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. It is very quiet and "old Florida". Their web site is www.abbott-resorts.com Order a catalog to see all the properties. Also, Kaiser Realty and Meyer Realty in Gulf Shores, Al rent a lot of places in that area. Gulf Shores is about 1 hour west of Destin and is also beautiful. It is a little more touristy, but still very nice beaches and great for kids. For two families to rent together (a duplex or something with 3 - 4 bedrooms each and two kitchens... expect to pay in the 1500-2500 range per family for the week in the summer. Much less in spring or fall, when the Gulf Coast is still very warm and wonderful and much less crowded.