We are seniors in our late 70's and are thinking about spending the winter in the Panhandle Jan-March to get out of the MN winter. I know it's warmer further south but love the thought of experiencing the Emerald Coast and the beautiful waters. Looking for recommendations as to the best towns to consider as we want to be overlooking those beautiful Emerald waters. TIA for all you recommendations and why you think this is the place we should go.

I would stay on Pensacola Beach. Beautiful white sand, national seashore areas, and plenty of restaurants and shops. Nearby Pensacola has a great downtown area that is very historic and newly revitalized. The Naval Museum at the base is not to be missed.

Honestly, anything between Orange Beach, AL (about an hour west of Pensacola) over to Mexico Beach, FL (about 3 hours east) will have what you are looking for. Panama City Beach has a LOT of condos and high rises - which may or may not be what you are looking for. There's a section along 30A between Seaside and Rosemary Beach that is very high end, relatively new "neighborhood" developments. Don't look at that section and get startled by the prices. I really like east of Mexico Beach to Apalachicola but due to the peninsula it's more bay than beach, unless you go out onto Cape San Blas.

That's a LOT of territory to look at, but all of it will have what you describe. The closer you get to Apalach, the more "Old Florida" it feels.

Temps will be plenty warm enough. Use the Accuweather website to check monthly temps (by day) but March was in the 70s and 80s every day except about 4. Cold fronts DO come through.