From the white sands of Destin, Florida

We arrived here at the Destin/Ft. Walton Elks Lodge yesterday mid-afternoon, and since it was past lunch time we decided to look for some good seafood. We went to the visitors center, which conveniently was located across the street from the Elks Lodge. We got the scoop on all to see, where to shop, and of course, where to find some good local seafood.

We found our way just down the way to a great local place called 'The Hightide'. We had some oysters on the half-shell, seafood fondue, a crab soup, and some Gumbo. Simply put, it was very good and quite filling for both of us.

We went to 'The Wharf' and the 'Gulfarium' and found those particular venues to be interesting and fun.
Today (Friday) we took a drive down to Panama City Beach and a little further south to Mexico Beach. Panama City Beach was nice and had clean beaches and with a lot of condos along the shoreline. Mexico Beach was more rustic, older and not as developed (especially with the condos) than the beaches further north.
We had lunch at Toucan's in Mexico Beach. It was very 'tropical', rustic and quaint by design and the seafood was quite good also.
It was a nice drive with a good deal of undeveloped pine land between the towns, and in our for-what-its-worth opinion, we prefer the area where we are at - the Destin & Ft. Walton area, where the beaches are very pretty and the places to see and do are numerous as well.
I mean we even have a "Fudpuckers" here. No, that was not a typo, it was not a "Fudruckers", but rather a very bright, gaudy, 'hip' place called "Fudpuckers". I will try to include a picture of it next time around.
And of course, this area being on the "snow-bird" and 'tourist route', if you will, there is the large Preferred Outlets (not sure how many outlet stores they have in this one, but it is quite big). So there seems to be no shortage of shopping for this area too.

So this weekend we will do some sightseeing around the area, but with our football games scheduled on Saturday afternoon between the #1 Florida Gators and the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide. I love to see the Gators quarterback Tim Tebow play, as he is a real play maker that can pass, hand-off and run himself. It should be a good game, and I think a fairly close one at that, but hopefully with the Florida Gators taking the win home.
Back in Gulf Shores there were cars all over with the red with white 'A' flags on their cars. Whereas over here, there are a ton of cars all over with the blue and orange gator flags on their cars. They do take their football pretty darn serious down this way.

Our weather has not been too bad, but it is somewhat colder than we like. Yesterday afternoon it was cloudy and some light wind out of the north and the temp was dropping. This morning we woke to temps in the high 30's and the high for today was 50F here and partly cloudy/sunny. Tomorrow is supposed to be about the same.

Marilyn and I have looked at each other and said emphatically, that we are heading south and fast (next week). So we will be heading down into south Florida and probably won't put out the anchor until the temp reaches at least 75F and with the nights about 50F is acceptable.
I think some of that cold (sans the snow part) that hit Houston today, must have brushed down over this way in the Florida Panhandle.
But that is alright, it will be warmer in south Florida I am sure. And if not, then you can bet that it will be warm come July here. But then too, I think we will past on that and be in the cooler climes of Dakota/Montana at that time, thank you very much.
All is well here - Marilyn, Kalua, Bailey and moi'.