This was our first month long stay in one location. Prior to this month, our pattern was to stay in each location for a week and then drive about 150-200 miles to the next location. The month stay has been great! We have done some sightseeing, but we have mainly just relaxed, read books, worked around the camper, and have watched the sunsets from either the Surf Hut or from our beach chairs near the surf.
Florida in the winter creates a different situation. Campgrounds get booked up with the snowbirds migrating south. Best to book longer stays with reservations well in the future. In the spring, we will be back to the week stays and many travel days.
Destin was one the places that we wanted to stay to check it out for potential retirement homes. I think that it could certainly fit the bill for our requirements. The downside is that it gets very busy with tourists during the summer and for holidays. We experienced the pilgrim influx during the Thanksgiving week. Other than the holiday the town has been quite empty.
This last week has been very relaxing. Usually a 3-mile walk in the morning along the nearby gulf boardwalk on Miramar Beach. Back at the camper by 11:00am and then some lunch. We did work in a pedicure this week into the busy schedule.
On Sunday, we attended church at the Destin Safe Harbor Presbyterian. Some great people. Very welcoming. A PCA church with solid preaching.
On Tuesday, we walked the Destin Harborwalk looking at their Christmas decorations. Since it was after the crowds had left after Thanksgiving, the area was almost empty.
After the Harborwalk we drove a couple of blocks over to the Destin Brewery to sample their local brews. They have just been in business for two years and sold out of a couple of their beverages this last weekend.
On most nights there is a great horned owl that hoots for a couple of hours. Very cool. We saw him one night on top of the light pole. A huge bird. Our neighbor said that one night he was “answering” the owl and then the owl did a close fly by his head. I doubt if he teased the owl again after that close encounter.
So on this Friday morning we will go through the pack up checklist and begin the first leg of our 500 miles trip to near Merritt Island Florida. Florida is a huge state! We will split up the 500 miles over three driving days, with stops in Tallahassee and Ocala, before arriving on the Space Coast.
We missed being with our three kids at Thanksgiving, but they all got together at Bryan and Jen’s place in D.C. They did an escape room. I have not been to one of these yet, but have heard they are now a very popular activity.
More sunsets. Can you have enough? This one was while we were doing a late walk.
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Take care and God Bless.
Sounds like a great stay in Destin. I think it would to busy of a place to retire to. Maybe a less busy nearby town. Keep looking. You will find the right spot.
Hope your drive further south is safe and uneventful. Glad you were able to relax for a month after all the “adventures” you have had. Be safe and keep up the posts. They are fun to read
Lorna, Destin was the perfect location to spend a month with many long walks on the beach. Thanks for following along!
Randy, Where you are/were staying in Destin is a 15 minute walk from my mother-in-laws place in Sea Scape.
That is so cool! We would walk from the Geronimo RV Resort every day down the beach boardwalk past Sea Scape and down to the Whale’s Tail or the coffee shop. That was a nice 3 mile round trip walk. The sailboat is still beached there near Sea Scape and provide much discussion from the beach folks. Hope all is going well at the Corp office.