BEACH WEEKEND MEMORIES, PAST AND PRESENT

SUNRISE

MOON AND "THE MORNING STAR" VENUS

Jim and I just returned from a weekend getaway at Panama City Beach, Fl. I want to share with you some of my favorite places to shop and how we love to live while we vacation at the beach. I call ahead and book one of our favorite condos, or if we stay a full week, a house. The stretch from Panama City to San Destin and Destin on to Ft. Walton Beach is an amazing place to vacation. It has just about everything you would want if you are looking for a beach vacation. The Gulf Coast was my family's summer vacation destination most summers. I have childhood memories from Gulf Shores, Al to Panama City Beach, Fl. Jim and I started taking our son Jay there on vacations while he was young, and he vacationed there with friends during his college years.  Jay and his wife and their two year old son make their home in Panama City. Lucky little boy, growing up at the beach!
In the northwest Panhandle you'll find route 30-A, a beautiful scenic drive off the beaten path of busy Highway 98. The gulf coast is know for its white sandy beaches, sea-oat covered dunes, fresh and salt water lakes, inlets, wetlands and marshes. Here is where you'll find small town Florida of days gone by, remembered from my childhood vacations with my mom, dad and sister. Highway 98 stretches alone the gulf coast with Panama City Beach being a popular destination for spring break for the college crowd, and families during the summer months. It has your high rise condos, beach shops and is your classic beach town USA.
The towns of Highway 30-A are not what you might expect, all different. The architecture of Alys Beach is something you might see while visiting towns on the Mediterranean, all white, think of The Greek Isles. Carillon Beach has Courtyards, pedestrian pathways, and has a European feel. The town of Seaside gives you a feel of old Florida with the painted wood houses and metal roofs, pathways for walking to the local food market where everyone has a bike, children play and walk to the beach, and its like a time machine back to my childhood.
I really enjoy shopping, maybe I should rephrase  that, "looking" a lot while on vacation. Destin has a huge outlet mall with designer brands, and of course all the local beach shops for all the souvenirs your children will want to bring home. Its also know for a wonderful place to go antiquing. One of my favorites to find almost anything your searching for is Smith's Antique's. Located on Highway 98 in Destin. They have rave revues in Veranda magazine.
Hope you get an idea of  my beach getaway with my pictures.

~Emily

I'M AN EARLY MORNING GIRL, THIS IS MY REWARD

TABLE SET FOR BREAKFAST

 I COULD GET USE TO THIS

THE TOWN OF SEASIDE

ALYS BEACH

CARILLON BEACH

PIER PARK IN PANAMA CITY BEACH

A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS WITH SO MANY WAYS TO ENTERTAIN THEM

A WALK ON THE BEACH

MY FAVORITE ANTIQUE SHOP IN DESTIN

NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE, LOVE QUIMPER BUT I LEFT IT THERE

NEW PILLOWS, UMMM, WHERE WOULD I USE THEM

A BEAUTIFUL NEW FRENCH HUTCH, NOT TODAY

 I SURE DON'T NEED TO START A NEW COLLECTION

SWEET BABY CLOTHES

  

THIS I HAD A HARD TIME PASSING UP

AND THIS

 

I LOVE THIS CHANDELIER PILLOW SACK

I LOVE THIS SINCE I AM A SOUTHERN GIRL 

LOVE THIS FRAMED POSTER

LOVE THE BELLA NOTTE LINENS

Well, I loved it all and I'll quote Jack Nicholson from a favorite movie of mine, Terms of Endearment "I almost made a clean getaway"