Snowbird alert!

You are so lucky! Have lots of fun!!

Have a wonderful time! I'm so jealous! Please give us reports. 😀

Have a wonderful time! I'm so jealous! Please give us reports. 😀

Yes Whitesands...we hope you will have computer access and can keep us up to date on all things SoWal!!! Have a great trip!

I hope to be a snowbird, too, someday but right now can only visit wonderful SoWal every few months (we have two young children still and am in no hurry for them to grow up too fast). The longest I've ever spent in SoWal in one period has been a week, and that's definitely not long enough! Lucky you and have a great time!

Thank you everyone. Sueshore, I will post "reports" and try to keep up to date on our goings on.

I'm very much looking forward to cooking some of the wonderful seafood available, and to going to some of the fabulous restaurants I've read about on this Board. I know some of them may be closed, but at least, for those that are closed, we'll know where they are and how great they are from those of you who have recommended them and given reviews. Thank you all for that.

We also want to see some of the wonderful places I've read about here on the Board. We just kind of felt our way around earlier this year when we were down and drove along I10 to New Orleans and back...it was so wonderful.

Paula, I hear you about not wanting your children to grow up too fast...one day, you'll be a "snowbird" too, but until then, there's lots and lots to experience and enjoy at home too with those children, I know.

Whitesands: Thanks for the kind reinforcement for not wanting the kids to grow up too fast. Right now, we just keep bringing the kids to the cottage in SoWal so that we build fine memories and so that they'll want to keep coming back to visit us there. Ideally, they'll call our SoWal place "home" in the future. So far, so good....

I hope to be a snowbird, too, someday but right now can only visit wonderful SoWal every few months (we have two young children still and am in no hurry for them to grow up too fast). The longest I've ever spent in SoWal in one period has been a week, and that's definitely not long enough! Lucky you and have a great time!

Paula...If someone had told me that I would own a place in SoWal when I was raising my kiddos...man, it sure would have made those stressful days a bit easier!! I had no idea we would be so lucky and that when my empty nest came, I would be able to escape for weeks at a time! You have the right idea...enjoy when you can, make tons of great memories and then ONE day it will be a lovely nest for YOU!

Well, I'm so excited to be leaving for the beach in a couple of weeks. We're going to be there for a couple of months and we are really looking forward to it. We were there for the first time earlier this year (Jan!) and fell in love. Such a gorgeous place...can't wait!!! And, for the record, we're no "blue-hairs"...well, not that we let show, that is :funn:

Sound like fun but I dont like snow to much (TO COLD) 😀

Paula...If someone had told me that I would own a place in SoWal when I was raising my kiddos...man, it sure would have made those stressful days a bit easier!! I had no idea we would be so lucky and that when my empty nest came, I would be able to escape for weeks at a time! You have the right idea...enjoy when you can, make tons of great memories and then ONE day it will be a lovely nest for YOU!

I "escape" to SoWal a few time a year for rest and relaxation alone (and sometimes with friends, sometimes with the whole family, and sometimes just with the kids), so our cottage serves many wonderful purposes. I will miss the kids terribly when the day comes when they move away (only 4.5 years for one child and 6.5 for the other before they go off to college -- yikes). I used to say that I'd be dressed in black holding onto their ankles sobbing "my baby, my baby" while they walked to the car to head off to college (this is where my Italian background may make me a tad too dramatic...) . But now I have a different picture of the future -- as soon as they go, I'll have a bit of a cry and then head right down SoWal for a little beach perspective, fine dining, etc. It will take a bit of the sting out of the kids moving out on their own.

I "escape" to SoWal a few time a year for rest and relaxation alone (and sometimes with friends, sometimes with the whole family, and sometimes just with the kids), so our cottage serves many wonderful purposes. I will miss the kids terribly when the day comes when they move away (only 4.5 years for one child and 6.5 for the other before they go off to college -- yikes). I used to say that I'd be dressed in black holding onto their ankles sobbing "my baby, my baby" while they walked to the car to head off to college (this is where my Italian background may make me a tad too dramatic...) . But now I have a different picture of the future -- as soon as they go, I'll have a bit of a cry and then head right down SoWal for a little beach perspective, fine dining, etc. It will take a bit of the sting out of the kids moving out on their own.

Boy, what a great perspective, Paula! I hadn't quite tho't about it your way, but now I will. My son will be leaving for college in 3.5 years and it's already making me sick to even think about it. BUT, now I will start planning a future at the beach!

Whitesands: Thanks for the kind reinforcement for not wanting the kids to grow up too fast. Right now, we just keep bringing the kids to the cottage in SoWal so that we build fine memories and so that they'll want to keep coming back to visit us there. Ideally, they'll call our SoWal place "home" in the future. So far, so good....

You'll be successful, Paula. SoWal is such a beautiful place. How could you not build lots of wonderful memories with and for your children? We didn't do much travelling when our son (only child) was at home with us (he's 34 now)...just the odd trip to the New England area, the California coast, and Disney World...that kind of thing. After our first experience along 30A earlier this year, we raved to anyone who would listen to our stores about this gorgeous place. We even offered to fly our son and daughter-in-law and two little grandsons to visit with us at the beach in Jan or Feb (even offered a rental car). We received a very kind, very eloquent refusal...accompanied by an explanation that they were trying to decide among a week to Paris, Lisbon or Madrid this winter. They don't know what they're missing...even in the winter time. I hope one day they'll have an opportunity to see SoWal...we'll see.

You're fortunate to have found this bit of heaven while your children are young and can develop a deep and abiding love of it...I'm sure they'll keep coming "home" to SoWal all their lives. How lovely for them...and for you!

Sound like fun but I dont like snow to much (TO COLD) 😀

We don't like the snow for too long. The beach is great!

Whitesands,
How did you discover the panhandle? Sounds as tho you were first here just last year. Now you know what a jewel the area is! It's so enjoyable to hear someone describe their new love of the area!

"You're fortunate to have found this bit of heaven while your children are young and can develop a deep and abiding love of it...I'm sure they'll keep coming "home" to SoWal all their lives. How lovely for them...and for you!"

I sure hope the kids continue to come back to SoWal for vacationing when they get older. I'm working on it by bringing them here often, inviting their friends to come with them, visiting with extended family here, and flying (expensive) rather than driving so they'll enjoy the trip itself (driving takes about 17 hours, though it's much cheaper). And, I figure when they're old enough, they may be able to stay at the cottage so they can find summer work in the area if they want to. And if they decide they'd rather be in Paris on vacation, I'll spend most of my time in SoWal and then go visit them in Paris...