Beach Comber
1,853 views
My family and I just returned from Seagrove today after a wonderful week at the beach. I had to post my thoughts from the past week. . .

The beach was gorgeous! We were in Seagrove last year one week after a tropical storm, and the beaches were in bad shape. I was thrilled to see how different they looked this year. Beautiful white sand. The water was perfect - and clear and calm.

We saw dolphins five out of seven mornings. That always thrills me. But I have to ask - year after year, I always notice that the dolphins swim towards the East. I've never seen them traveling west. Is this just a coincidence, or is there reasoning behind it?

Yesterday morning - we had our biggest thrill yet. We saw a turtle! Got it on video as well as it stuck it's head up out of the water. I'm assuming it is not often that you get to witness that. He was in very shallow water.

And the SHELLS! This was our 6th visit to Sowal. And I love the area. But I've never found shells until this year (we were told it was due to the storm that hit down the coast last week). I found beautiful shells, which was a delight.

We discovered Yianni's Seagrove Grill (thanks to advice from this website) and the food there was wondeful. We'll definitely make it a regular stop.

We went to Dear Lake STate Park (another first). What a wonderful place to visit! The beach was deserted - it was like having our own private piece of the beach.

But finally, the only negative comment I have to post . . . I was so disappointed with the trash on the beach and around EAstern Lake. Cans and bottles and cigarette butts, a dog collar, chip bags, you name it - I saw it. It sickened me to see such a total disregard by individuals for nature.

But again - let me say what a wonderful area SoWal is. It is such a great place to vacation. I'm already counting down to next June! :clap_1:

Replies

14
dbuck avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
Glad you had a grayt time.:clap_1:
Ocean Lover avatar
bean
#3
Thanks for the report!! I love to hear of others experiences and it makes me feel like I've been there. That is so awesome that you saw a turtle and dolphins almost every day! I have no idea why they swim that direction but I'm sure someone here might know. SJ???
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#4
Thanks for the report!! I love to hear of others experiences and it makes me feel like I've been there. That is so awesome that you saw a turtle and dolphins almost every day! I have no idea why they swim that direction but I'm sure someone here might know. SJ???
The Dolphin travel the world swimming only to the east. :floor:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#5
The Dolphin travel the world swimming only to the east. :floor:

They read that book about going to Disney World and beating the crowds by always going to the east!

What a great beach blog...I really love hearing about y'alls trips!!! :clap_1:
Beach Fanatic
#6
Googled it, learned a lot of interesting things about our Dolphin friends, but nothing was mentioned about swimming east.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the water moving from east to west in this area???
kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#7
Great trip report..can't wait to write mine.

I have seen the dolphins swimming both east and west...I think it depends on what kind of mood they are in. Let's see "should we visit the Redneck Riveria today, or perhaps the big city of Destin". :biggrin:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#8
Googled it, learned a lot of interesting things about our Dolphin friends, but nothing was mentioned about swimming east.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the water moving from east to west in this area???
Sometimes the water moves from west to east. It all depends on the day, the winds, the tides, etc.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#9
Great trip report..can't wait to write mine.

I have seen the dolphins swimming both east and west...I think it depends on what kind of mood they are in. Let's see "should we visit the Redneck Riveria today, or perhaps the big city of Destin". :biggrin:

Maybe they are swimming "left" or "right" depending on their politics. Of course the determination of which way they are swimming would depend on the person watching- are you looking left or right from shore, or towards shore, etc. This all could get very complicated.
kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#10
Maybe they are swimming "left" or "right" depending on their politics. Of course the determination of which way they are swimming would depend on the person watching- are you looking left or right from shore, or towards shore, etc. This all could get very complicated.

I just alway's hope they are there to greet us when we arrive. Sometimes we are very lucky and see them as soon as we get there. We alway's say of course that they were waiting for us!
Beach ComberAuthor
#11
I love the theories you all have on the dolphins! :clap_1:

I miss the beach already (and just got home yesterday). Sigh.
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#12
Maybe they are swimming "left" or "right" depending on their politics. Of course the determination of which way they are swimming would depend on the person watching- are you looking left or right from shore, or towards shore, etc. This all could get very complicated.


:floor: Perhaps they are actually only treading water and the earth is moving around them. :biggrin:
picky
#13
We saw sea turtles two weeks ago while kayaking on the gulf. It was thrilling! Never saw them before that except in aquariums. We also are fond of Deer Lake State Park--it's where we take family photographs. Dunes like the ones you see there are few and far between these days (and don't worry, everyone, we stay off the dunes like we're supposed to ;-) ).
Beach ComberAuthor
#14
We also are fond of Deer Lake State Park--it's where we take family photographs. Dunes like the ones you see there are few and far between these days (and don't worry, everyone, we stay off the dunes like we're supposed to ;-) ).


We took our family pics at Deer Lake as well (and likewise stayed off the dunes). We'll use it as our Christmas card picture. :funn:
picky
#15
We took our family pics at Deer Lake as well (and likewise stayed off the dunes). We'll use it as our Christmas card picture. :funn:

I was thinking along the same lines, except my Northern relatives might be a little peeved to get a Christmas card with what looks like massive snow drifts but is in reality wonderful warm SoWal sand!! That would make them steam. ;-)

Checking your forum account

Please wait while we verify your forum account.