We always leave for So.Wal the night before we are scheduled to check in - so that we have a full day in Fl. We will head out of our way to visit spots we might not normally drive to once we get there - Mobile, Pensacola, Pananma City, etc. Appalachicola area we have found to be a great spot to look for shells (hope it is still alright to look for shells) and to see dolphins. Went into a nice little spot for breakfast the last time, across the street near the public beach. (This past June, the bridge at Pensacola/Navarre was closed - don't think there was a sign - so we had to head back around. Had a nice outdoor meal in Navarre near the bridge - across the street.)
We're not scheduled to go back until June 2009, but I think I need to head down there for a week after Xmas. We are slowly transforming the interior of our house from a northern/burgundy/evergreen interior with rugs to wood floors, yellow walls, white trim, white curtains, blue and peach accessories. We can close the curtains and pretend the beach is across the street. Sad