Call Me Crazy But.......

The most memorable trips to me are the ones where I can experience an emotional attachment. The centerpiece of my recent trip to Hawaii was to visit Pearl Harbor and stand on the memorial deck of the Arizona . Extraordinarily moving. Right adjacent to the AZ Memorial was the the USS Missouri, on whose deck the surrender of the Japanese Empire took place. One memorial represented the beginning of the war on Facism and the brutality of war and the other represented the Hope and Dreams of a new era. The beaches were nice and the road to Hana was beautiful but they took a backseat to Pearl.
When I visited Germany, the most important activity was to visit Dachau. In Russia ( Which was the most memorable trip I ever took....1987 ) I experienced my ancesteral roots. Italy......the incredible food !! London....the history. Paris....the art.
But like others have said before, South Walton has a special place in my heart. It is great to have a place to go that is "home" and yet an exciting adventure everty time you visit. Always new and invigorating yet at the same time familiar and comfy.

Goofer, that's beautifully put. I work on pretty well the same wavelength in regard to travel. Pretty is pretty, but pretty emotional is better. I've seen beaches lovlier than SoWal's. But when I'm at my beach, I see in my mind's eye my daughter at 6 months crawling in the sand with watery drops of the Gulf dripping from her lashes...no beach in Bali or Portofino can match that in terms of emotional attachment for me.

Call me crazy too.

As a native of Walton County I have enjoyed this area off and on all of my life. I have traveled and lived a lot of places...I love to experience whatever is around the next bend, but this has always been home.

My two cents: there is something remarkable about the light here in So Walton..you find it in the south of France as well. It is, IMO, the foundation of the "magic" that permeates everything. We have allowed too much development -- and it has adversely affected the environment, however, the light continues.

I am thankful every day that my grandparents had the courage to settle here, the legacy they left to us is something no one can understand unless they have spent some time in this special place. It's great to read so many of you love it as well.

As a native of Walton County I have enjoyed this area off and on all of my life. I have traveled and lived a lot of places...I love to experience whatever is around the next bend, but this has always been home.

My two cents: there is something remarkable about the light here in So Walton..you find it in the south of France as well. It is, IMO, the foundation of the "magic" that permeates everything. We have allowed too much development -- and it has adversely affected the environment, however, the light continues.

I am thankful every day that my grandparents had the courage to settle here, the legacy they left to us is something no one can understand unless they have spent some time in this special place. It's great to read so many of you love it as well.

I agree with you about the magic of the place, and it could be the light. When we owned a beach house elsewhere on the Gulf, we would sleep in the place and spend our days driving to SoWal just to spend a few hours there. Unless we get our SoWal "fix" every week or two we're not very happy.:idontno:

That's so interesting goodwitch. Because the very very first day we were in SoWal, driving around looking at property (of course 😀 ) we were in Rosemary Beach and I kept commenting on the intensity of the light reflecting off the homes and buildings. Neither my husband nor the agent had any idea what I was talking about, but it was so striking to me and I kept noticing it as we were driving around. In fact, looking back, it was one of the things that pulled me in!

Must have gotten used to it, because I haven't thought of that moment very often since. But I think you are absolutely right.

With that in mind, I can't wait to see Alys Beach completed.

next time you are here and feeling really, really good..stop for a minute and pay attention to the way the light is falling on the water, the sand, the buildings, or the faces of the people..It is especially noticeable over the pine trees by Western Lake that Kurt has used as the logo for the message board--when I was in high school that was one of our favorite places for a sunset party...and if you get into the Retreat neighborhood in the Fall at sunset, pay attention to the softness of the light and try to imagine dunes where the houses are now.....