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We are in Seacrest Beach and it seems that lightening struck somewhere nearby a few minutes ago. It was so loud and close - and it triggered our fire alarms (though no fire occurred). Does anyone know where it struck? Anyone affected? Our lights and internet are still working as of 7:45 am.

I am looking for your help. I am overall happy with the rental managment company that I currently use to manage our two cottages. But, I believe they are making some changes that may make managing our rentals (especially VRBO rentals) a bit more complicated for me, so I'm interested in finding...

We'll be going. Anyone else? Checkout Women's March Panama City FL 2019 on eventseeker

After 15 years, it may be time to get our house painted. Does anyone know of a really good house painter? We want to paint our cottage a light blue (it's currently a darker brick red color) sometime this winter. Thank you.

Try blowing hot air from a hair dryer on the bite(s). I was in Sanibel a few years ago and got a lot of no seeum itchy bites. I was desperate to stop the itching, and I read online that blowing a hot hair dryer on the bites makes the sting go away. It sure did - no itching for about 6 hours...

Thanks, Teresa. Saturday at Seaside sounds like a lot of fun! There's a March for Science in Fort Walton Beach, 9:30 - 12, this Saturday. Here's the information:March For Science Fort Walton Beach

Does anyone know if there's a March for Science in SoWal or anywhere nearby this Saturday? A collective walk on the beach to show support for science that helps us protect the beaches and ocean for generations to come (not to mention the science that cures diseases...)? I'll be in SoWal over...

Woooooo hooooooo. We got our tickets to the Songwriters Festival! First time ever. We'll be Songwriters Festival newbees so does anyone have advice to make the most of the experience? So happy!

We're finally going to be in Florida in January and want to attend the Songwriter Festival. Does anyone have information about it, including when and where tickets will be sold. We want to be sure to get tickets. We're VERY excited!

I brought one of these amazing electric bug zappers that looks like a tennis racket to the beach with us in August. It works very well killing mosquitos, fruit flies, and other small bugs and will stun flies but not necessarily kill them so you have to make sure they're dead after they fall to...

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

I agree. Love those grits with quail.

Wow, that first photo looks like a face. Pretty cool.

I don't know if this works with yellow fly bites, but it's worth trying. When I was bitten by so many noseeums in Sanibel a few years ago, I searched online for a way to stop the itching. A few sites said to blow hot air from a hair blower on them. They stopped itching immediately and it...

Right now we have August 6 - end of August. Please let me know if you're still looking.

Try some of the public beaches that are in areas with good ratings but get there early. We love Grayton Beach State Park. You'll pay for parking but there are no buildings on the dunes, there are picnic tables (and i think grills), and bathrooms (and I think showers). We loved it there...

I have some guests coming to rent our cottage in June and they asked me for recommendations for a fishing charter. We are in the Seacrest area. Do you have any recommendations that I can pass onto them? If I recommend a charter, I'll want it to be a very good experience for them, of course...

Sandcastle Escapes manages our two cottage rentals. We love working with them! Great service, great people.

Another advantage of going in August if you can do it is that the rental rates change to the significantly lower fall rates around the 2nd or 3rd week in August. Quite frankly, I don't see any difference in the weather in July or August. But maybe locals do.

We've been going to the Seacrest beach area in August every year since 2003, and I haven't noticed any changes over the years. Usually pretty calm. Of course, you should stay out of the ocean if there's a storm and there's a red flag, so you'll want to rent a place with a pool for those days...

I should add that it tends to rain during many afternoons in August (sometimes for a quick 30 minutes, sometimes longer), and we nap or sit on the covered porch and read while it rains around us. We like that sort of afternoon.

We come to SoWal in August just about every year because we have rent out two and we dash down to SoWal as soon as the peak summer rental season is over, usually the 2nd or 3rd week in August. It is our favorite time of year to be there because it's quiet, everything is still open, we get the...

Wow! I'd definitely go if I was going to be in SoWal at that time. She's is a very influential researcher in psychology and I think every parent should know her research about grit (because it would help their children in life), one of the most significant predictors of success. (along with...

Hi Ohio Girl! I have noticed no difference between gold or bronze services on VRBO in terms of rankings. Right now rentals in SoWal are booming so that has helped regardless of where a listing is ranked on VRBO. I'm booked for the summer already at both cottages and spring is pretty well...

I just checked my listings on VRBO and out of 17 listings, I'm #11 and 13. Whether that's because I paid for only bronze listing (rather than silver or gold) or because I'm not using their payment system, I don't know. I used to pay for the gold (which is several hundred dollars more per...

I use VRBO for two rental cottages and was concerned about their new policy (and still am). I'm waiting and seeing how it affects our renters and me but so far I haven't had a problem (but time will tell). I only use VRBO to advertise our cottages, but I don't take any rentals through VRBO...

I went to Beau interiors today and thought it was great. I'll try Ethan Allen in Destin on Monday. I don't want furniture that will only last 10 years. I want timeless furniture that won't go out of style and holds up to the natural rhythms of everyday beach life. The kind of furniture that...

I'm looking for furniture to update our cottages a bit. Where are the best furniture places to shop in the 30A, Destin, Panama City area? I like high-quality, real wood furniture that will last a long time and hold up to rentals. Frankly, the furniture I have in them now would last another 20...

Thank you and Thank you! I may go for convenience in Seaside since we're only a few miles away from there. It should be a quick and easy process.

Thanks, Matt. I know I can do it online, but I want to be sure I'm doing it right and have all bases covered. Thanks for the referral!

Does anyone know of a very good and experienced attorney in SoWal or nearby who could create a simple LLC for my rental business (I have two small cottages that I rent out on 30A)? I'd like to get this done within the next few weeks. Thanks much.

Thanks, Teresa, and hope to see you when I'm in SoWal the last two weeks of January.

I'm looking for a fitness class or two to attend the last two weeks of January when I'll be in SoWal. Does anyone have a favorite fitness class that they go to? Is there an open gym with weights for some light weight training?

I hope to stop by the last two weeks of January and hope other SoWallers are there :)

I think if you want minimal steps to the beach you'll be looking at Inlet Beach, Grayton Beach, and the west side of 30A (e.g., Ed Walline Park /beach access area). That's where I'd go if I wanted no stairs. Maybe Gulf Place (first floor condo) in Santa Rosa Beach. Good luck and have fun on...

Fire pit is a great idea. It will be interesting to see when it will be available for people to sit around, especially in the cooler and winter months.

I can't make the first two weeks but will be in the area the last two weeks of January. OK to stop by and will the classes be at Fit Your Way in the Publix of South Walton Shopping Center on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 7:20? Would love to try out swing!

I was in Seacrest last week and noticed the flies (they nipped right through my leggings so I'll wear jeans to the beach next time) but didn't notice any symptoms from Red Tide.

Definitely, thanks for all you do!

We like being near Alys Beach. It's a peaceful place for a stroll or bike ride, and Fonville Press is a wonderful rest stop. Family friendly, too. Whether or not the architecture is your style, the attention to detail, including on the grounds, is pretty awesome. Last time we were there...

We loved the dancing water feature when we first got our place in South Walton in 2003. It only lasted a few years. The kids had so much running through the fountain. Nice memories.

Happy SoWaller anniversary, DD. Let's hope our paths cross again in person soon!

Yes, Miriam was recommended to me by my friend Rhonda in Michigan. That was my lucky day. We truly have made so many amazing memories on this little heaven on earth and are looking forward to making many many more for at least a few more generations. Kids were 8 and 10 when we bought our...

Hi Miriam: I don't know if you're still a realtor, but you helped me find our wonderful cottage at the Cottages at Camp Creek. You spend so much time with me introducing me to 30A. I was looking at places in Destin because that's all I knew about the area, and you kept saying "you belong on...

Here's the flood zone map. Some areas along 30A have less than a .2% of flooding due to rising water/storm surges. http://www.co.walton.fl.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2570

Checking a flood zone map is a very good idea. I believe there are some areas in South Walton that are not in flood zones. I don't think some of the Seacrest area is in a flood zone, and there may be other areas.

The flies seemed to come out early this year. I don't remember them being around in August/early September in the past. You can get Cactus Juice spray at Seacrest Sundries, Amazon.com, and maybe elsewhere on/near 30A for your future trips. We used it to keep the flies away when we were there...

Sadly, we didn't have a camera with us. We saw them again after we posted this morning, as did other people near us. Also saw some dolphins just about every day this week, and my daughter's boyfriend had them jump around his yolo board twice. Also saw a turtle and sting ray. The ocean has...

Good morning. We saw about five sharks swimming next to the shore this morning, as did other people in this area so I figured I'd pass it on.

By the way, I also think the larger the home that's being rented and the more people who can stay in the home at the same time, the more likely there can be problems because a large place that hosts a lot of people is more likely to be a place where renters party. Our places are 1100 square...