Living on 30A

[miaandsashasmom]

Hi, we live in Dallas, Texas, and are considering relocating, somewhere. We're not quite sure where. Anyway, we bought a lot in Cassine Village last summer and are considering building and living there permanently. We have two girls, ages 4 and 2. I'm wondering if anyone here has small children and has made Sowal their permanent home, and if so, could you share some pros and cons? Does anyone have their children at the montessori school in Rosemary Beach? If so, please share your experience.

Also, my husband travels a lot for work, so there must be an accesible airport nearby. What have your experiences been flying in and out of Sowal? He travels mostly to California and Vermont.

Thanks for any input provided - we'd love all of the information we could get!

 

[scooterbug44]

No kids, but I do fly quite a bit!

I typically do not have any major problems finding flights flying out of Pensacola and Ft. Walton and connecting through Memphis, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Charlotte or Chicago, but it is definitely more $ as you can't get to many locations with fewer than 2 flights due to the regional - hub - regional way they do flights.

Both the Pensacola and Ft. Walton airports are nice smaller regional airports that I enjoy and are continuing to get more flight options.

The Memphis airport is rapidly deteriorating infrastructure and delaywise IMO so I am avoiding it whenever possible and I will drive to Atlanta before trying to catch a Delta connection from FL to there.

30-A to Pensacola is 1.5 to 2 hrs, to VPS is 1-1.5, but traffic on 331 and 98 can severely change that number during the season.

 

[ASH]

I still bounce through Memphis more than Atlanta. I'm usually heading to MPLS or Miami.I am OK with the Memphis hub, althoug it never fails that I land at the terminal the furthest away from my connection nearly every time.
Flying out of FL to Minneapolis makes good connection times. Coming back, I usually look like O.J. running through the airport trying to hit the connection.

If there is even a hint of weather, make up your mind not to get bent out of shape when you get delayed. I have had good luck over the last two years. But I can also tell you that my wife spent the night once in Memphis sleeping on her luggage!!

 

[TreeFrog]

I fly all over the country.

The Panama City airport is closer to central and eastern 30A than Fort Walton, and has most of the same NWA connections through Memphis and Delta connections through Atlanta. But it frequently costs more and sells out during spring break and other busy seasons.

To go to the west coast, it's typically Fort Walton on AA through Dallas-Fort Worth.

I haven't had to resort to driving to Pensacola. It's 2 hours from my house (which is less than a mile from your lot). That may be OK for some folks, but not for me.

The 4 things about flying from here are:
1-No direct flights, unless you're going to one of the few connecting hubs our airports serve - Memphis, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Chicago.
2-Fares are higher.
3-Going to smaller destinations may mean 3 flights: Panhandle to First Hub to Second Hub to Destination.
4-Small commuter planes sell out in busy tourism season.

I used to live in Memphis. I thought the thing I would miss the most about flying from there was the direct flights. But what I really miss more is that the Memphis airport was only 6 miles from my house. That's just a mile further than the drive to 98 from my house.

Can't speak to your kid and school questions. The two boys that live across the street from me are having a blast here, though.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I read recently that VPS - Ft Walton is now offering non-stop to Charlotte as well; Pensacola already does.

 

[beachmouse]

Also, since all the area airports are close to big puddles of water, you can get a fair number of fog-related delays during winter months when the water is warmer than the air.

On the bright side, the small airports usually have short security lines, and I've never had a problem going out of VPS and showing up 45 minutes before takeoff.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Also, since all the area airports are close to big puddles of water, you can get a fair number of fog-related delays during winter months when the water is warmer than the air.

On the bright side, the small airports usually have short security lines, and I've never had a problem going out of VPS and showing up 45 minutes before takeoff.

So true and I love our small airports. After the holidays I flew back from Vancouver into Pensacola. Had left the car at the airport (in a special holiday parking lot they had set up at a really low price). My plane was on time, my baggage arrived quickly and totally, I walked out of the terminal, the shuttle bus driver was waiting for me, he drove me right to my car, helped with the bags...all for free. I gave him a nice tip What's not to love about that.

 

[Matt J]

Also, since all the area airports are close to big puddles of water, you can get a fair number of fog-related delays during winter months when the water is warmer than the air.

On the bright side, the small airports usually have short security lines, and I've never had a problem going out of VPS and showing up 45 minutes before takeoff.

That's nothing until the airplane you are on at VPS is literally told to get off the runway and your suddenly barreling off the runway into the grass so the airforce can take off.

 

[ShallowsNole]

That's nothing until the airplane you are on at VPS is literally told to get off the runway and your suddenly barreling off the runway into the grass so the airforce can take off.

I can picture this.

 

[supermom262]

Hi! We relocated from Michigan 5 years ago. My son who is now 8, went to the Montessori school for Kindergarten and 1st grade. We were very happy there. My daughter now 13, went there for 5th grade. She is now at Seaside Neighborhood School.

What I have found here is that there is a lot of parent involvement, regardless of what school you choose. Most of my friendships have been made through being involved in the schools and on here!

Good luck!