It was a good trip. Upgrades came through on both plane rides. The rental was lovely for ten days. The weather did warm and there was a great deal of beach walking. The Gulf was roiling most of the time we were there. The trip cost us a couple of thousand plus food, which probably came to about $70 a day since we ate out at least one meal each day. We certainly could have cut back on that. Also, even cooking it at home a couple of times, seafood is crazy expensive. We generally chose lunch as our meal out. (I will mention trip costs here and there because I know people are curious. Please don’t be offended by my talking about money.)
We were pleased to visit a different Florida location and declared the Emerald Coast a new favorite. The water and beaches are so very beautiful and definitely keep their reputation. We might scoot down to Santa Rosa next time since a lot of the better eating (and beer) were in that direction. I’ve been making trips to the Gulf since I was a young girl because a family member lived in Clearwater Beach, and it just never disappoints.
Skipper’s Seafood was a great choice for at-home meals. Outcast Seafood offers a Cajun mix in two levels of heat. Their “NOT” sauce (as in not hot sauce) still managed a secondary punch, so we had it served on the side. I found myself craving it the rest of the trip. Gonna have to look that one up.
Just a few doors down in the same strip mall is Lost Pizza. The Otis (a meat lovers delight) on thin crust is the best I’ve had. (Yes, even a little better than Vino Cappuccino’s in Wisconsin.) Of course, there was a side of ranch, which they make in house.
Two restaurants near Santa Rosa were The Perfect Pig in Seagrove Beach and at one of your suggestion, Shunk Gulley where an outdoor table was just right.
We also managed to make it to the beach restaurants of Pompano Joe’s, Surf Hut, and Whale’s Tail. Favorites in that order. Pompano Joe’s has a decent happy hour, and beware the beer prices at Whale’s Tail. On the way out of town Saturday we stopped that the AJ’s on the Bayou. Food was good. There was a live band for their Saturday Crawfish Boil brunch. Oh my goodness people were having a go! And it was interesting how the bayou vibe was more at-home Floridians than the beach scene we’d just left.
If you happen to love oysters this stretch of Florida beach won’t disappoint. I will confess, we’ve never been fans of the raw, and if you are going to fry them, well, why do that? Oh, and do stop by Winn Dixie where you can have a beer or a glass of wine while you shop.
It might be a while before we make it back. The Florida trip January 2024 will likely be Walt Disney World. The oldest works in Imagineering and he’s anxious to show us his contributions to the new Moana ride. We are still knee deep in messing up our either 4 our 6 week trip to Europe mid-March. And now it looks like we’ll be working to plan 8 weeks around the world next October and November.
Did I mention that we like to travel?
I am still obligated to tell you about Italy last September. I think I’m closer to being able to explain it, so let’s start this Thursday. That’s my plan: Mondays and Thursdays. If I’m going to do this, it’s time to become a little more consistent.
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