North Florida Beaches About This Page:

[statelady01]

Anyone ever rent a condo in Penscaola or other North Florida Beach areas?? After all the planning and saving we have done for our Sept venture to the World, DH says in June 03 he wants a no fuss, low key Florida vacation- so we both agreed on a condo on or near Pcola Beach. If anyone out there has any recommendations I sure would love to hear them!

[TinkerAnn]

We go to the area about once a year and we have been all over the area. Pensicola, Destin, Panama City Beach......but our all time favorite is Gulf Shores, AL. It is actually just about 23 miles west of Pensicola and for us it is just a better area especially that time of year.

This is what we do. We rent a beach house right on the ocean (beach front or gulf front). It is just wonderful because you are already there. We can be on the deck while our kids are right in front of us less that 150 feet away. It is just awesome and so much better than having to tote your stuff from your hotel room or condo or house to the beach. We were there the last week of May and even though it bordered Memorial Day weekend we still got spring rates. Gulf Shores isn't usually as crowded as some of the Florida areas (but it does get a little more crowded during certain weeks of the summer) but the beaches are wonderful soft clean sand. It is a tourist market but still a very calm week. Also there is an area there called Fort Morgan and it is wonderful beach area with houses either on the Gulf or on the Bay. It is more secluded than Gulf Shores. There is also Daupin Island which is between Mobile, AL and Gulf Shores. They have either the bridge that takes you from Mobile or a ferry that takes you from Fort Morgan. It is just real laid back. Less touristy and more quiet. Just depends on what you want from your vacation. The reason we like this area better is mainly the housing choices. You really can't rent the house on the beach in those other places. Mainly condos and crowded beaches.

We use Kaiser Realty out of Gulf Shores. They have a website I can get for you if you want it. HTH
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[greystone98]

I agree with Leigh Ann that Gulf Shores has some housing alternatives not typically found in other areas. Alas, it is not an alternative that works well for us, however, as we spend equal time at both the beach and the pool so we need a condo on the beach that also has a nice large pool.

My husband and I grew up going to Destin so we feel very comfortable here and just returned from a stay at Mainsail Resorts in the Sanddestin area. The resort is set back from the highway, is across the street from the outlets, and has a wonderful childrens' program during the week that our 8-year-old just loved.

I also go to Orange Beach twice a year on business and always take DH and DS with me at least once a year. OB and Perdido Beach border Gulf Shores and offer many great restaurant choices.

I haven't been to Pensacola in years so I can't speak to that and you may find Panama City heavily populated by teenagers.

Hope you have a great trip! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]