Mexico Beach, Florida

Rustic Sands Resort Campground, Mexico Beach, Florida

We arrived at Rustic Sands Resort Campground in Mexico Beach, Florida last Sunday afternoon. I made our reservations at this park last July and was told we would have a pull-through site. At the time I wasn’t sure how long we would stay so the lady suggested I reserve for a month and if we stayed two weeks and two days, that would equal the cost of a month. If we changed our minds and didn’t want to stay that long, we could change our reservation when we got here.

The office was closed on Sunday, but there was a map for us with a site number. Our site was a back in spot in the very back of the park. We are squeezed in with a few other campers like sardines. The wi-fi does not work in our area, and the cable was too fuzzy to watch.

To call this place a resort is a real stretch. The roads are not paved and full of potholes. The sites are grass and sand with a little gravel on some of the sites. It is quite run down. Their standard nightly rate is $44 and it appears none of the money they collect is used to make any improvements to the park. There is a decent looking pool, and a tiki bar behind the office with live entertainment a couple nights a week. Tonight we listened for a little while under a beautiful full moon to Randy and Art, a singer who plays guitar and a saxophone player. They were pretty good. Really, the only redeeming quality this park has is that it is 1/2 mile from the beach. The place is full with what seems to be snowbirds who stay for the season. I honestly can’t imagine spending an entire winter here. We’re not normally real fussy, but this place is not for us.

We really got a kick out of their “mini golf”. There are flags like shown below all along both sides of the main road with a cup in the ground below each flag. I’m assuming you just play along the road from cup to cup. Seriously???

After walking around the park on Sunday and seeing how dumpy it was, we decided to only stay a week, and I got busy finding us a place for next week. On Monday when we went to the office to pay, the lady tried to tell me we would lose our $100 deposit because we were changing our reservation. Remember, she suggested I reserve for a month and said we could change it when we got here. She had that written in her notes as did I. I refused to pay and she backed down quickly. Then she tried to charge me a $10 change fee. I wasn’t paying that either. This is a Passport America park and they don’t have a limit on how many days you can use it. So, we ended up paying $22 per night for 7 nights. This place definitely isn’t worth a penny more.

We have been riding our bikes almost every day to the Mexico Beach fishing pier which is a 5.5 mile round trip. I had read on another blog that they had seen dolphin jumping from the pier, but we never saw any dolphin from the pier. After our walk out onto the pier, we spend an hour walking the beach. One day we did see a fin out in the water. It looked black so I’m not sure if it was a dolphin or a shark.

This part of the Florida panhandle is referred to as the Forgotten Coast. The Destin area is called the Emerald Coast and the reason was obvious with the beautiful color of the water. The water here is not as pretty, but the sand is still very white.

Mexico Beach is a small town. There are not nearly as many tourists, and there is a very relaxed feel to the area. There is one small grocery; the prices were pretty high. Also, a few restaurants and shops. We’ve seen some college kids on the beach, but not too many. The news this week was full of stories of spring break in Panama City Beach, about 25 miles west of us. I’m glad we’re not there. Too many people!

So between the biking and walking, we’ve been averaging around 8 miles of exercise a day. The weather has been pretty nice, so I’ve really enjoyed the beach time here.

This is our first visit to the Florida Panhandle, and I’ve been really surprised by the amount of pine forests in this region. I even saw a couple of bear crossing signs on the highway. Who would have guessed there are bear in Florida. We have some pine trees behind our site, and I really liked how the needles were shimmering when the sun hit them.

On Thursday we drove about 30 miles east to Apalachicola to meet up with our friends Kim and Harland from Nova Scotia. We met up with them in January in Louisiana as they were headed to Arizona. They’re now heading back east so we had another chance to meet up. They tried to get in a campground near us, but everything is booked solid due to spring break.

We spent a few hours at St. George State Park exploring and walking on the beach. We were thrilled to find lots of starfish on the beach, as well as some sand dollars and lots of pretty shells.

I was so busy having a good time I forgot to take pictures with Kim and Harland. We had lunch at a restaurant recommended by some locals called Bayside Seafood Restaurant. I had been wanting to try a shrimp Po'boy, and was very happy with the choice. It was delicious. Kim ordered fried flounder. They brought the whole fish without the head. Her plate was covered. I wish I had taken a picture. It was huge. After lunch we said our goodbyes. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get together again next year.

 

Last night I walked to the beach to see the sunset. How lucky that the moon was almost full. Behind me was the awesome moon, and in front of me was the gorgeous sunset. Bonus!! Shrubs are beginning to bloom down here. I don’t know what kind of flowers these are, but they are blooming in many yards.

 

Tomorrow we’re heading about 30 miles north of Destin to Live Oak Landing. I hope it will be much nicer than this place.

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

Finally, Some Beach Time

Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida

Unfortunately, the weather while we’ve been in Destin has not been conducive to outdoor activities. Our first and last day here were nice. The rest of the week was cold and rainy.

On Friday we had lunch at McGuire’s Irish Pub in Destin. This is another microbrewery/restaurant. Kevin enjoyed their IPA and we had the fish fry lunch special which was quite good.

They have a tradition of attaching dollar bills to the ceiling and all over surfaces of the restaurant. Our waitress told us there are over 1 million dollars in this location.

On Saturday it was warm enough to spend some time at the beach. I enjoyed about two hours sitting and watching the surf and activities along the beach. I saw boats, parasailers, sunbathers, and even two dolphin.

Each time I’ve walked the beach here, I’ve been surprised at how there are almost no shells. I wonder what causes some beaches to have lots of shells and others to have almost none. I did see this jellyfish. Don’t touch!

In the evening I went back and took another walk along the beach to watch the sunset. There was a wedding going on at one of the hotels. There was also a table set up along the beach where a couple was having a romantic dinner. Just as I walked past them, he got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes. How cool is that!  If you click on the picture to enlarge, you can see him down on his knee on the left side. The tent is where the wedding was being held.

What a great location for a wedding and wedding pictures. The bride and groom are on the right. That’s the Destin skyline in the background.

Once again, the sunset did not disappoint.

Today we’re headed about 90 miles east to Mexico Beach, Florida for a two week stay. The forecast is looking better for some sun and warmth. I’m looking forward to some more beach time!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

Hanging Out In Destin

Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida

On Monday the weather forecast was for rain in the afternoon. That never happened, and the sun actually came out. We ran some errands and then stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood restaurant for a late lunch. Our friend Lyndsey had recommended this place, and it was a very good meal.

We sat outside in the sun on their back deck overlooking the harbor. Such a beautiful afternoon. We started with an appetizer platter of mozzarella sticks, onion rings and deep fried dill pickles. It was huge. If we had known how big it would be, we would have shared one entrée.  The whole reason for ordering the appetizer was to try the pickles. They were okay, but we probably wouldn’t order them again.

We both ordered the fried shrimp lunch special. The shrimp was delicious. Not too much breading and very tasty. We were stuffed by the time we were done and didn’t need any supper.

After we got home I walked down to the beach to see the sunset. I’m so glad I did as it was gorgeous.

Going…

Going…

Gone…

There was a big flock of birds frolicking in the water. They’re on the bottom left of the pictures.

Tuesday was cold and damp all day. We decided to visit a brew pub in Fort Walton Beach called Props that was recommended by our friends Janie and John. This pub is a small operation that just sells their beer at their pub, no distribution. Kevin had a four glass sampler which was served on a cute paddle type board with a blonde ale, a rye beer, a brown beer and an IPA. He liked them all, but said his favorite was the brown beer. We also had a Bavarian pretzel appetizer with cheese which was tasty. I don’t like beer, but I don’t mind tagging along so Kevin can try different craft beers.

It rained all night and was supposed to be rainy today too. Around mid day the sun came out so we took a walk. It was actually a decent day, but still somewhat cool. I sure wish it would warm up so we could enjoy this park and the beach more.

We really like it here at Henderson State Park. Here’s our site. All of the sites are very spacious with a picnic table, fire ring and a clothes hanging rack. That’s different. Maybe because its on a beach they provide the drying racks so people don’t string their own lines. There are quite a few trees, but Kevin managed to get a satellite signal in the middle of our drive.

We got an email today from Freedom RV in Wisconsin saying our new fifth wheel has arrived. They sent us a few pictures they took for their website. Here’s the living room. I’m getting excited to get back and pick it up. Weather permitting we should be back in about six weeks.

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

Could It Be An Eagle???

Gulf State Park Campground, Gulf Shores, Alabama

No, but I was sure hopeful.   

On Thursday we once again hopped on our bikes to ride on some more of the trails in Gulf State Park. This time we rode 15.5 miles. Let me tell you; by the time we got back home, I was a bit sore in certain areas!!

Part of the trail runs next to a sports complex. Kevin spotted a large bird on top of a light pole next to the soccer field. One pole had a huge nest and the bird was on the next pole over.

Here’s the nest.

I had seen information in the visitor center that said there are eagles in this area. The bird was quite big, and from a distance it looked like it might be an eagle. We’ve never seen an eagle in the wild, so this was very exciting.

I walked closer to the pole and took some pictures. As I got closer, I had a feeling it wasn’t an eagle because I could see a brown stripe on its face. We stopped at the nature center back in the campground, and the ranger there told us it was an osprey. Still a cool site!

There are signs all over the place along the trails warning about alligators. I thought the saying was clever, “A fed gator is a dead gator”.  This got me wondering what someone would feed an alligator. Kevin’s response was toes. Ha Ha. I sure hope not.  Years ago we took our kids on an airboat tour in the Florida Everglades. I remember those alligators liked eating marshmallows.

Friday was another beautiful day so we did a little more bike riding. It was quickly obvious to me that I wasn’t going to be able to ride too much because I was still sore. We rode for a few miles and then walked on the beach. My favorite thing to do!!  Do you see the bird?

Thursday evening brought some beautiful colors. The pink clouds caused the lake behind our site to look pink too.

Here’s the same view in the morning with the sun making the water sparkle. Both views are so pretty.

We arrived today at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Florida.  This is another awesome park.  This area of Florida is called the Emerald Coast. I can see why because the water is emerald green near the shore and then gets dark blue further out. The sand is amazingly white.

The water is crystal clear. You can see the bottom at least twenty or thirty feet out.

We’re here for a week. Lots of exploring will happen!!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

Gulf State Park, Alabama

Back in December when I was making reservations for our trip along the Gulf Coast this winter, I tried to get a site at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I had read many wonderful reviews about the place on blogs and forums, but they were booked solid for the time we would be coming through. So, I booked six nights at another campground in the area. As the time got closer, we just didn’t think the other park sounded all that good, so I started looking for an alternative.

As I was searching, I came across Gulf State Park again. I gave them a call and got very lucky to get the only site they had open for five nights. I jumped on it, and made plans for the extra night at a Passport America park nearby. I’m so glad we got in. Gulf State Park is an amazing place!! They have almost 500 sites a few blocks from the shore. All of the sites are much larger than in any private RV park we’ve stayed. The roads and sites are all paved with patios, a picnic table a grill and full hookups. Quite a few of the sites are on a lake. There is a nature center, activity building, camp store, tennis courts, seasonal swimming pool, lots of paved bike trails and much more. They even have free wi-fi although with the park being completely full it has been hit and miss. During the winter months they allow booking for a month or more. No wonder the place is full. We’ve seen many people from the Midwest and Canada. This place is just awesome!

Here’s our site which is much bigger than it looks in the picture. There’s quite a bit more room on the left of the photo. The view out of our back window is the lake.

We arrived on a beautiful Monday afternoon. While setting up, I spotted a pretty blue bird on the grill at our site. I snapped a quick picture through the window. It’s a bit blurry, but I have to share it as it’s a new bird for me. An Eastern Bluebird.

Temps on Tuesday were in the low 70s. We road our bikes a little over ten miles on the trails in the park. Along the side of one of the paths we saw some people looking into the brush. An alligator was sunning itself. There are supposed to be some babies in the area as well, but we didn’t see them.

Then we road to the beach and walked on the amazing white sands for about an hour.  A lady walking in front of us from the parking lot stooped down when she got to the water and came up with a starfish in her hands. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I looked and looked and never saw a single one. I did find some very pretty shells that I just had to take with me. There were also lots of broken sand dollars.

The weather forecast for the rest of the week wasn’t very good, so after we rode our bikes back home.  I jumped in the truck with my book and a chair and drove back to the beach. I spent another enjoyable two hours sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and the surf. Kevin’s not that much of a beach lover so he stayed home.

Yesterday it rained pretty much all day. Those of you up north have once again been generous enough to share your polar vortex weather with us. We did some shopping and stopped at Billy’s Seafood where we bought three pounds of fresh shrimp. We had some for dinner. I’ve never cooked fresh shrimp before; and I think I overcooked them a little, but they were still good!

Today the sun is once again shining and temps are supposed to get into the mid 50s. A great day for bike riding!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

Biloxi, Mississippi

Majestic Oaks RV Resort, Biloxi, Mississippi

This is our second visit to Biloxi. We came here for a 20th anniversary trip in 1997. Things have certainly changed since then.

Back then we stayed at the Grand Casino. Gambling came to Biloxi in the 1990s, but casinos were only allowed on the water. There were several huge casinos built on barges along the coast. You couldn’t even tell you were on water, that’s how big they were. Here’s a picture of a postcard I bought at the time.

Here’s what’s left of that casino today.

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina pretty much wiped out everything that was along the coast including the casinos. The Grand Casino has rebuilt, and is now across the road from this debris.

One thing that is very different between Biloxi and New Orleans is that there is no debris or boarded up buildings left in Biloxi. In fact, this debris from the casino is all that we’ve seen. They’re working on getting rid of it. Everything else is pretty much gone.

When we were here in 1997 the coast was lined with beautiful old mansions and estates. Almost all of them are gone. There are miles of vacant lots for sale. Some had prices listed between $500,000 and $600,000. No wonder no one is building on them. What a shame that all of those beautiful old homes are gone. All that remains are some retaining walls, foundations, sidewalks and landscaping. I don’t think this area will ever look the same. I have a feeling if any building gets done on those lots it will be stores or restaurants. How sad!

Biloxi has the only lighthouse that sits in the middle of a divided highway. It was built in 1848 and is made of brick lined cast iron. It’s survived over 20 hurricanes. It needed extensive restoration after Katrina, but it’s still standing.

That’s the Beau Rivage Casino in the background. Twelve casinos have rebuilt in Biloxi since Katrina. A few of them are on the Gulf. Others are a little inland on a bay on the other side of the city. Mississippi changed its gambling laws about ten years ago so casinos no longer have to be on the water, but they still have to be within a certain amount of feet from the water. Weird laws.

The Beau Rivage is a beautiful casino. Here’s the fountain out front. There were pretty flowers planted all along the front.

 

Next door is the Hard Rock Casino. We had a good time wandering around in a couple of the casinos. We’re not much into gambling, but it was fun looking around. I especially enjoyed some of the costumes on display inside Hard Rock. That’s sure a big guitar!! We continued our walk along Beach Blvd. in downtown Biloxi.

There is a Katrina memorial in the town square. It was built by the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2006. The granite wall is 12 feet tall and symbolized the height of the water level during the storm. The actual storm surge was 35 feet. The glass case contains items recovered after the hurricane and made into a sculpture.

There is also an awesome tree sculpture next to the memorial.

We walked around the marina and saw lots of shrimping boats. Notice the name of the red boat. Too funny!

Biloxi has the nicest visitor center we’ve ever seen. It was rebuilt after Katrina to look like a historic home that had been here. They have a 45 minute movie about the hurricane. Hurricane Camille hit this area in 1969 and was the worst storm ever to hit the United States up until that time. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina was even worse demolishing over 6,000 buildings in Biloxi and killing hundreds of people. It’s been really sad seeing the devastation caused by the storm.

Some of the damaged trees along Beach Blvd. have been carved into statues just like we saw in Galveston. Here are just a couple of them.

 

The first two days we were here it was very foggy along the coast as you can see in the visitor center picture above. The water temperature and the air temperature were close to each other creating the fog. Today the winds shifted, and we could actually see the water so we took a walk along the beautiful white sand beach. I love walking on the beach. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Temperatures have finally been warmer. Highs have been in the 60s and 70s since we’ve been here. Now that’s more like it!!

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

New Orleans Bus Tour

Yesterday we took a three hour bus tour of New Orleans. This was another Groupon deal. We’ve done four tours using Groupon coupons, and have been very satisfied. Each of them was with a company that was not one of the most popular, but they were all very well done, and we saved quite a bit of money.

The bus tour was with Southern Style Tours. Our driver, who was also the guide, was very knowledgeable. Its amazing to me that he could navigate these small streets in the mini bus and keep up a constant stream of information.

We toured the French Quarter, The Garden District, downtown, one of the many above ground cemeteries, City Park, and several of the wards that had the most damage after Hurricane Katrina.

Many homes are decorated for Mardi Gras. Most have banners, ribbons, etc. with the traditional purple, gold and green colors. This was definitely one of the most unusual ones we saw!

I didn’t take many pictures. It’s hard to get good shots out of a bus window; and to be honest, there wasn’t much I wanted to take a picture of. I just enjoyed sitting back and listening to all of the stories our guide shared with us.

Burial rituals in New Orleans are quite interesting. Because much of the city is at or below sea level, caskets are buried above ground in vaults. There is a whole complicated process of how the casket is placed in the vault for a year and one day, then taken back out so the remains can be cremated and returned to the vault to make room for the casket of the next member of the family that dies. Some families spend over a million dollars for their burial vaults. My thinking is why not just cremate them in the first place. However, we’ve learned in our travels that different cultures have very different ideas of how things are done. That’s what makes us all so unique, I guess.

We have been very surprised how many of the buildings have not been either rebuilt or demolished since Hurricane Katrina. As we have traveled around the city, we have seen many, many houses boarded up or falling apart. Our guide told us that there are over 25,000 houses still abandoned. There are also quite a few businesses and even public buildings such as schools still sitting empty. It’s been 8.5 years since the disaster. I would have thought these homes would have been demolished if the owner’s weren’t coming back.

Part of the problem has been local politics. Just this week the mayor during the storm, Ray Nagin, has been convicted of twenty counts of fraud stemming from bribes he took with relief money. The news is full of stories about other trials still stemming from matters to do with the hurricane.

This sculpture in remembrance of Katrina is downtown across from the convention center.

We’ve enjoyed learning about the history and seeing some of the beautiful architecture in the French Quarter. There is definitely a charm to the area, but mostly the city is old, run down and dirty filled with too many people and cars. Just not our cup of tea. It was an interesting visit, but I doubt very much we will ever come back.

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!