Panhandle Vacation

[Uncle Ruckus]

Wanting to take a trip to the panhandle this summer, but I have no idea what areas are still messed up from Michael. Any residents or regular visitors have any advice? Panhandle is as far as I want to drive as I’ll be pulling a 27’ boat - don’t want to drive any further than that

 

[Miketice]

Wanting to take a trip to the panhandle this summer, but I have no idea what areas are still messed up from Michael. Any residents or regular visitors have any advice? Panhandle is as far as I want to drive as I’ll be pulling a 27’ boat - don’t want to drive any further than that

Long way from Morton Ms.

 

[40 acres and a mule]

Destin and Miramar Beach got practically no damage as I was there one week after Michael. I know you are good from there westward. Don't personally know about east of Miramar.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

If I still lived in Morton, do you think I’d have internet access to post this?

 

[was21]

Portofino Pensacola Beach....go no less and no further

 

[BigBully]

I live in Perdido Key and there was no damage. We lave a lot of vacationers but not nearly as congested as Destin, OB, or GS. To PK we are 4.5 hrs from Jackson.

BB

 

[Miketice]

If I still lived in Morton, do you think I’d have internet access to post this?

With the storms or in general? Either way no i guess

 

[HotMop]

Wanting to take a trip to the panhandle this summer, but I have no idea what areas are still messed up from Michael. Any residents or regular visitors have any advice? Panhandle is as far as I want to drive as I’ll be pulling a 27’ boat - don’t want to drive any further than that

The beach is fine all the way to Panama City Beach, just over the bridge in Panama City it is a warzone. I'd play it safe and stay closer to Destin as Panama City Beach is loaded with construction workers. They are pretty easy to point out as they are donned in bright neon construction gear...and speak alot of Spanish.

 

[WilCoDawg]

If you’re the 30A sticker-on-the-car kinda guy, you’ll be fine all the way to PCB. There’s no reason for anyone coming from MS to go any further.

 

[coach66]

I endorse the Portfino as well. Nice place, sparse crowds ecept with the Blue

Angels are flying.

 

[The Fatboy]

Mexico Beach was pretty much wiped off the map. I loved that town. Was not overrun with tourists. Could literally sit with 50 yards between you and the next group on the beach.

 

[DawgInCO]

I live in Navarre. No damage here. There's a nice boat ramp at the base of the bridge on the Navarre Beach side. Not too crowded, but also not a lot to do. If you are looking for really good restaurants and night life then Portofino/Pensacola Beach would be better.

 

[was21]

I love Navarre Beach...won't be long before it's ruined probably...money talks

 

[RocketDawg]

Wanting to take a trip to the panhandle this summer, but I have no idea what areas are still messed up from Michael. Any residents or regular visitors have any advice? Panhandle is as far as I want to drive as I’ll be pulling a 27’ boat - don’t want to drive any further than that

Try Panama City Beach. It's OK as far as hurricane damage goes (the really serious damage was in Panama City itself), plus they have fewer visitors than they've had in the past, at least according to my son who lives there. The sheriff of Bay County really cracked down on underage drinking, so even spring break periods were down. Apparently things had really gotten out of town before.

 

[RocketDawg]

The beach is fine all the way to Panama City Beach, just over the bridge in Panama City it is a warzone. I'd play it safe and stay closer to Destin as Panama City Beach is loaded with construction workers. They are pretty easy to point out as they are donned in bright neon construction gear...and speak alot of Spanish.

That's a good point that I failed to mention. Seaside was virtually untouched I think, but it's quite expensive.

Does Panama City not look any better? We were through there at Christmas and like you say, it looked like a war zone. PCB was fine though, with some exceptions on the east side but I understand the debris has pretty much been hauled away.

Michael was upgraded to a Cat 5, in case someone missed that.

 

[mcdawg22]

You are fine all the way to Rosemary Beach. Water is starting to warm up quick.

 

[mcdawg22]

I love Navarre Beach...won't be long before it's ruined probably...money talks

There is a lot of local push back for development. We are seeing them trying to develop Navarre but keeping Navarre Beach mostly beds, with the four current restaurants being the only non hotel development on the island.

 

[tbaydog]

If I still lived in Morton, do you think I’d have internet access to post this?

I assume you are familiar with Lick Skillet and Buddy Reds?

 

[HotMop]

That's a good point that I failed to mention. Seaside was virtually untouched I think, but it's quite expensive.

Does Panama City not look any better? We were through there at Christmas and like you say, it looked like a war zone. PCB was fine though, with some exceptions on the east side but I understand the debris has pretty much been hauled away.

Michael was upgraded to a Cat 5, in case someone missed that.

Panama City is making slow progress, I still drive by 10+ homes with trees on them when I drive my kids to school. Progress is being made in that you see lots of empty lots where commercial buildings used to be but little progress on rebuilding on the south side of town around Callaway, Springfield, and Parker. There are still areas with debris out at the street but far less than back in December.

I live in PCB and my area received damage but mainly to shingles and fences. We didn't get the tree fall like the mainland did which caused most of the catastrophic damage to homes.

 

[dorndawg]

I don't think Amarillo got hit too hard.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

tornadoes are pretty rough in that area this time of year.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

DO NOT stop at Buc-ee's. DO NOT DO IT.

 

[snoopdog]

I love that area...

I live in Perdido Key and there was no damage. We lave a lot of vacationers but not nearly as congested as Destin, OB, or GS. To PK we are 4.5 hrs from Jackson.

BB

I am trying my best to figure out how to move down there myself. It has to be a great place to live.

 

[HotMop]

DO NOT stop at Buc-ee's. DO NOT DO IT.

I'll bite, why not? I've considered pulling in but have always bypassed it, what's wrong with it?

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

It's a zoo. There were a million people there this weekend - took about 10 minutes just to get in the parking lot to park, and about 20 to get out. They had one employee trying to direct traffic, but he was no use. I can't imagine the madness that the summer will bring...

Nothing wrong otherwise - they have just about everything you could possibly want, and huge, clean restrooms.

 

[johnson86-1]

That's a good point that I failed to mention. Seaside was virtually untouched I think, but it's quite expensive.

Does Panama City not look any better? We were through there at Christmas and like you say, it looked like a war zone. PCB was fine though, with some exceptions on the east side but I understand the debris has pretty much been hauled away.

Michael was upgraded to a Cat 5, in case someone missed that.

Not sure if Panama City took the brunt of it, but judging by Mississippi after Katrina, it will be years before you drive through the heart of where michael hit before you can look around and not immediately notice the damage.

 

[I am Groot.sixpack]

I am Groot.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

i will admit that when i was in a hurry in Texas i would pass by those quite often for another gas station. If i was taking a leisure drive, I might would stop in. It does take a long time to get in to one on busy weekends.