(03-07-2018, 12:29 PM)Brett Wrote: I'm not from Florida so I turn to you all. I know you are much further away in Jacksonville but my wife and I are looking at going to a beach somewhere on the Florida Panhandle for vacation at the end of April. As a kid, I've been numerous times to Destin, Fort Walton, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, etc. but I'm having a hard time remembering what I liked etc. Someone mentioned to me that the water and beaches are a little nicer when you go further east and I think I recall that. But we don't want to drive too super far east either.

So I'm trying to pick a city...I was hoping to get advice from any of you that have been this far west and recommendations. Obviously my wife and I want some things to do (commercial wise) but also not too touristy, if that makes sense. We like low key as well but as long as we have a grocery store to shop at, etc.

Very open to suggestions! Looking to stay around 5 nights or so.

Thanks!

Depends on what you're looking for. We really used to like Cedar Key because it was very much an old Florida vibe but I heard that they got pretty decimated since the last hurricane and we haven't been out there in about 3 or 4 years so not sure what it's like now.  My wife's family has a condo in Orange Beach and we've been there a few times. Very crowded, very commercial, not really my thing but it is definitely what a lot of people like when it comes to a vacation spot on the gulf.

We like Sanibel Island too although that's another situation where we haven't been there in a while. It's near Fort Meyers.

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