Call Me Crazy But.......

[Cil]

Paula
My second favorite trip *ever* was the Greece/Italy trip we took five years ago.
It is an unbeatable combination.
That was the first (and only) time I'd been to Greece, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Comparing worldwide beaches would be a pleasant occupation indeed.

 

[aquaticbiology]

i truly have been everywhere, but there is just nothing outside the usa worth the risk to go to anymore - i suppose it is a symptom of population growth - and i won't fly anymore either, so if it can't be reached by car or boat, i just won't go there anymore either - i like seeing the fishes swimming ear to ear, but i don't ever want to be with that many people - there are still a few places to be found in nw florida that are quite lovely and 'unspoiled', but they are going away fast as they are 'discovered' - in, what, another two years, maybe, they will be gone? - and once an area is built up, i just never go back there anymore, and if you can see more than one house in a picture of the place, then it qualifies as built up

 

[Just_In_Thyme]

I have been fortunate enough to travel to Greece (several times), Italy, Mexico, Spain, Russia and even the coast of Maine, Cape Cod, the South Carolina Low County to name a few. They all have provided wonderful memories and fantastic experiences. I would love (and hope) to go to any of these places again w/my kids. However there is nothing like the feeling of pulling up to your own house for a long weekend, sitting on your deck and watching the Gulf, going for a bike ride, having a drink/dinner at the Red Bar. I can't go to Hawaii, Greece or any of these wonderful places on a whim for 3-4 days, but I can drive down to Sowal. I treasure the memories we have made in SoWal w/my family.

 

[Beachlover2]

I love traveling - any where - anytime.

Have been to Hawaii a few times - but if you want to something more rustic - head to the Tahitian Islands. Absolutely gorgeous and empty. Tahiti itself is pretty populated but Morrea - Raaitea - Huahine - love it. Even Bora Bora has more hotels and tourist places but still awe inspiring. We have friends that live in Hawaii and they travel to Tahiti and Fiji to get away from it all. They say Tahiti is how Hawaii was 40 years ago.

 

[Bobby J]

Put down the J&B and Tonic and back away from the keyboard....

If you ever hear of Bobby J drinking J&B Tonic all of SoWal Should back away:shock:

 

[Rudyjohn]

SHELLY said...FUNN!!!! :clap_1:

I know! So cute! :clap_1:

 

[goofer]

The most memorable trips to me are the ones where I can experience an emotional attachment. The centerpiece of my recent trip to Hawaii was to visit Pearl Harbor and stand on the memorial deck of the Arizona . Extraordinarily moving. Right adjacent to the AZ Memorial was the the USS Missouri, on whose deck the surrender of the Japanese Empire took place. One memorial represented the beginning of the war on Facism and the brutality of war and the other represented the Hope and Dreams of a new era. The beaches were nice and the road to Hana was beautiful but they took a backseat to Pearl.
When I visited Germany, the most important activity was to visit Dachau. In Russia ( Which was the most memorable trip I ever took....1987 ) I experienced my ancesteral roots. Italy......the incredible food !! London....the history. Paris....the art.
But like others have said before, South Walton has a special place in my heart. It is great to have a place to go that is "home" and yet an exciting adventure everty time you visit. Always new and invigorating yet at the same time familiar and comfy.

 

[Mermaid]

Goofer, that's beautifully put. I work on pretty well the same wavelength in regard to travel. Pretty is pretty, but pretty emotional is better. I've seen beaches lovlier than SoWal's. But when I'm at my beach, I see in my mind's eye my daughter at 6 months crawling in the sand with watery drops of the Gulf dripping from her lashes...no beach in Bali or Portofino can match that in terms of emotional attachment for me.

Call me crazy too.

 

[GoodWitch58]

As a native of Walton County I have enjoyed this area off and on all of my life. I have traveled and lived a lot of places...I love to experience whatever is around the next bend, but this has always been home.

My two cents: there is something remarkable about the light here in So Walton..you find it in the south of France as well. It is, IMO, the foundation of the "magic" that permeates everything. We have allowed too much development -- and it has adversely affected the environment, however, the light continues.

I am thankful every day that my grandparents had the courage to settle here, the legacy they left to us is something no one can understand unless they have spent some time in this special place. It's great to read so many of you love it as well.

 

[Sandcastle]

As a native of Walton County I have enjoyed this area off and on all of my life. I have traveled and lived a lot of places...I love to experience whatever is around the next bend, but this has always been home.

My two cents: there is something remarkable about the light here in So Walton..you find it in the south of France as well. It is, IMO, the foundation of the "magic" that permeates everything. We have allowed too much development -- and it has adversely affected the environment, however, the light continues.

I am thankful every day that my grandparents had the courage to settle here, the legacy they left to us is something no one can understand unless they have spent some time in this special place. It's great to read so many of you love it as well.

I agree with you about the magic of the place, and it could be the light. When we owned a beach house elsewhere on the Gulf, we would sleep in the place and spend our days driving to SoWal just to spend a few hours there. Unless we get our SoWal "fix" every week or two we're not very happy.