A Texan goes to the Redneck Riviera

[Mark from Plano]

After a 13 hour drive spread over a 24 hour period, we got to the beach about 7pm last night. I slept for about 12 hours to recover (I drove the whole way). Although the weather is great (90f vs about 105f at home), the wind is up and the beach is "double red flag" (i.e. no swimming). We went to the outlet mall near Destin. I went to the Allen Edmonds outlet and picked up a couple of pair of new shoes. I forgot my camera, so I bought a new Sony Cybershot. I'll test out the photos in this thread throughout the week.

My wife's law partner's family owns a beach house here and we've rented it for the week. Here are a few shots off the back porch:

 

[dusty]

Is this Myrtle Beach?

 

[VKK3450]

Wooooooweeeeeeeee Destin!!!

We used to roll down to Destin during spring break in HS. Teenage drinking at its finest!

K

 

[gnatty8]

Very nice. The redneck riviera tag is unfortunate, but one visit to the Florabama lounge, and the moniker lives up to its reputation.

In all seriousness though, we get down to Destin at least twice a year. Its a pretty easy drive from Atlanta, and as your pictures bear witness to, its a beautiful area.

We lived in Houston for some time, and the closest beach was Galveston.

I prefer Destin.

I am sure you do also.

 

[The Gimp]

You can't possibly call Destin the Redneck Riviera, that title belongs solely to Panama City Beach.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by The Gimp

You can't possibly call Destin the Redneck Riviera, that title belongs solely to Panama City Beach.

Which is exactly where I am!

Actually we're on the west end of Panama City beach in a little town called Laguna Beach, so we're a bit away from the nonsense that is Panama City Beach...still it's technically Panama City Beach. Everyone assumed we were in Destin because I said that we'd gone over the outlet mall there. But we're actually in PCB...so "Redneck Riviera".

Yesterday (another double red flag day at the beach) we got up and ran on the beach for about an hour and came back completely exhuasted (much harder running in sand that on the pavement). Very difficult to control your heart rate during the workout...at least when you're not used to it.

Late afternoon we took the boys into Panama City Beach to see a Movie (Hancock). The theatre is in a new development called "Pier Park" near the old Panama City Pier (which has been knocked down and is the process of being rebuilt...bigger & better, I'm sure).

Nice area, but we couldn't help thinking of the line from "Joe versus the Volcano":

Meg Ryan "So how do you like L.A?"
Tom Hanks "It looks fake. I like it!"

 

[The Gimp]

Gotcha!

And as I am sure you know, take those flags SERIOUSLY! I've seen people die on those beaches when they don't take heed. The undertow there is a *****.

Have fun in my old stomping grounds....

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by The Gimp

Gotcha!

And as I am sure you know, take those flags SERIOUSLY! I've seen people die on those beaches when they don't take heed. The undertow there is a *****.

Have fun in my old stomping grounds....

Oh, yeah. Swimming or no swimming, it's still nice to be around the beach. My wife has been doing lots of work...talking with the office, etc...I've done almost none so far, although I need to read some reports this week.

Mostly just relaxing.

I'm not a cook at home, but when we go on vacation I become the head chef. This place has great seafood markets. I love being able to eat the local seafood...Don't get that so much in Dallas...

 

[Mark from Plano]

Still double red flag beach conditions (courtesy of Ernesto?). So lots of time beachside or in the house reading.

Saw "Hancock" last night with the family. Pretty funny. Worth seeing. Not everything has to be an Oscar contender.

Reading list so far:
*Got through Condi Rice's article in this month's Foreign Affairs on the "New American Realism." Still not sure what I think about it. Seems like she's gone from "nation-builiding=bad" in 2000, to "nation-building=the only important thing" in 2008. She pretty much admits as much (post 9-11, and all that).
*Scanning back through "Fear and Trembling" by Kierkegaard. There's some stuff I think I remember in here from the last time I read it that I need to ruminate on. Haven't gotten very far yet. Kierkegaard isn't easy.
*"Diamonds are Forever" I'm at the beach, give me a break.

 

[VKK3450]

Club LA VELA!!!!!!!!!!

K

 

[Connemara]

"A Texan goes to the Redneck Riviera..."

But in Texas, you're already there!

 

[FLMountainMan]

That area of the Gulf Coast is beautiful. I live in Tallahassee now, and all my local friends seem to be having their weddings on St. George Island. It's great. Enjoy it now before St. Joe's develops it all.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by Connemara

"A Texan goes to the Redneck Riviera..."

But in Texas, you're already there!


Don't you have some co-eds to stalk?

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

Don't you have some co-eds to stalk?

Easy tiger. I like Texas.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan

That area of the Gulf Coast is beautiful. I live in Tallahassee now, and all my local friends seem to be having their weddings on St. George Island. It's great. Enjoy it now before St. Joe's develops it all.


I give it a hard time, but the beaches here are really beautiful. California beaches are like dating a woman that won't let you touch her. Florida beaches put out.