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White sand and blue water?

Bill Boyd

Bill Boyd

Well Known Member
Wife wants me to take her to a Florida beach with the above attributes. Not sure where to look. I'd prefer to avoid the complex airspace in the Destin area, but the farther south we go, the longer the trip - and central FL is right at her max endurance of 4 hours of GA in one day. We are hoping to catch a rental somewhere on a spur of the moment this Friday through Tuesday as there looks to be a VFR WX opening in store after the world-ending solar eclipse tomorrow. Ideas? Thanks!
 
Destin ain't too bad. You request the VFR corridor route and it is easy from there. When you depart, you contact Eglin once airborne and request VFR N, E, or W. and they point you where they want you to go. Ain't bad at all.
 
Can't argue with P'cola, arguably one of the best beaches on the planet. Same quality from Ft Morgan all the way to Panama City. Flown into JKA and they've always been great. Stones throw from the beaches of Gulf Shores with lots of lodging choices. Pensacola Regional is always a good stop. Fuel prices are a bit higher but the service at Pensacola Aviation Center is outstanding. If you rent a car from Hertz you can pick it up and drop it off at the FBO. I was just down in P'cola a few weeks ago and flew into 82J, Roscoe Field (used to be Ferguson). Conveniently located, good fuel prices and outstanding staff at the FBO. Airspace is pretty simple but be aware of the Alert area with extensive military training. There's a nice corridor between the MOA's. If you fly into 82J make sure you review their arrival/departure procedures since they've got a nice carve out from the class C airspace. Take a day off from the beach and go to the Naval Aviation museum. It's back open again to all but you have to enter NAS Pensacola from the west gate. Well worth a visit. Have fun!
 
Bill Boyd said:
Wife wants me to take her to a Florida beach with the above attributes. Not sure where to look. I'd prefer to avoid the complex airspace in the Destin area, but the farther south we go, the longer the trip - and central FL is right at her max endurance of 4 hours of GA in one day. We are hoping to catch a rental somewhere on a spur of the moment this Friday through Tuesday as there looks to be a VFR WX opening in store after the world-ending solar eclipse tomorrow. Ideas? Thanks!
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As some other have mentioned, don't let the Destin / Eglin Part 93 airspace scare you. I live here and fly out of FL17. It is a non-issue. Just call 'em up on the published frequency and tell them where you want to go. Another alternative is to fly into Crestview (KCEW). If you come in from the north they will clear you to Destin through the north / south corridor via Field 2 and Whitepoint. Do the Eglin airspace online training and you will sound like a pro on the radio.

Rent a VRBO at St. George Island and you can probably use their small airport (F47). Or fly into Apalachicola (KAAF). Or get a place at Cape Sanblas and fly into Costin (A51). Carrabelle (X13) is a nice option also.

Working your way west, Jack Edwards Fld (KJKA) at Gulf Shores is a nice area. Keep in mind KJKA is now a controlled field. I like flying to Dauphin Island (4R9) for lunch.

Lastly, if you end up in the Florida panhandle here are some ideas for that $100 hamburger around here.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Jonny, I have had Cedar Key on my bucket list for awhile, but it appears from the pictures of lodging options that the beaches are more marshy, like the sound side of the Atlantic barrier islands and Outer Banks. We're not kayakers, at least not yet. I think she prefers the wide beach/crashing breakers vibe. Am I mistake in my impression of the Cedar Key ambience?

Karl, where do I find the special arrival procedures for 82J?
 
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Bill Boyd said:
Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Jonny, I have had Cedar Key on my bucket list for awhile, but it appears from the pictures of lodging options that the beaches are more marshy, like the sound side of the Atlantic barrier islands and Outer Banks. We're not kayakers, at least not yet. I think she prefers the wide beach/crashing breakers vibe. Am I mistake in my impression of the Cedar Key ambience?
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First, it is spring break. We still have the masses of snow birds that haven’t left yet and we are right in the middle of spring break season. Finding anything on or near the beach is going to be tough. By May, both groups will have left. Not trying to discourage, but just know it is busy. Many GA ramps are slammed with bizjets.

Yes, Cedar key is not a white sand kind of island. They do have a small white sand beach downtown, if you want that. It is a small island, so I can’t recall that beach ever being packed. It is a very laid back artsy vibe. We go there every few weeks for breakfast at Annie’s. Once or 2x a year we do a long weekend in an air bnb. Great trails for exploring, plant a chair on the flats during low tide, excellent fresh seafood. Truly a hidden FL gem.

A bit further south is North Captiva island. Great place to fly in and do the beach thing. Long untouched stretches of white sand. Only accessible with boat or airplane. Make sure if you go, you get a rental with airport privileges.
 
Those white sugar sand beaches lie along the north shore of the Gulf which is the west end of the FL panhandle and southern Alabama.
 
Steve said:
Those white sugar sand beaches lie along the north shore of the Gulf which is the west end of the FL panhandle and southern Alabama.
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White sand is nice... Her bigger request is the "blue water." Probably postponed till fall, when our schedule is a little more open and the spring breakers and snowbirds are gone.
 
This might be pushing the personal endurance limits a bit but consider Bimini (MYBS). We rented a house DIRECTLY on the beach for a very reasonable rate a few years ago and you will certainly find some of the bluest water and whitest sand on the planet.
 
Bill Boyd said:
White sand is nice... Her bigger request is the "blue water." Probably postponed till fall, when our schedule is a little more open and the spring breakers and snowbirds are gone.
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Probably a good choice with that short of a notice and spring break. Also this time of year we have pretty good winds that make the water rough and dirty.
Many beautiful white beaches in Florida and many not so clean and white (still pretty)
Pretty beaches are Destin and panhandle area then starts again in Clearwater South until Marco Island.
However blue water can only be guaranteed on the SouthEast coast anywhere there is gulfstream close to shore. Starting Vero beach then South all the way into the Keys.
From your area the best option may be the Panhandle.
 
Pass a grill beach at the tip of the St. Pete barrier islands is consistently rated among the top beaches in the world. However, the sand is tan, and it's the Gulf, so more brown than blue.
 
We stopped at Panama City Saturday for a day on our way to Sun n Fun and really enjoyed the sand beaches. It was 4.5 hour rv flight from N TX.
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Got a rent car for a decent price and found hotel at Panama City Beach that was ok and not too pricey!
 
Bill Boyd said:
Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Jonny, I have had Cedar Key on my bucket list for awhile, but it appears from the pictures of lodging options that the beaches are more marshy, like the sound side of the Atlantic barrier islands and Outer Banks. We're not kayakers, at least not yet. I think she prefers the wide beach/crashing breakers vibe. Am I mistake in my impression of the Cedar Key ambience?

Karl, where do I find the special arrival procedures for 82J?
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Here you go. Pilot information for Roscoe Field.
We used to stay at the Margaritaville hotel right on Pensacola Beach but looks like it's changed hands and it's now the Pensacola Beach Resort. Still the same place. Walking distance to Casino Beach Bar and Grill which is excellent. Flounders is also walking distance but not as good as it used to be IMHO. Same folks own McGuire's Irish Pub in town and that's a must stop. Make sure you kiss the moose after having an Irish wake 😜. I've heard Red Fish Blue Fish is good but I can't vouch for that, never been. Peg Leg Petes has really good seafood too. Native Cafe is excellent for breakfast. Ft Pickens is just down the road with beautiful stretches of white sand beach.
Did I mention the Naval Aviation Museum? The restaurant at the museum is the original Cubi Point O'club recreated. They've got the imported San Miguel beer which is way better than the stuff you get in the PI. Food is pretty good there too if you're hungry for lunch.
 
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