Quote:
Originally Posted by dhdallas
Navarre Beach is near Pensacola and is absolutely gorgeous. Sugar white sand with the turquoise water of the Gulf on one side of Santa Rosa Island and the sound on the other. It is in the Central Time Zone. No bugs or alligators (at least on the island).
There is 20 miles of protected seashore with wind swept dunes and sparsely populated beaches with a bike/hike trail almost the entire length of the island. At one end of the island is a historic fort dating back to the civil war and toward the eastern end is a Marine Science Station. Golf carts are used by some residents but not so much as to become crowded. Overall traffic is extremely light on the island. The 4-lane on the mainland can be busy but there are no roundabouts and traffic moves right along. There are many fresh seafood, authentic southern BBQ restaurants and markets. It is NOT a tourist trap.
Beautiful homes and condos (some <$300k) on the waterfront at reasonable prices. The condo amenities/fees are next to nothing compared to TV. From our rental condo's bedroom window, we could watch porpoises playing in the water. I wanted to buy there but my wife insisted on TV.
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My best friend lives in Navarre, we were in the Army together and then later worked for the government together in Pensacola. Housing is very cheap in that area. Navarre Beach I did post about in another thread when I posted about the making Jaws 2 the movie and I visited the set a few times in 1977. Unfortunately the Holiday Inn at Navarre Beach where the movie was set was destroyed in 2004 by a hurricane.
I lived in Pensacola from 1977 to 1982. In fact, if not for TV, I would maybe have retired either there or Spring Hill. The problem with Pensacola and Gulf Breeze (Santa Rosa Island) is hurricanes. In fact right now the 3 mile bridge was knocked last September by Hurricane Sally and at best, not expected to reopen until March. So you can't get to Pensacola from Gulf Breeze without going about 30 miles around and crossing two other bridges and Pensacola residents can't go to Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach without a going over the I-10 Bridge to Garcon Point and then taking Garcon Point Toll Bridge.
The 3 Mile Bridge was not actually damaged by Hurricane Sally but by 3 barges that broke free during the storm.