Gulf Coast Location

[bob carnie]

I am thinking I would like to spend some time south this Jan, I am looking for a spot between New Orleans and the Florida border on the coast.
Rental place with a couple of rooms , kitchen , living area that is right on the coast.

I have only driven through this area, and would appreciate some help in finding a good location. I will have two small dogs with me as well, getting kind of fat so lots of walking space would be good .

[Pat Kearns]

Lots of snowbirds visit Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, AL in the winter. The beaches have been cleaned pretty well from the oil spill earlier in the summer. Plenty of condos, houses, and hotels are for rent during the entire year. Lots of people cancelled reservations due to the spill and rental bargains are out there. They economy of Gulf Shores is suffering greatly because of the spill. So come on down, spend some money and help revive some of the businesses. Winters have been mild for the last number of years. Miles of beaches for walking, fishing, boating. About 30 minutes to Pensacola, FL to the east, about 2 hours to Biloxi, MS to the west if you are looking for casinos, about 3 hours to New Orleans.

[tgtaylor]

Although it has been decades since I was last in the area (I'm a native of New Orleans), I kind of agree with Pat. Look around the Hwy 90 area - say from Mobile, Ala to, say, Pass Christian, Mississippi and the Louisiana border. Great seafood to be found in that area (at least that was the case when I was last there). For the "better" beaches (whiter or more pure color sand) it is necessary to go further east of Pensacola to Fort Walton and Panama City and beyond - simply fabulous beaches.

The people are friendly in that area so I'm sure you'll have an enjoyable time whereever you choose to visit.

Thomas

[bob carnie]

Thank you both, pretty much the idea, relax , walk the dogs and be a bit of a tourist for a couple of weeks.

[bob carnie]

I am thinking between Panama City and New Orleans, any one familiar with good rental agencies in that strip for beach houses?

[Brook Martin]

mexico city beach, but dont tell anyone...

[bob carnie]

thank you , I will look into this location, I won't tell anyone .

mexico city beach, but dont tell anyone...

[Jim Michael]

Pensacola is 100 mi. west of Panama City and has more stuff of historical interest, if you're into that.

[bob carnie]

Hi Jim

My wife is doing a Holga project on buildings that are catering to the tourist industry's, titled hope and broken dreams,
I am working on a large format project photographing metal scraps, If there is a metal crushing plant anywhere on the coast I would go over and scrounge some metal to do still lifes outdoors at the beach house.
Old trees, that quitsue *sp* plant that seems to be really prevalent in South Carolina would also be of interest to us.

bob

Pensacola is 100 mi. west of Panama City and has more stuff of historical interest, if you're into that.

[jwaddison]

Kudzu?

[Jim Michael]

Here's my summary of the Florida panhandle from a few years ago: Pensacola had a nice historic district, an old fort at one of the parks on the coast, some nice beaches, lot of older beach motels. Destin was pretty overdeveloped, a tremendous amount of timeshare and beachfront condo development occurred, but the real estate market there I'm sure was clobbered. Area between Destin and Panama City had some real nice beach cottages, not crowded. Panama City Beach is a very overdeveloped party destination for students, was a 9 on the 1-to-10 scale for tacky, hopefully things have changed. Panama City in town near the marina had a great little oyster bar (Hunts), a few fishing boats. There is a paper mill that you don't want to be downwind of.

With shipyards in Mobile I would venture a guess some interesting metal to be found there.

I haven't explored southern Mississippi much so can't comment. Gulf Shores Alabama had a lot of development (high rise beach condos and the like.)

[bob carnie]

Thanks Jim


Here's my summary of the Florida panhandle from a few years ago: Pensacola had a nice historic district, an old fort at one of the parks on the coast, some nice beaches, lot of older beach motels. Destin was pretty overdeveloped, a tremendous amount of timeshare and beachfront condo development occurred, but the real estate market there I'm sure was clobbered. Area between Destin and Panama City had some real nice beach cottages, not crowded. Panama City Beach is a very overdeveloped party destination for students, was a 9 on the 1-to-10 scale for tacky, hopefully things have changed. Panama City in town near the marina had a great little oyster bar (Hunts), a few fishing boats. There is a paper mill that you don't want to be downwind of.

With shipyards in Mobile I would venture a guess some interesting metal to be found there.

I haven't explored southern Mississippi much so can't comment. Gulf Shores Alabama had a lot of development (high rise beach condos and the like.)

[Pat Kearns]

Bob,
Meyer Realty is a big rental agency in Gulf Shores, AL. As another poster replied there is a lot of condo development at Orange Beach & Gulf Shores. There are less developed areas of the beach on the road heading west towards Fort Morgan. If your wife is working on a tourist shop project I think Gulf Shores, AL to Destin, FL would probably the best bets. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has some good beaches but they took the brunt of Katrina's tidal surge. Everything on the coast and inland 1/4 was wiped off their foundations from Pass Christian to Pascagoula. It has been 5 years and a lot of business and houses still missing in action.

[bob carnie]

thanks Pat
I will get in touch with Meyer this week. We actually are not looking for pristine beach as I would be mistaken for an beluga whale the moment I revealed my lilly white skin to the sun. I plan to photograph still lifes on the deck of wherever we are and my wifes project revolves around broken dreams( If you go way north in Canada, on the highway you will see all kinds of cottage industry businesses that have either failed , will fail, or flourish, depending on where they are located. This interests her, as for long walks on the beach well the dogs will jump in the water , but because of the above resemblence to aquatic animals I do not intend to swim.
We really just need a place to kick back and relax with our dogs and shoot some film, I am hoping the shrimp is good, because we both love seafood and it would be nice to hit a couple of good seafood restaurants.

regards
Bob

Bob,
Meyer Realty is a big rental agency in Gulf Shores, AL. As another poster replied there is a lot of condo development at Orange Beach & Gulf Shores. There are less developed areas of the beach on the road heading west towards Fort Morgan. If your wife is working on a tourist shop project I think Gulf Shores, AL to Destin, FL would probably the best bets. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has some good beaches but they took the brunt of Katrina's tidal surge. Everything on the coast and inland 1/4 was wiped off their foundations from Pass Christian to Pascagoula. It has been 5 years and a lot of business and houses still missing in action.

[bob carnie]

Had a great phone call from mitch here on the Forum , who has offered to help me find a appropriate place to stay on the coast. thanks mitch.


I have to say this Large Format community is great, once you go to the darkside and start shooting large , all kinds of great things start happening.

First Dave Wooten has sent me a 8x10 to shoot with, Dave I am taking it with me to the Coast and now Mitch offering to find a location..
Now all I need is Monty to drop by to serve me drinks.

It looks like we are heading to the Gulf Coast for our vacation, I can't wait.

[Monty McCutchen]

Had a great phone call from mitch here on the Forum , who has offered to help me find a appropriate place to stay on the coast. thanks mitch.


I have to say this Large Format community is great, once you go to the darkside and start shooting large , all kinds of great things start happening.

First Dave Wooten has sent me a 8x10 to shoot with, Dave I am taking it with me to the Coast and now Mitch offering to find a location..
Now all I need is Monty to drop by to serve me drinks.

It looks like we are heading to the Gulf Coast for our vacation, I can't wait.




I was planning to but then you put images of your pale white skin into the public domain and ruined everyone's drinking apetite for the next 18 months so I'm out. You were so close.

Will be in Toronto in November hope you are around.

later Sunkist

Monty