Location is one of the most important considerations when choosing a home. Northwest Florida, also known as the Panhandle area (the region stretches from Tallahassee, the capital of the State of Florida, westward to the Alabama State line) has all the markings for a great place to live, work, retire, and play. Furthermore, there is no income tax for individuals. Here are some advantages of living at the Gulf of Mexico coast year round:
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The Beaches: “The World Most Beautiful Beaches” is the official designation given to the more than 27 miles of the area’s beaches by the director of the University of Maryland’s Laboratory of Coastal Research. The beautiful beaches and emerald color water are the biggest attractions for the coastal living and vacationing. The powdery sand is unusually white because it is quartz crystals that had been washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over the centuries. These crystals have been bleached, ground, and polished until millions of millions of grains of sand have been deposited along this Northwest Florida coast, creating this blinding white stretch of beaches. The crystal clear emerald and turquoise color water comes from the very high reflectivity of the sun off the sugar white sand, the light penetration, the shallowness of the water, and the water’s purity.
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Housing: Along the panhandle, coastal homes average $500,000, and beach front condominiums ranges from $115,000 to $1 million. The Panhandle is famous for planned communities such as Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and WaterColor; feel like resort living. Even some fishing cabins set in the peace and quiet of the wilderness of the woodlands are planned with luxury amenities and architecture flares. Mexico Beach, Apalachicola, and Panama City Beach’s tiny coastal cottages have more down to earth feel and still quite affordable..
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Amenities: There are many fine, culinary awarded restaurants around the Florida Panhandle. Shopping and places of warship are available and convenient. There are many community colleges and universities to keep one’s interest. Many outstanding medical facilities for any emergencies or routines medical needs are available through out the area. Bay County has one of America’s top 50 hospitals of the country’s hospital ranking. This region is home to Eglin Air Force Base, Tyndall Air force Base, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and Panama City Naval Coastal System Center. The presence of the U.S. Air Force bases and Naval Stations ensure the local employment and business opportunities.
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Recreations: The best activity may still be doing nothing at all. But, if you insist, with miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, many bays, bayous, lakes, and lagoons, water sports is the top of the list of recreational activities. The Gulf Coast is a fishing haven. St. Andrews Bay is one of the most species-diverse estuaries in the country. This means the abundance of trout, mullet, grouper, redfish, lobster, shrimp, crabs, oysters, and clams in the bays. One of the largest sport fishing fleets in the country is based in the area carrying visitors to the Gulf for tuna, marlin, snapper, and more. There are dive sites for snorkeling and diving, hundred of miles of Gulf waters, bays, lakes, and streams for exploring by boat, and at least 3 of Florida’s stated designated canoe trails are available. This coastal region offers many professionally designed golf courses for the enthusiasts. There are many well-known State Parks, nature trails, reservations, settlements, and museums to explore; amusement parks for children; and the world-famous Blue Angels who are stationed at the Naval Air Station.
A beach home itself is a great investment. Whether you live at the coast year round or you only go for vacations, there is nothing else quite like spending time at your beach home. The carefree feelings, breathing in the fresh sea breeze, and listening to the sound of the surf, these are the kinds of things that keep you at the beach, or lure you back year after year. |
