Anyone Been to Alabama/Florida Panhandle Beaches?

[Gumbo4x4]

We are going to that area for 4 days in December. How's the weather there then?
They are building a new 55 plus community, the first in that area, so we are going with my brother and his wife to check out the area to see if it's a place we want to move to.
It does look beautiful in the pictures. We are also checking out Tampa, Clearwater, Daytona Beach, and St. Augustine. They all have 55 plus communities there that we want to see. But First our Disney Trip this month!

It “can” be quite nice, as was the case for us in ‘99 when it was 80+ degrees every day. Mid 60’s is more typical, and sometimes it’s colder.

 

[DisneyHardin]

C'mon people.... Let somebody make their own decision about owning or renting!!!!
We sometimes go to beaches where rentals are not readily available.
For us...
I found two very nice beach chairs (not cheap one's) on a fire-sale clearance sight for less than 1/2 the regular price.
Sand-grabber online... maybe 10-20 dollars...
And, no an umbrella does not cost hundreds of dollars... $40.00 got us a very nice, but not huge, one.
No way a 'Dolly' would have to cost $100.00, either. That might be something we get for our next trip to the beach!

I was thinking the same thing. Our beach supplies weren't too expensive and we've had them for years. We are on our second beach cart because the wheel split on our old one, but I was glad to see that they redesigned the wheels and now they are a solid plastic and won't split again. I bought our umbrella at Sam's Club for $25 and our sand grabber at the gift shop at the beach for about $12.

 

[RangerPooh]

We’re in Destin right now and traffic is terrible, of course there’s also road construction and holiday traffic that’s aiding to it.

We’re staying at the Emerald Grand which provides beach chairs and umbrellas, as well as transportation to the beach area. As long as you’re on the first few shuttles of the days you’ll get a spot, arrive too late you’re sol. We arrive early!

We also have a big family so in our $50 beach cart from Costco is two life jackets, sand buckets, snorkeling gear for all, and a small ice chest. I carry our beach bag with snacks and towels. The cart was worth the money, you just pull it backwards as the tiny front wheels font do much. Still works better than the wagon we took to the beach last summer.

 

[luvsJack]

December will be too chilly for real beach weather, for sure...
I believe the weather starts to change around November....

Lynne, Would you mind telling what this community is???
Might be interesting!

This isn’t 100% true. The temps vary. The weather may change in October or November or not until January. Sort of like Orlando, it really varies. And for some getting in the water is fine in what we southerners think of as “winter” months.

The best bet is to look at averages for the month one plans to go.

 

[sonnyjane]

This isn’t 100% true. The temps vary. The weather may change in October or November or not until January. Sort of like Orlando, it really varies. And for some getting in the water is fine in what we southerners think of as “winter” months.

The best bet is to look at averages for the month one plans to go.

I agree that it can vary and you can have nice days in the winter, but not what I would consider beach weather, at least definitely not swimming beach weather. My mom’s school in Destin had a SNOW DAY last winter! When I go home for Christmas it’s usually in the 40’s.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, RangerPooh... Yes, the Emerald Grand, on the week of the 4th....
I feel for you!!!

If you have not, eat at Dewey's! (original, not on the Harbor)
And, I am guessing you want to check out some better gulf-front beaches, other than the one in the bay off East Pass.
We walk all the way over, around the jetties, and the Gulf there is usually SUPER nice!!!

 

[fairygagamother]

I'm another Watercolor/Rosemary Beach fan. It's very lovely & you can walk or ride bikes everywhere. It's touristy, but in a different way. More of a friendly community feel. The Watercolor Inn is fabulous!

 

[luvsJack]

I agree that it can vary and you can have nice days in the winter, but not what I would consider beach weather, at least definitely not swimming beach weather. My mom’s school in Destin had a SNOW DAY last winter! When I go home for Christmas it’s usually in the 40’s.

Yeah it can vary a LOT. There have been winters that we have gone to the beach in December/January and it was fine. Not hot but warm enough to enjoy the beach. Swimming depends on the person. We would wade. The water can be quite cool in the summer months so yes cold in the winter. But I have seen people in the water in December. And other years when it was to cold and windy to even think about sitting on the beach.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Not sure where some of the info mentioned is coming from....
But, We have been, many times, ranging in timeframe from late April to October.
I probably wouldn't be swimming before almost May. And, the water is warm enough in October. But, would start getting chilly for most.
The water can actually be hot along the shoreline in the heat of the summer months.

Yes, there can be warm sunny days, except for not-so-much in the dead of Winter.
As another poster mentioned... my sister visited Destin once during the Winter months, And, yes, it actually snowed.

 

[luvsJack]

Not sure where some of the info mentioned is coming from....
But, We have been, many times, ranging in timeframe from late April to October.
I probably wouldn't be swimming before almost May. And, the water is warm enough in October. But, would start getting chilly for most.
The water can actually be hot along the shoreline in the heat of the summer months.

Yes, there can be warm sunny days, except for not-so-much in the dead of Winter.
As another poster mentioned... my sister visited Destin once during the Winter months, And, yes, it actually snowed.

Well yeah it can snow. It can snow here too. I am not that far from the gulf. It can snow on our coast too. But that isn’t the norm. It can also be 90 degrees on Christmas Day. Many many Christmases are spent in shorts and flip flops.

I didn’t mean the water is cold in the summer but it is usually very refreshing. I have been to the beach during almost every month of the year. We drive that way for some reason or the other or I go with dh on the truck and we stop or we are on vacation. I have never encountered hot water. Even on Labor Day after a long hot summer the water was refreshing and in no way hot. Maybe we just go to different places??

It would also depend on what the pp is wanting to do in December. A beach day doesn’t always include swimming for everyone and many of the resorts have indoor pools so if she wants to go in December, that may be an option.

Like Gumbo said the average for December is on the 60’s. That is the best guide to go by since everyone is going to have different experiences due to the variances in weather.