We are looking to move to the FL panhandle. I will follow this with interest.
What are you looking for?
If you're looking to be close to the beach but cheap cost of living, you can't beat Navarre, about 2 miles north of 98 and 2 miles west of 87.
You can check out their local press. Only problem is a supersonic air to ground range about 8 miles northeast of there, but the fighters are below supersonic speed before coming out of the range.
But the bomb drops and air to ground gun fire can go on until about 10pm.
The water is better east of
Destin.
Destin is a
vacation community, and considered very expensive, but really is the place to visit.
Just east of Fort Walton Beach FL is Oakaloosa Island, owned by Eglin AFB, but open to the public, except for a few small areas used by Special Forces for water landing training.
It’s beautiful and where the horses running on the beach scene was shot in the movie “Secondhand Lions”.
It’s about 5 miles of open Gulf of Mexico Beach with Emerald Green water, warm, and inviting, pictured in the opening post.
Seagrove Beach, FL is better, but more expensive, due to being the area where “The Truman Show” was shot.
There many retirees from all over the country that call Seagrove home.
If you're looking for rolling hills, then you'll be more than an hour away from the beach.
Sycamore, FL west of Tallahassee, Fl is about the hilliest area of Florida I know, and close to
Torreya State Park.
If you like clear fresh water and floats down the river, then consider
Manattee Road, FL near Manatee Springs State Park.
It's west south west of Gainsville, about 43 miles.
One other thing, you can't beat the
BX and
Commissary at Eglin AFB. It's one of the largest in the country.
The choices of merchandise are just fantastic. They compare or beat Ft Sam Houston BX and Commissary in San Antonio, TX.