We're still on the road to Charleston, but I wanted you to see this place!

We've been on the move since leaving New Orleans (can't remember what day that was or what day this is!). Haven't had wifi until this morning, so I'm putting up this quick post - I don't have time to load the slideshow of New Orleans pictures so I'll do that when we get to Charleston -I know you're anxious to see them. In the meantime, I just had to show you pictures of this place that we stayed for one night: It's Fort Pickens State Park in Pensacola, Florida. Very different from Palmetto Island as you can see - two completely different habitats and experiences in the same state!

Pensacola is beautiful - it reminds me of a little Aruba (we went to Aruba for many years). A thin strip of island with hotels, beautiful beach homes and restaurants. Out at the tip is the state park with ... well, look for yourself!!

The day we traveled to get here, and our afternoon and night here were about as perfect as it gets! The drive wasn't too long at 4 hours, the place was easy to find, and by 2:30 pm our toes were in the sand, which looks like snow and feels like sugar. Sun warmed our shoulders and the breeze kept us cool - that perfect balance of warm and cool that you imagine on a perfect beach day. The water, which is the Gulf of Mexico,  is that blue-green Caribbean color I've longed to see again. Within minutes, we felt like we'd been there for a week.

AND! The state park fee is usually $20 for camping overnight. But with Dick's National Parks Golden Age Pass, it only cost us $10!!! Can you imagine - $10 a night for a fabulous "Caribbean vacation?"

We went into the town of Gulf Breeze, where Pensacola Beach is - basically one long road down the narrow island strip. On one side is the Gulf, on the other, Pensacola Bay. Hotels, beach homes and restaurants - very upscale. We dined on crab cakes and crabby macaroni and cheese at the Crab House, where they have these silly crab races. A fellow sang (pretty well too) Jimmy Buffet songs, and even a little Santana on his guitar. It was so great.

Okay, gotta run to do my "hit the road" chores - will post New Orleans slideshow when I get to Charleston, and then we'll be in Charleston for a whole week!