Your traditions when vacationing in Sowal

[inside635]

What things do you do each time you come to South Walton for vacation? These are our traditions.
We always:
**drive from Dallas to Pensacola, spend the night then drive down 98 to 30A. We leave EARLY so we miss the Destin traffic.
**eat at Fudpuckers for lunch Saturday before we check into our house
**after lunch, stop at the Walmart near Mid-Bay Bridge and do a little grocery shopping--- non-perishables, of course. I try to talk the kids out of this insane practice but we always come out laughing about something that happened while we were there
**dine on shrimp and crab claws from Goatfeathers
**order pizza to go from Cafe Spiazza, but now the Pizza Bar to eat while we watch the movie in Seaside
What are your traditions?

[JUL]

Go to cottage...moan about having to go to Publix...go to Publix...order a pizza from Angelinas....walk the beach....then do Red Bar usually Fri or Sat which stinks because I don't like to wait all week to satisfy my craving. Courtyard Wine Bar and this year we added Fonville Press and now I can't wait to go to Georges.So many good places and not enough time.....

[scooterbug44]

Shrimper's crab cakes - either as a meal or on crackers w/ drinks while watching the sunset from the tower.

I actually have to buy a few of the frozen pre-visit just in case because while they will settle for frozen if fresh aren't available, no crab cakes is NOT an option! :biggrin:

[Paige]

We leave Arkansas Sat. morning at 3:30 am and meet up with my bro and his family at Seagrove Market around 1 pm so I can get my fried grouper sandwich ASAP. Next, we check in and fight over rooms. That night we eat pizza from Amore'. After that, its a free for all.

[shakennotstirred]

Our traditions have changed over the years. We used to have dinner at the Back Porch the first night there (with oyster shooters) then head to the Boathouse. Now we try to have lunch at the Back Porch (without oyster shooters) on the way to the airport on the last day.

Red Bar for crabcakes is a must every year.

We also have a night in where everyone makes an appetizer for dinner.

[KISH7374]

Walk the beach,walk the beach. every morning to watch the sun come up. We always try to take the kids to the Treasure ship for dinner 1 night. It is their big excursion. Last summer we took them on the Pirate ship. That will be a definite for next summer. Go to Seaside for the hand folded ice cream and visit the Glass Shop. I have a collection of the crystal shells and get a new one each year.

[jd]

We usually stay in Seagrove so the first thing we do is unload the bikes and ride to Seaside for a couple of drinks at Bud and Alleys roof top bar.
Of course, it's ALWAYS the Red Bar Friday or Saturday night for the crab cakes.... but I must say that the last time we were there it wasn't quite as good for some reason. Oh well, that's ok, I get another chance this weekend!!! Counting the days!!!:clap: I am praying for Fay to be long gone and the sun to be shining!!!!!!!!

[DD]

Red Bar, Grayton, Red Bar, Grayton, Red Bar, F Balcony, Red Bar, Grayton, F Balcony, Red Bar. :biggrin:

[Landlocked]

Arrive in SoWal.
Buy beer and 3 big plastic shovels.
Drag giant cooler to the beach.
Set up 4 tents.
Dig gigantic hole.
Empty said cooler.
Go to sleep.
;-)

[Miss Kitty]

Red Bar, Grayton, Red Bar, Grayton, Red Bar, F Balcony, Red Bar, Grayton, F Balcony, Red Bar. :biggrin:

Arrive in SoWal.
Buy beer and 3 big plastic shovels.
Drag giant cooler to the beach.
Set up 4 tents.
Dig gigantic hole.
Empty said cooler.
Go to sleep.
;-)

:floor:...after reading those answers, I will go to bed with a smile on my face!!! :wave:

[Landlocked]

:floor:...after reading those answers, I will go to bed with a smile on my face!!! :wave:

night night!
:wave:

[sowalgayboi]

Arrive at Rental company office around 10am and complain profusely that room is not ready. Leave in huff and roar thru Seaside at highway speeds. Setup camp city at Grayton corners to collect money for our softball team. Take money and go to Red Bar for several long island ice teas then roar back to rental office. Demand discount for inconveinience of having to wait for previous guests to check out and housekeepers to clean. Arrive at cottage and begin unpacking inflatable beds for extra guests not allowed. Drag everything in set up kennel for smuggled pet. Call front desk to complain about burned out light bulb and demand compensation. Load entire family and random people picked up along the way into the car. Arrive at Publix and proceed down each aisle as slow as possible, parking cart sideways when possible. Drive back to rental and begin cooking sloppiest meal ever making sure to coat ever square inch of kitchen with grease, ketchup, or chocolate. While kids wait give them red popsicles. Go to bed. Get up and haul tents, coolers, port-o-let, swing set, baby pool, crib, changing station, BBQ, chairs, and lazy-boy to beach. Spend daying attempting to dig to China. End of day go to local restaurant and let waiter/waitress babysit children while we get druuuunk. Drive bike path back to rental.

[inside635]

Arrive at Rental company office around 10am and complain profusely that room is not ready. Leave in huff and roar thru Seaside at highway speeds. Setup camp city at Grayton corners to collect money for our softball team. Take money and go to Red Bar for several long island ice teas then roar back to rental office. Demand discount for inconveinience of having to wait for previous guests to check out and housekeepers to clean. Arrive at cottage and begin unpacking inflatable beds for extra guests not allowed. Drag everything in set up kennel for smuggled pet. Call front desk to complain about burned out light bulb and demand compensation. Load entire family and random people picked up along the way into the car. Arrive at Publix and proceed down each aisle as slow as possible, parking cart sideways when possible. Drive back to rental and begin cooking sloppiest meal ever making sure to coat ever square inch of kitchen with grease, ketchup, or chocolate. While kids wait give them red popsicles. Go to bed. Get up and haul tents, coolers, port-o-let, swing set, baby pool, crib, changing station, BBQ, chairs, and lazy-boy to beach. Spend daying attempting to dig to China. End of day go to local restaurant and let waiter/waitress babysit children while we get druuuunk. Drive bike path back to rental.

Oh, that just made me chuckle. I'm sure it happens alot.

[sunspotbaby]

Oh, that just made me chuckle. I'm sure it happens alot.

Trust me...:roll:

[sowalgayboi]

Oh, that just made me chuckle. I'm sure it happens alot.

Just a conglomeration of everything I've ever witnessed or experienced. :cool:

[scooterbug44]

You forgot opening all the doors and windows and blasting the AC until it freezes over!

[sowalgayboi]

You forgot opening all the doors and windows and blasting the AC until it freezes over!

or the heat in the winter. :roll:

[RiverOtter]

Arrive in SoWal.
Buy beer and 3 big plastic shovels.
Drag giant cooler to the beach.
Set up 4 tents.
Dig gigantic hole.
Empty said cooler.
Go to sleep.
;-)

:cool:

[dcgoz]

Arrive at rented house, remark at how everything is for sale, swim/surf all day everyday (when the surf will allow it - i'm no idiot), scour local papers/websites for jobs, pay a visit to the cute lady at Capt. Zacs everyday, continue to marvel at how everything is for sale, sulk back to Birmingham and begin planning my next trip to SoWal. Spend the next several months looking at real estate and job sites (wow, everything is for sale) and dreaming of how I can live in Seagrove forever and ever...

[greenroomsurfer]

Arrive at Rental company office around 10am and complain profusely that room is not ready. Leave in huff and roar thru Seaside at highway speeds. Setup camp city at Grayton corners to collect money for our softball team. Take money and go to Red Bar for several long island ice teas then roar back to rental office. Demand discount for inconveinience of having to wait for previous guests to check out and housekeepers to clean. Arrive at cottage and begin unpacking inflatable beds for extra guests not allowed. Drag everything in set up kennel for smuggled pet. Call front desk to complain about burned out light bulb and demand compensation. Load entire family and random people picked up along the way into the car. Arrive at Publix and proceed down each aisle as slow as possible, parking cart sideways when possible. Drive back to rental and begin cooking sloppiest meal ever making sure to coat ever square inch of kitchen with grease, ketchup, or chocolate. While kids wait give them red popsicles. Go to bed. Get up and haul tents, coolers, port-o-let, swing set, baby pool, crib, changing station, BBQ, chairs, and lazy-boy to beach. Spend daying attempting to dig to China. End of day go to local restaurant and let waiter/waitress babysit children while we get druuuunk. Drive bike path back to rental.
Couldn't have been put any better!!!!9908

[kurt]

Added to SoWal.com home page.

[greenroomsurfer]

No you didn't!:yikes:

[Dreamsicle]

We also have a night in where everyone makes an appetizer for dinner.

We do that too!

Other traditions (some sadly in the past, as a few of these are no longer in existence):

-arrive; go to Publix, thank goodness we don't have to go to PCB for groceries anymore
-take bottle of wine to beach at Seaside around dusk, watch sun set
-rent bicycles
-lunch: oyster, shrimp & grouper basket at Seagrove Market
-make pass through Perspicasity
-dinner at home: lobster tails from Goatfeather's with that DEVASTATING garlic butter they sell
-junk shopping at Summer Place at the east end of 30A
-lunch: the Greek place in Grayton (I think he's not there any more :( )
-anytime: Oysters Seaside on the roof at Bud & Alley's
-bike ride on bike path - Seaside to Grayton and back
-scope out the clearance table at Patchouli's (back when it was in Seaside)
-late night walks on the sandpaths at Seaside
-at least one game night - Taboo, Charades, cards

Sigh. Wish I were there now.

[ohmom]

sunset, with an adult beverage
key lime pie from Seagrove Village Market
staring at the Gulf
beach chair at the surf line...if my book gets wet, I'm in the right spot
frisbee golf on the beach (sorry again to the nice lady who took a frisbee in the backside)
long walks on the beach with my cutie pie
the sounds...the sounds...the sounds of the wind and water keep me going through the midwest winter

[newyorker]

arrive in Seagrove after long drive, empty car and immediately go to beach. Buy seafood (all week) at Goatfeathers, make dinner, sit on balcany of condo and watch the surf. Every night, we bring beach chairs and bottle of wine to sunset (and now that our college-age kids drink, they join us--happily and responsibly). Friday night before leaving is Bud and Alley's for dinner. We used to have lunches at Cafe Spiazzia. And need I add--husband and I walked down the beach to Cafe Spiazzia for the Sangria slushie--which I miss terribly! Shopping at Publix (and Mr. Modica's). Drinking Mr. Modica's good port on the condo balcony.
Wishing we could come more often--but we've spent 13 years at Sowal this way, and our kids have grown up and now bring their college friends with us. So we must have good tradition.s

[kingfishn]

Pay taxes, insurance and love our visitors that think they can follow a 4 wheel drive
vehicle down on the beach....and then...Red Bar, Pandora's..and the New Old Salty
Dog...(Drinks are on Kansas)..

Nk

[dgsevier]

Our Traditions...
1) Walk the neighborhood picking up every flyer we can find of houses for sale
2) Comment on how our house has decreased in value
3) Comment further on how it seems to be a great time to buy
4) Run the numbers and realize not only can we not afford to buy another house, we can't afford the house we have
5) Get a bottle of wine and some dinner from Publix and realize that we can't even afford this long weekend in SOWAL
6) Max out our VISA and go back to Tennessee

[micki]

Drive down from Copley (Akron) OH, spend the night in Cullman or Montgomery AL, stop at Winn-Dixie for groceries (making sure to pick up a bag of Winn-Dixie Freeze Pops which are the best freeze pops on the planet), unpack, go to the beach, order a seafood pizza from Spicy Noodle, up at 5 AM (your time, 6 AM our time) for morning walks on the beach with my husband, spend too much money in the Seacrest and Rosemary shops with our daughters, buy some artsy things from Cara Roy and/or Fusion Art Glass at Seaside, eating all meals out on the condo balcony, pool, beach, pool, beach, pool, beach, pool, beach, pool, beach....

(A couple of years ago, we bought a bunch [embarassed to say how many] of Winn-Dixie freeze pops to bring back home, and the weight of them in the roof-top luggage carrier actually dented in the roof of our van and caused a leak that we had to get repaired. At one gas stop on the way home, my husband said, "I think the roof is caving in").

Next time, we want to rent bikes and see if we can ride the length of 30A and back. I am always an optimist.

[inside635]

Micki wrote: spend too much money in the Seacrest and Rosemary shops with our daughters

How could I have left that out? It's really not a tradition for us...well, I guess it is because it happens EVERY year. "But mom," the girls say, "won't I look great in (insert item here)! I also polish my toes and nails in the wildest, brightest, most neon orange or red color I can find. How beachy!

[sowalgayboi]

Next time, we want to rent bikes and see if we can ride the length of 30A and back. I am always an optimist.

I wouldn't try that one in July or August without a back up plan involving calling someone to come get you.

[singinchicken]

Next time, we want to rent bikes and see if we can ride the length of 30A and back. I am always an optimist.

Just follow the whack job in the orange pickup truck waving the gun. He'll clear the road for ya!

[micki]

I wouldn't try that one in July or August without a back up plan involving calling someone to come get you.

We're usually there the first week in June - and would probably get a 5 AM start. And, it's likely that our daughter's won't want to join us, so they will be back at the condo WITH the van (which can accomodate 2 bikes and 2 tired parents if need be).

[sowalgayboi]

We're usually there the first week in June - and would probably get a 5 AM start. And, it's likely that our daughter's won't want to join us, so they will be back at the condo WITH the van (which can accomodate 2 bikes and 2 tired parents if need be).

Good you're planning ahead. Are you sure you're a tourist? :biggrin:

[Paige]

How long is 30a from end to end? I've never spent anytime on the western most section. The farthest west we go is to Amore. I've riden a beach crusier there from Eastern lake before.

[sowalgayboi]

How long is 30a from end to end? I've never spent anytime on the western most section. The farthest west we go is to Amore. I've riden a beach crusier there from Eastern lake before.

Depends, I've heard 17 and 19 miles so I'm not a hundred percent. :idontno:

[bamabeachbum]

Youngest son loves Bruno's Pizza, so that is a first day meal for him.

Get up early, set up chairs, bring coffee down to the beach and enjoy the quite, listen to the ocean.

At night, wife and I like to take make a big big big pitcher of rita's and watch the stars down on the beach.

[3Sons]

Arrive at beach, unpack car, pump oodles of money into the local economy, mind my own business, keep my rental clean, my children within my reach at all times, drive safely, leave rental probably cleaner than when arrived, keep my eyes open for the locals who apparently have a huge chip on their shoulder (easy to identify......usually wear neck braces due to the whiplash caused from monitoring every license plate that enters area).

New vacation plan after visiting area for over 15 years, find a new destination......you people basically suck. Oh well, my one and only post isn't very positive is it?

[inside635]

Youngest son loves Bruno's Pizza, so that is a first day meal for him.

Get up early, set up chairs, bring coffee down to the beach and enjoy the quite, listen to the ocean.

At night, wife and I like to take make a big big big pitcher of rita's and watch the stars down on the beach.

We haven't done that yet but we will in 300 days, 7210 hours, 432615 minutes and 2595703 seconds. My kids think I'm a nerd by counting down the days until I get back to the beach.
I have a date and time countdown on my computer till we get to SoWal in 2009. If you are interested, it's dateand time.com

[sowalgayboi]

We haven't done that yet but we will in 300 days, 7210 hours, 432615 minutes and 2595703 seconds. My kids think I'm a nerd by counting down the days until I get back to the beach.
I have a date and time countdown on my computer till we get to SoWal in 2009. If you are interested, it's dateand time.com

:clap::clap:

Took me a second on the times there, I was reading it differently and thought it was over 3 years. :blush:

[amyt]

Arrive at Rental company office around 10am and complain profusely that room is not ready. Leave in huff and roar thru Seaside at highway speeds. Setup camp city at Grayton corners to collect money for our softball team. Take money and go to Red Bar for several long island ice teas then roar back to rental office. Demand discount for inconveinience of having to wait for previous guests to check out and housekeepers to clean. Arrive at cottage and begin unpacking inflatable beds for extra guests not allowed. Drag everything in set up kennel for smuggled pet. Call front desk to complain about burned out light bulb and demand compensation. Load entire family and random people picked up along the way into the car. Arrive at Publix and proceed down each aisle as slow as possible, parking cart sideways when possible. Drive back to rental and begin cooking sloppiest meal ever making sure to coat ever square inch of kitchen with grease, ketchup, or chocolate. While kids wait give them red popsicles. Go to bed. Get up and haul tents, coolers, port-o-let, swing set, baby pool, crib, changing station, BBQ, chairs, and lazy-boy to beach. Spend daying attempting to dig to China. End of day go to local restaurant and let waiter/waitress babysit children while we get druuuunk. Drive bike path back to rental.


Long time lurker here, but your "favorite traditions" prompted me to finally post for the first time. I have laughed myself silly then forwarded your post to all my beach house renting friends! You are a hoot and you nailed it perfectly! I love the Publix shoppers who get with all their housemates and plan their weeklong menu while blocking the milk section. Ooooh, you're too funny... write some more...

[sowalgayboi]

Long time lurker here, but your "favorite traditions" prompted me to finally post for the first time. I have laughed myself silly then forwarded your post to all my beach house renting friends! You are a hoot and you nailed it perfectly! I love the Publix shoppers who get with all their housemates and plan their weeklong menu while blocking the milk section. Ooooh, you're too funny... write some more...

I'm assuming that wasn't sarcasm, the end was a little hard to interpret. Thanks though, I'll be here until death. I've often contemplated on writing the "Renting to/from for dummies".

[jensieblue]

Drink a toast to the beautiful sunsels..Same as when I'm at Mallory in Key West. My children grew up listening for the for the hiss/sizzle when the sun hits the ocean on the horizon.at sunset I remember my Father's family tradition was to have a contest among all the children to see who could smell or see the ocean first. It served to keep us quite from Freeport to the beach at least.

[sunspotbaby]

Arrive at beach, unpack car, pump oodles of money into the local economy, mind my own business, keep my rental clean, my children within my reach at all times, drive safely, leave rental probably cleaner than when arrived, keep my eyes open for the locals who apparently have a huge chip on their shoulder (easy to identify......usually wear neck braces due to the whiplash caused from monitoring every license plate that enters area).

New vacation plan after visiting area for over 15 years, find a new destination......you people basically suck. Oh well, my one and only post isn't very positive is it?

We suck??? :idontno:

May the nice gulf breeze hit you in the back as you leave. See ya. :wave:

[Vandylaw]

Arrive at Rental company office around 10am and complain profusely that room is not ready. Leave in huff and roar thru Seaside at highway speeds. Setup camp city at Grayton corners to collect money for our softball team. Take money and go to Red Bar for several long island ice teas then roar back to rental office. Demand discount for inconveinience of having to wait for previous guests to check out and housekeepers to clean. Arrive at cottage and begin unpacking inflatable beds for extra guests not allowed. Drag everything in set up kennel for smuggled pet. Call front desk to complain about burned out light bulb and demand compensation. Load entire family and random people picked up along the way into the car. Arrive at Publix and proceed down each aisle as slow as possible, parking cart sideways when possible. Drive back to rental and begin cooking sloppiest meal ever making sure to coat ever square inch of kitchen with grease, ketchup, or chocolate. While kids wait give them red popsicles. Go to bed. Get up and haul tents, coolers, port-o-let, swing set, baby pool, crib, changing station, BBQ, chairs, and lazy-boy to beach. Spend daying attempting to dig to China. End of day go to local restaurant and let waiter/waitress babysit children while we get druuuunk. Drive bike path back to rental.

That's the funniest thing I have read here. Priceless!:lolabove:

This is my first year as an owner and I live in fear of red popsicles and strawberry maragrita mix :yikes: I'll get over it though. Thanks for the laugh.

[Annie M]

Is there a Frisbee Golf place in sowal?

[DD]

Is there a Frisbee Golf place in sowal?

Don't know..but cool 'tar. :clap:

[tistheseason]

I love this thread. We have a few places that we try to go to every trip . . . .but they aren't usualy restaurants. With little kids (5, 2) it usually is easier to eat in. We go out a few times for lunch or dinner but never to the same place, we rotate our favorites. The things we do seem to do every trip include:
1. Bike to the Rosemary butterfly park and look for butterflies.
2. Play on the Grass Mountain at Fonville Press.
3. Get donuts and smoked tuna salad and fresh bread from Wild Olives.
4. Wine and apps on the beach at sunset.
5. On the last night we are there, my husband cooks dinner. He thinks it's fun to try to make dinner out of all the things we have left. He usually comes up with a pretty good meal, bless him!

I look forward to making new traditions in the future. There is so much to do down there!!

[sowalgayboi]

Is there a Frisbee Golf place in sowal?

I've seen people playing what might be frolf at the Gulf Place and WaterColor lawns. More specifically Cerulean park in WaterColor.

[sewingB]

1st day--Check in at OSP. Leave my dad in a chair on the balcony--he's asleep before we leave for Publix. Stock up on goodies for the week. Stop at the liquor store. Tell the kids we'll get to the beach ASAP again and again and again. Eat dinner at the Seagrove Market outside. Grouper and shrimp for all. Usually then find a somewhere (Seaside most of the time) to stroll around till dinner settles and then look for dessert. We usually end up with key lime pie from somewhere--we love Seagrove market's and Publix's too.

Day 2 thru 7--Make breakfast--Mimosa's anyone? Leave Daddy on the balcony in a chair--notice a pattern?? and Off to the beach/pool or shopping. We try to stop back in every few hours and turn him or spray him down with SPF--haha!!

[ohmom]

make your own frisbee golf course...we went out on the beach, after a storm, pretty deserted wing a nerf football down the beach, we then frisbeed toward the football, mixed doubles-boy, girl and so on until each couple successfully landed frisbee on the football...we played nine "holes" and only bounced a frisbee off one lady stretched out on the sand...apologies issued and she was very forgiving...beers consumed, forgot to keep score, good clean, cheap fun

[Beach Angel]

arrive late afternoon (from cincinnati via an overnight in knoxville at the kid's condo) - unpack the cats and car stuff

eat our first meal at pizza by the sea (might try delivery next time!)

thank goodness for watercolor publix

pool daily at 8am for lovely, quiet time in spring, summer,fall

beach late afternoon to dusk with adult beverages, and bread for the gulls

reading on the porch or at the beach fall, winter, early spring

daily walks from seagrove to watercolor fall, winter and early spring

evening walks to seaside and watercolor

Christmas projects at fired up!

picnics from cocoon's at eden gardens - on the bayou!

pitchers of rum punch, consumed at all hours of day and night

ever changing rounds of favorite restaurants, always including d&k, pizza by the sea, flip flops, seagrove village market and red bar

ALWAYS thankful for our blessings - the beach, seagrove, the opportunity to share our house with friends and family, - and for each other!