We are starting a new trend in our empty-nesterhood...finding a warm place to land for a couple of weeks in the middle of winter! We usually drive and listen to audio books along the way - one of our favorite things to do! It's usually a working vacation for The Hubs. He can work remotely so we find a nice place with a view and some warm temps in January. I take projects, a book to read, and cook most of our meals so we can afford to stay longer. :)
This year we were headed to Orange Beach, Alabama like we did in 2018, but then got a message that our condo owner had decided not to open the building until February. So we got our refund and scrambled to find something else. We ended up finding another place about 30 minutes east in Pensacola Beach, Florida. Unbeknownst to us, this was where Hurricane Sally hit last fall! But it turned out fine. The main bridge was out, so we had to drive 22 miles further, but other than that, the beaches were pristine. There were some tree debris around and some roofs under repair. 90% of the businesses were open. We had a great couple of weeks.
This year we got a place with a view. It was amazing to wake up and see the gulf from our bed. I enjoyed my hot tea each morning on the balcony with the sunrise and the sounds of the waves crashing. We watched for dolphins on the water's edge. A couple of mornings, I needed a coat, but most of the time it was a pleasant 50 degrees. Here's the highlights:
