Contacts
Zach Henderson, Video/Web Designer (He does it all)
Documenting the place I love to live. This blog was a way for me to show everyone what my home really looks like and what is really going on.
If you see me on the beach stop me and say “Hi”
Katie Atwater, REALTOR
(850) 502-9120
Real Estate International
Luxury Real Estate specialist for Destin, Sandestin and 30A.
Our goal is to show you what our beaches look like on a daily basis and to not be dependent upon National News broadcasts to get you the true story. We work, live and play along the Emerald Coast and obviously this spill is a significant tragedy. We hope that this blog will help you make an informed decision about vacationing or investing in our area.
www.VRBO.com/35092 “Sand Dollar” Vacation property
Mike Henderson, REALTOR
(850) 259-7805
Real Estate International
I specialize in Real Estate For sale from Destin, Florida to 30A.
I started this blog to get the real story out. Real videos = Real Story.
We love the Emerald Coast. We live here, breath here and play here. Helping others understand what is going on in our area grew into this blog. My son Zach and I are planning to keep this site going and are in the process of opening a non- profit organization to help marine life in our area, if needed. I hope you enjoy the blog and if you have any questions, please post it in the comment section-we will answer you.
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Greetings – my husband, daughter and I have rented a home in the Blue Mountain beach area the week of June 12 – 20. We will be driving from Austin, TX, and it’s our first vacation in more than 7 years. Naturally, I am concerned about the oil ruining our vacation, but the short-term outlook seems to be good, thanks to your site. I know it’s totally unpredictable, but on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “not confident,” how confident are you that we will have a great time, with beautiful beaches and the scent of salty ocean (not oil!)? I know it’s a month away, and I suppose that’s what has me skeptical – it’s enough time for anything to happen. Thanks so much, I appreciate your insight. Leslie K., Round Rock, TX
June you might be ok it is really hard to get a clear picture for a month ahead but if the oil were to come to our area it will most likely not be large areas. They are expecting it to come in strips 400-500 feet long and have plans to try and and clean it before it comes to the beach. We will keep this site updated and let you know through the blog. 9 i would say
Hello! My family and I have a vacation planned for July 17 in Destin. What is the word on the oil in this time frame? I know its hard to tell but I am not finding any news on this time frame.
July would be hard to predict but with current moments and the dispersants they are using there is a possibility of little effect on the Destin area keep watching it would be weeks away before any major changes
look at your cancelation policy or call your rental company and ask most likely trip insurance wont cover it. Hard to predict becuase BP has not stop the flow of oil
Hello,
Is anybody doing water quality tests along the coastline? I’d hate to think my kids were swimming in unsafe waters.
Thanks
we are coming to Destin in two weeks. My wife and I honeymooned there two years ago and now we are coming back for a family vacation. I just wonder if it is going to be as beautiful as it was when we were there. This is our sons first trip to the beach. He is six and we want it to be something he will remember. This is our first family vacation. I just wanted to now what you thought it was going to be like in a couple weeks? I would hate to see the beautiful beaches soiled and the areas tourism hurt by this? Thank you
I would say no problem it looks clear till then. The beaches are actually at their best, water is beautiful now, they are clear and no problems. No problems i update the blog reagularly so if it changes i will post it here. Really the oil to this point has no effects at all
Mike
So I am still planning on coming down there next week the 12th. I was just wondering if it was still looking like it was going to be good or has the outlook changed since I was last on this site.
My family will be traveling to Destin in 10 days. My main question is about the smell–even if the oil gets removed by the booms. Will you keep us appraised of the air quality as well as whether or not the beaches are clean? Thanks in advance.
yes i will post it as it happens right now everything is all clear for Destin
what are the projections for the weeks of june 26th- july 11th
we have booked at hidden dunes for those 2 weeks
current forcast looks better for that time frame i will update if things change
No new postings on oil status for beaches over the weekend, we have heard many different things, we would love to know the truth. Also, if oil balls are washing up, is the water being tested and is it safe to still swim in?
Hi,
I have reservations for Navarre/Destin area this Saturday and all next week, can you tell me if there is any oil yet? It appears that this site hasn’t been updated since the 4th
I think you should be ok there are reports of dime size tarbalss in the navarre area it is about 20 miles west of us but destin is clear or if there is any oil active not noticable fromm the beach i was there this morning
Thanks for keeping us updated, it means a lot
Thank you so much for your blog. I have enjoyed reading your updates. My family is planning on vacationing in Destin the week of June 12, which is all next week. We have two children under age 3. Are things still looking good for next week? With our children being so small the beach was going to be our main activity of the vacation. Pools are so hard because the kids want in and out of the floats and the water is too deep for them. No kiddie pool at our condo. Please advise. I appreciate all the truth that you have posted. I think the media has skewed the facts. Also, do you have any other suggestions for attractions with small children. Thanks. Brandy
We have reservations during the week of July 11th. So far, we have no intention of cancelling them – oil or no oil. I really appreciate the updates that you provide on this website. It’s comforting to know that I have a resource of truthful information. Please keep up the outstanding work.
We are going to Destin June 19-26th? Do you think the beaches will be okay and not closed that week. Really looking forward to our vacation. Destin is my favorite place it is so beautiful!
Yes i do it will take more than has happened so far to close the beaches and the oil is moving away still we have not seen any oil yet
Vacation planned for July 17th – 22nd. Sterling Shores.
Appreciate all the information being provided on oil and tar balls. How about the smell of oil in the air and the lack of seafood at restaurants?
I’m not excited about having my morning coffee on vacation breathing in the fumes of burning oil or coming to the beach and having to eat hamburgers all week.
Thank you for the help you are providing with this website.
I was just at Sterling Shores my friend Donna lives there
There is no smell in the air and the seafood is still in great supply our waters and waters to east are not affect yet
I had fresh catch last night snapper and grouper me and my son cooked
I will be coming from Oklahoma to Sterling Shores June 17th – June 21st. This is my first visit to Destin and I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated your website. It has been very informative and I feel that you really tell it like it is.
If it wasn’t for your honest information I would’ve cancelled my vacation.
Thanks so much for all your blogs. Can’t wait to hit the beaches!!!!!
it is still clear and the water looks great for now i will keep you posted
Thank you so much for your blog! We are coming down for our annual trip to Destin this weekend June 20th-28th. We’re across from Sterling Shores…. We have never gone futher than the beaches around that area. What is the next set of Beaches to the east that might be oil free if we have oil next week? Also, we planned to do a Dolphin Cruise and maybe a fishing day trip… Are any of those types of events being cancelled or not operational in the area b/c of open water oil issues or fleets being in the service of BP?
We’re coming regardless, to support the area. Just need to have a backup plan for the kids in case we have to scrap a few days on the beach.
My partner Donna lives in Sterling Shores I talk to here all day if something happens on the beach i willl post
We just left Destin for a long weekend on the 13th and it was great! No signs (or smells) of oil anywhere. But I am concerned and would like to get some opinions regarding Destin in October. My fiance and I are supposed to be getting married on the beach in Destin on October 2nd and aren’t sure what to do at this point. Everything is booked/ordered/payed for and we don’t know if we should keep waiting it out and see what happens o go ahead and cancel it now. Trying to keep our guests in mind and don’t want anyone to not show or book their rooms or condos and then we have to cancel it anyway due to oil being in the waters or on the beaches. HELP!! Do we cancel the wedding on the beach or hope for the best? They still haven’t managed to stop the oil leak, so what’s that mean for the beach in 3 months?
Thanks
It is so hard to call I know weddings are important events in ones life i would say if doing reservation have a release cluase for the rentals if oil closes beaches there is just noway to be cetain that far out until they stop the leak and get more skimmers out around the spill source no telling how it will cycle in the GUlf
Thanks!! I will def. be checking back on this site for updates daily.
If you’d to subscribe to this blog press the orange RSS feed button on the very top right of the webpage which looks like three small lines. It will take you to another page. In the top yellow box there are three stars, third one says subscribe. If you select this it will bring up a dialog box to subscribe click OK.
Thanks for your daily updates. We’re scheduled to come down next Wednesday the 23rd for a week at Mirimar Beach and we’ve been watching your blog daily.
In the video of Okaloosa Island tar balls, it looked like there were several tar balls in the water as well washing in and out. Were those actually tar balls or was it pieces of June grass? If it was tar balls, how “saturated” was the water with the small pieces?
Thanks again.
By the time we got there, there was tarballs in the wave break not out in the water but i am sure it comes and goes the dark spots are tarballs the look and act like little shells there was reports of larger ones but we didnt see them. There were people swimming and i would say not saturated
A huge tar ball washed up on Crystal beach this evening and it is roped off but still there. We were walking on the beach around 10:00. The huge tar was not cleaned up it was just roped off. Very frustrating that they are not cleaning it up as soon as it hits.
We have been vacationing in Destin for 25 years. We love the area. How are things looking for the week of June 26 – July 3 in the Miramar Beach area?
Also, how safe is the water? We have a two year old. I am concerned about
letting him in the water.
Thanks
I went and swam in the water on Miramar on Fathers day it is clear. There has been tarballs in the water the fish havent died from it and really the walton county health department has not issued a warning for water and they are testing. Wether or not you go in is really your desision I cant make that call, safe or not but i go in and so does my son. The legal liabilty is very high for me to save safe so i probable never will.
Coming to Miramar Beach (Majestic Sun) 26 June-04 July…from Oklahoma…looking for insight into the projections for oil spill impact(s) to the water/beach. Our news channels are stating the oil has arrived in Destin; looking for the truth and you seem to be “the source”. Thanks very much for your updates, I look at them daily…keep them coming!
I just took a picture there today it is awsome I will post
My family and I are traveling from Fort Worth, TX starting Wednesday. It is such a long drive and my fear is that it is clear when we start out but once we get there it could move in. Are there any projections on if it still may hit and how soon if so? I have so appreciated your site! It has kept us informed, unlike the vage information on the news!
you should be good for next 5 days at least
There is a good chance it will be clear unless there is a unseen shift in the weather or currents. We have bts and crews on shore to help if there is a threat but as of now the drive will be worth it
I didn’t clarify, we will be there June 24-June 29. Thank you! Any information is helpful!
Mirmar Beach specifically!
Thank you so much for this site. I was in Destin last week and realized then the media is blowing this up. I have passed this web site on to everyone I know that is headed to Destin this summer We are due to go back the end of July….I will keep watching here not the news!!!!
Hi Mike,
Thanks so much for all these updates – this has been the most reliable source of info instead of the horror stories you hear on the news. We’re going to Destin in a month – July 24th – 31st. What’s your opinion of how long they’ll be able to keep this oil away? Is it only a matter of time, or do you think they’ll somehow dodge the bullet? I read a post from you days ago that said Ft. Walton was covered in tarballs. Reading that makes me so nervous about it coming ashore in Destin…
Thanks again!
we are clear from now the opil is out there and they are working to keep away but you just dont know i think I have enough people that work in the right areas to feel out a week but not longer and the weather patterns have been in our favor we will just keep updating but the sure amount that is daily going into gulf some day it will be here
what’s it like today, June 22??? I see the NOAA forcast has changed…(it shows a lot of Red along all of Destin) do you see any affect on the ground?
Thanks so much for this site-I check it daily and have been posting your site on my facebook for others to visit as well. I feel it’s the only place that I can go to get accurate info.
We have reservations for The Islander on Okaloosa Island for July 25 staying for one week. We will be traveling from Missouri. I did see your video of Okaloosa Island with the small pebble-like tarballs. Was curious if you can update us on the current situation there. I’m torn about whether to change my reservations to Destin on Miramar beach. My husband is hoping they will have the area in Okaloosa cleaned up by then but I’m not too hip on putting my daughters in the water if any oil/oil substance has been there-especially if I can go somewhere it hasn’t hit yet. Also, do you have any info on Panama City?
Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give or any insight on this situation!
I just was on Okaloosa Island it is clear there are tarballs on miramar beach today starting at 1 pm
I just came back from a week of vacay in Destin and I have to say your site was what I’ve looked to for guidance for weeks!
Destin was absolutely beautiful…the water was clear and no evidence whatsoever of oil. I hope the gorgeous white sands and water remain that way.
Thanks for providing all this useful information, we appreciate it!
I just returned from Destin, June 17th thru June 22nd. Stayed at Sterling Shores and the beaches were just wonderful. I was in the water every day with no signs of the oil spill. I so appreciated your site and I know that it has been a tremendous help to those visiting your beaches. It was my first visit to Destin but won’t be my last. Hang in there Destin, it will all be okay!!!
The news we are hearing this morning in Texas is that the beaches of Destin were hit with oil last night. We are coming to Destin July 2nd and I was wondering if it was just tar balls or if it is actual oil like the reports on Johnson Beach in Pensecola.
Thank you for your conitued reports. You are doing a great job.
need to know what the beaches look like today in Destin, heard some really bad reports today
coming July 2nd, to Sterling Sands, hoping to be able to still come, thanks so much for your reports.
They are in good shape some sporatic tarbalss but nothing to bad and the current and tide has helped out videos coming
Thanks for the continued updates and videos. I saw on DestinLog.com that a Swim Advisory was put out this afternoon for E Destin & Miramar beach area. I didn’t see any updates on that here. We have to make a decision whether to cancel our trip or not tomorrow. We’re scheduled to stay in Destiny East this coming week and are very concerned that it’s now really coming on-shore there.
Thanks for doing this. As someone who owns a house in Sandestin and lives 8 hours away. Good on the ground information has been a little tough to find. Thank you for doing this.
Coming to Destin on Sat 6/26/10 what are the current conditions at this point?/ We will be staying at the Holiday Sandestin..
Sandestin is the clearest beach it is open and watewater clear except for june grass
Just wanted to say thanks for blogging each day about the beaches. We’re planning on coming in for a long weekend over hte 4th and I’ve been following your postings everyday for a month.
Thank you for the updates.
Stand corrected Holiday beach Resort is my location!!
Mike,
Is the Holiday Beach Resort located in sandestin??
Went fishing today and the captain said we would go about 10 miles out. We probably went at least 10 miles east from the pass as we were fishing around Seaside but we were at least 4 or 5 miles off shore. No signs of any oil at all. In fact at one point we were fishing in such clear water that we could see our sinkers going down after counting to 15. These wer 16 oz sinkers. Caught a few snapper and some mingo but fishing wasn’t stellar.
Came back to the beach at the Crescent (Miramar) and swam with the boys in the gulf. Still lots of June grass and we did see a few tar balls about 6 feet from the shore, but like before, once you went past that one small line that had them in the water, it was clear farther out. June grass wasn’t as bad as it was yesterday during the mid afternoon but my wife and I were sitting in our beach chairs in the water until about 20 minutes ago and it was getting thicker and thicker.
My wife and son swam in the ocean this morning and saw absolutely no tar balls. Boogie boarding in the yellow flag waves until they came and picked us up at the dock from fishing.
Slight smell of sulfer from the water as we were sitting in it this afternoon. Not sure if its from the June grass or what it was from, but my wife and I both noticed it. It wasn’t strong, we just picked upon it.
I would absolutely suggest that you keep your vacation plans. We don’t live here, we’re just here on vacation and have been coming to the same place for the last nine years. We’re here through Wednesday the 30th and I’ll keep updating through then each day. No vested interest whether you come here or not but we’d hate to have people miss out on a vacation for basically no reason.
Today was another good day at Miramar beach. Walked from the Crescent ot the Whale’s Tale for breakfast. Saw a few scattered tar balls at the water’s edge but no more than 20 in about a mile of beach.
The June grass was still thick today but less and less as you go East. In fact at about 530 PM, my son and I walked about 1/4 mile down to the Edgewater condo’s and they had NO June grass at all. A guy in the water told me that it had only cleared up within the last half hour. Walked back to the Crescent and there was still June grass in the water there. Just kind of hit and miss on where it is and isn’t.
Water is extremely warm. We’ve been here in July and I thought the water was a little chilly first thing in the morning. Not right now. It’s actually a little too warm. Doesn’t give much relief from the heat when you get in.
We boogie boarded today as the waves were yellow flag again. If you compare dodging tar balls to dodging jellyfish later in the summer, the tar balls are much easier to navigate as they are few and far between. Just wish the reason the tar balls are here wasn’t actually happening. I’d gladly trade the dodging of the jellyfish for no oil in the water offshore but at this point, it is what it is.
Didn’t smell the sulfur smell like yesterday until late in the afternoon. Even then it was slight. Still not sure if its the June grass in the warm water or what is causing the smell. Maybe it’s me. Perhaps I just get a little gamey after being in the sun all day long???
I’ll keep posting to the blog but would ask that others that come down here post to the blog during your stay as well. Its really the only straight source of information that people have who are thinking of coming down. People spend a lot of money and drive a long way in many cases for these vacations and the more information everyone has, the better decisions they can make. That’s why I post. Others posted for me so I’m just returning the favor.
I am very confused, I have heard many things and done alot of research, including calling poinson control and the CDC. From what I understand if there are tarballs, then disbursent (sp!?) is in the water, whether you see it in the form of a “tarball” or not, and if the chemical is in the water, do you really want to swim in it? And if the chemical is in the water, does it not evaporate into the air?? The sulfur smell, someone spoke of, it also alarming, because a friend of mine was on Miramar beach last week, and the coast gaurd guy told her that everything is fine until you start to smell a rotten egg smell then it is dangerous. I am not an expert at all!!! But as far as this situation goes I don’t know that we have any experts! I LOVE Destin and have been going there for ten years, I was there in April with my four children, and unfortunately don’t think it will be the same for quite some time.. I have enjoyed the posts, and most of the video I have seen are of the beautiful beaches I know and love, but I am a little more concerned with the unseen!!! We have elected not to come down, as much as it hurts! Thanks again for all of your work, you truly love the beach and that is evident. I do however wish someone would step up and say “there are to many unknowns, no we can not say with 100 percent certainty that it is safe.” It is not just about the ugly the tar brings, I could get passed that, it is the toxicity. THIS IS ALL VERY SAD!!!! Good luck to everyone.
I understand and completely agree with your concerns about the sulfur smell.
This is from the EPA’s website:
“Rotten Egg” Odor
If you smell a “rotten egg” odor, you may be smelling hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
The levels of H2S that have been reported to date may cause irritation, but as stated above, these effects should go away when H2S levels go down, or when a person leaves the area.
While H2S is associated with oil and natural gas extraction, it also comes from marshes and sewage treatment plants. Because H2S has only been seen at individual monitors on an infrequent basis, this indicates the H2S is more likely from a local source near the monitor rather than from the oil spill. We do not know the exact source of H2S in these areas
I’m glad you said something about the rotten egg odor as I’ve been searching frantically since I read it.
Completely understand your hesitance to go to the beach. Hope everyone informs themselves as much as you have. It’s not easy to make the decision.
We are coming to destin on the july 4th and staying at Sundestin what is the beach looking like there.
Beach is good a little june grass but beaches clear Sundestin is with in a 1/2 mile of back porch videos and pelican beach so far we are clear
We spent the day on the beach today again just reading and relaxing. BIG waves provided great boogie boarding with the exception of the June grass. Water is still very warm of course. Didn’t smell any of hte sulfur this afternoon. I was checking for it so I could ask the beach service guys if it was normal but didn’t smell it today.
Definitely Westerly current as we were boogie boarding and we kept moving to the West.
Presence of tar balls was growing later in the afternoon. Not horrific but there were more this afternoon than this morning. This was also the first time that I saw the tar balls floating out in the surf. Usually they are right by the shoreline but they were in the waves later this afternoon which was a little bothersome.
Another oddity was the amount of fishing boats slowly moving to the West along the coastline at about 1:00 this afternoon. There were probably 12 of them and they were going about trolling speed but there weren’t any fishing poles off of the back and there weren’t any fishermen on the back decks of any of them. I don’t know if they had been out skimming and their shift was over and they were headed back to the harbor or what they were doing but it was kind of odd. A bunch of them headed out this morning at about 7:00 as well. Might have been the same ones. Starting a shift in the harbor at 6:00 and ending at 2:00 would make sense. Maybe someone could check that out for us.
Overall another good day but I’m concerned about the increase in tar balls this afternoon. We’ll see what tomorrow brings
those are the vessel of oppurtunity they are contracted by bp to patrol waters and spot for skimmers, which are the very large tanker size boats you might see. This will be a common sight for along while on the Emerald Coast asboput 2 to 6 miles off shore. There are some fishing boats mixed in but only a few. The fishing boats are still running out of the harbor.
Tar balls in Santa rosa beach
let us know where you are staying and if you get a chance email some pictures
Big red flag waves on Miramar beach this morning and the June grass is gone. Unfortunately the big waves apparently brought in more tar balls. They are little now though. When we got here on Wednesday, they were quarter to silver dollar sized and thicker. Now they’re fingernail size and thinner but there are a bunch more of them. Would love to get out in the big waves today but I think there are too many tar balls to mess with out there. The high tide line is defined by a thin line of black this morning.
Whereas we could walk along the beach and step over them the past few days, there are just too many little ones to casually step over now. Don’t now if the larger waves and current have broken the larger ones up so it seems like there are more or if there actually are more. Might be a Big Kahuna day if the thunderstorms pass.
Update from Miramar beach. Waves are so big today that the local beach setup guys were out surfing. When they came in I asked about tar farther out in the water and he said the tar balls were everywhere out there and more importantly the water was starting to taste like chemicals. Not a good sign. Still some people swimming in the water but I think we’re done with the ocean for this vacation. It’s truly sad because these are the days you dream of at the beach. Crystal clear water (no June grass) and huge waves which are pretty rare down here. The whole thing is just sad. Let’s pray for a speedy recovery and cleanup.
THANKS FOR KEEPING THE UPDATES COMING. WE ARE PLANNING A VACATION ON OAKALOOSA ISLAND EAST END AT THE ISLANDER AND THESE UPDATES REALLY HELP US IN DECIDING ABOUT KEEPING OUR PLANS AS THEY ARE. I PRAY EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL 4TH AT HE BEACHES.
WE LIVE IN GULFPORT, MS. 8 MILES FROM THE BEACH. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TAR BALLS AND GLOBS BUT PEOPLE STILL COME AND ENJOY AS BP IS STEADY CLEANING. KEEP PRAYING THEY GET THIS WELL STOPPED. THERE ARE 12 OR SO SKIMMERS ON ORDER AS OUR GOVENOR WANTS TO STOP IT BEFORE ANYMORE OIL GETS PAST THE ISLANDS IN THE PASSES. FIRST ONES WILL BE READY IN A MONTH OR SO. HERE IS ANOTHER SITE TO CHECK FOR INFO.
http://www.silviasellsre.com/SilviasellsRE/silviasellsre.com_1.html
My family and I are coming down on the 16th and really appreciate the website. Thanks so much for the updates! We have decided that we would like to spend part of our vacation volunteering in the clean up – the area is dear to us and we are hoping to retire there a few years down the road. Any volunteer information would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, I can’t thank you enough for this website and your hard work in these postings. Destin is one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s only 5 hours from here in Carrollton, Ga. west of Atlanta, and we come two or three times a year. We have reservations to come down the 3rd week of July, so we’re hoping and praying that the the conditions stay favorable. We also love going to the East Pass. Any news of tar chips there? Thanks for all you’re doing!
ANY NEWS ON THE BEACHES ON OAKALOOA ISLAND PLEASE?
THANKS
The beaches of Okaloosa Island are clearing since Friday. The predictions show it clearing even more over the next few days. The oil spill has moved a good distance to the west
I am on Okaloosa Island. We’ve been here since the 3rd. I promise that I would not even know there had been an oil spill if I hadn’t watched the news before coming here. I have not seen any oil and there is no smell at all. There are people here, we had to wait for a table at a restaurant (I was happy – good for the economy) and it seems like the same beach experience I’ve been having the last 20+ years! The media has totally blown the “oil covered beaches” out of proportion. They should spend more time accurately portraying which beaches they are referring to because it’s clear as a bell here on Okaloosa Island! Love it!
Thank you so much for the info on this. I stayed at Rosemary beach from July 1st through July 5th and never saw a single tar ball on the beach. Weather was beautiful and the beaches gorgeous.
I stayed on Okaloosa Island 6/25 through 7/3. Beaches were beautiful. Saw small and widlely scattered pebble-sized tar, but the clean-up crews were up and down the beaches every single day, some even working with red lights and four-wheelers at night. It was an awesome vacation and I’m glad I went! We snorkelled in Destin and swam in the water every single day, even when it was raining from the tropical storm, and fished from Okaloosa Pier. Don’t cancel your vacations! It’s worth it.
Hi Mike,
Your information is incredible! I have been reading your website twice everyday for the last couple of weeks. Thanks!
We have a trip to Topsail State Park planned for July 16-22. We were worried, of course, about driving from Houston and not being able to enjoy the Emerald Coast. Thanks to you, the vacation is still on! We will keep checking your updates daily-THANKS!
Hi, thankyou for providing such great information. I was planning a trip down to Seacreast beach in mid-August and was wondering what you thought about it?
This site has been phenomenal! Thank you for your time and effort and concern! We will be visting the areas of Destin and Ft Walton for the first time on July 11. I’m very excited and relieved to have this site to come to for reassurance that everything’s OK.
I may have missed it, but is there a recent update on any beaches in Ft Walton? We will be at Destin West Beach & Bay. I’ll be checking daily (as I have been for a while now) for any updates.
Thanks again, and Happy Summer!
we just went flying out on Okaloosa Island last nite. No video though Zach is learning to pilot but, it was clear. It has looked good over the last week
Just seen today’s post from Zach & now I’m nervous & confused:
Miramar Beach on 7-12. Water was similar to a normal day on the beach but walking the sand you can tell crews are in place to help when the oil spill hits. Today the beach was great was alittle thicker on june-grass but typical of July while looking at the water I didn’t see oil or tarchips. While on the beach, seeing all the bp crews and vehicles driving back and forth on the beach is a change that is welcoming to know they will be here when the beaches get bad.
crews in plact to help when the oil spill hits…..welcoming to know they will be here when the beaches get bad….. I thought the situation was looking up finally & that the oil had travelled further away & closer to Louisiana??? We have reservations starting the 26th and I had finally breathed a sigh of relief regarding our vacation being ruined until I read his post today. Is there something I don’t know? I looked at other posts under his and didn’t see anything about the oil hitting again. Was he just meaning “nice to know someone is here IN THE EVENT the oil heads back our way”??
The beaches are not predicted to get bad, I changed the writing. The basic thought, it is nice we have crews onsite here in case. The predictions look good for the next week for us. When you live here there is a little fatigue with the oil spill. In the back of your mind the thought is always there that it will come sometime. Then it goes farther away and you breathe. Then you wake up the next day and the first thing you do is look to see what the next prediction is.
Thanks Mike! Even though we don’t live there-we visit every year & we love it there. I’ve been so nervous all summer at the thought of oil hitting & ruining our visit (hubby refused to go if it did). We are sooo excited that our vacation is almost upon us and all is well for now! Thanks for clearing up the confusion and for taking the time to update us all daily.
Will the oil be at seagrove beach this following week when we are staying?
You should be clear the oil is holding around the drill site for now. You might see some tarballs but very sporatic and they do have signs on the beach
It should be clear in Seagrove Beach this next week you will see signs on the beach they have posted them everywhere in walton county to warn of risk of oil is present
Are the chemicals that bp put into the water to break up the oil in the area and are they poisonous
My family is coming to Destin for our annual vacation. We are staying at Holiday Surf and Racquet the 2nd week of August. We got a call today that the beach is quite small. Do you know anything about this or could you post a picture/video of the beach in front of the complex so give us a better idea of what they are talking about? I check your website daily and honestly would have more than likely cancelled our vacation if it weren’t for the information you’re providing. There are 26 members of my family coming with us and this new news is a little disappointing. Thank you for your hard work!! Keep it up!
This website has saved our vacation. It will be our first time to visit the emerald coast. Driving in from North Texas. With the news and media you would think its bad down there, but your website has provided the REAL information! I have tracked each day for over a month and I am SO glad we are heading down there this friday! THANK YOU for keeping us all posted on what the beaches really do look like down there. I am telling all my friends to head to the area and not listen to the media.
How are the great seafood restaurants in Destin doing? AJ’s and Lucky Snapper. They were our favorites when we were there 3 years ago. We are coming down from Missouri August 7-14, and staying in a condo at Miramar Beach. Looking forward to some great seafood while we are there.
They are all open and seafood has not been effect for them next year might be a different story for now there is pleanty of supply
Family and I were in Destin 7/12/10 to 7/18/10,great water ,great weather,great food,GOOD TIME! No oil,just a little June grass.Will be coming back next,can’t wait!