Sandestin, FL to Panama City, FL

Today’s travel is almost 50 miles to C.S.S. Yacht Basin, near Panama City.

We will cruise in the Intracoastal Waterway the entire way. While the large ships are gone, the barges are still hanging around.

The cruise today is very scenic as we travel through mostly undeveloped land in the panhandle of Florida.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few derelict boats.

Whether these are the casualty of hurricanes, or an abandonment by the owner, they are expensive to remove from the waterway. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is responsible for identifying and removing these abandoned boats. Anyone who is caught purposely dumping their boat in this manner can be charged with a 3rd degree felony and 5 years in prison along with restitution to the state for the cost of the removal, which can be $400 to $800 a foot.

We also spy some unusual furry animals along the way. Why and how they got there, I have no idea.

We discover that this area of the panhandle will not be uninhabited for much longer. Today, land is being cleared, we assume, for the expansion of the nearby Latitude Margaritaville which eventually will encompass approximately 110,500 acres and 15 miles of frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway for its 3,500 homes.

According to their website, “Latitude Margaritaville is a new portfolio of active adult communities developed by the global lifestyle brand Margaritaville and master developer Minto Communities. Offering resort-style amenities, Latitude Margaritaville is the ideal destination for those looking to live the Margaritaville lifestyle as they grow older, but not up. The 55-and-better communities include single-family, villa and cottage homes, and feature walkable neighborhoods, golf cart friendly streets, lively Town Center and Town Square with bandshell for live music and dancing; resort-style Paradise Pool with beach entry, cabanas, tiki huts and poolside Changes in Attitude bar; tennis, pickleball and bocce ball courts; state-of-the-art Fins Up Fitness Center with aerobics studio, indoor lap pool, spa, fitness classes and wellness programs; Workin’ N’ Playin’ Center, Coconut Telegraph Business Center, Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant; Last Mango Theater for dances and banquets; The Hangar workshop for golf cart tune ups; even a Barkaritaville Pet Spa and Dog Park and much more.” Wow! That is a lot!

We finally arrive to our home for the night…C.S.S. Yacht Basin.

We will tie up to the long transient dock next to a restaurant which is currently closed down.

We are docked right near our buddy boat, FIJI.

The marina is nearby to several restaurants and a few small boutiques. I walk to one nearby and pick up a few things. 😁

Sandestin, FL to Panama City, FL

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