FLORIDA (AND ALABAMA) PANHANDLE
We made a conscious decision that in the coming years our travels would include a winter season getaway. With a few exceptions this getaway would be to a warmer climate. We started with the Florida panhandle. Dad had been interested in checking out Orange Beach, AL as an alternative beach vacation spot - he couldn't fit it in during a previous trip through Alabama and to New Orleans. Rosemary Beach came across Dad's Instagram feed. Those became the destination bookends. Pensacola slid in the middle.
We drove west along 30A, from Rosemary Beach to Seaside, a stunningly beautiful eight-mile stretch along Florida's Emerald Coast. The prime of the prime Florida Panhandle Beach communities. Rosemary Beach. Alys Beach. Seacrest. Seagrove. All master planned communities. Condensed, town-sized versions of Hilton Head with more luxurious touches. We were fortunate to find parking in Seagrove/Seaside. We walked through Seaside's town center/plaza - it felt like we had been transported a world away. I'm not a huge fan of master planned communities - they tend to feel too "manufactured" or "sterile". Seaside and the rest of the 30A communities are an exception. They've been perfectly planned. The coffee shops. The book stores. The toy stores. The restaurants. It all feels scripted but these communities deliver an Oscar winning performance.
The rain clouds and marine haze did not prevent us from checking out Seaside's beach. We walked through their pavilion then grab a flavored ice from one of the food trucks on the beach side of the pavilion - even these food trucks feel completely scripted, and maybe over a couple of days the scene here gets old, but what a first impression. An amazing start to our winter getaway.
It's the sort of ultra-planned community that reminds you of the film The Truman Show. And guess what? The town was the real-life setting of The Truman Show. There's a seashell pavilion in the center of the town plaza. We drove past Truman's house (second photo below on the right) and headed on our way.
On our way to Pensacola we stopped at Navarre Beach, a pristine, white sand beach considered one of the most beautiful in the county. Not much going on here which is probably how the locals like it.
We continued to Pensacola through the Gulf Islands National Seashore most of which is part of the U.S. National Parks System. More beautiful white sand beaches with a remote feel.
We reached Pensacola, put on our bathing suits and went to the beach. The Gulf water was cool although it's not as though Charlotte wades too deep into the water. We immediately went to the tried and true because activities - building castles and dripping sand. Our hotel was right on the beach and had a heated swimming pool. 
We ate a crab leg and fried fish dinner at Peg Leg Pete's. We were here out of season and this place was packed on a Friday night. We can't imagine how busy it is here during peak season. We then grabbed an ice cream cone and walked around Pensacola's Boardwalk area - it has nothing on the Jersey Shore boardwalks.

Pensacola was a good spot. Mostly high-rise hotels. Limited dining options. Relaxing place. We would definitely return, Uber over from Pensacola's airport, and park ourselves on the beach for a few days.
Pensacola also has the top attraction, at least in my opinion, along the Florida panhandle - the National Naval Aviation Museum. This Museum is on an active airbase - the airbase is home to the infamous Blue Angels squadron. Along with four Blue Angels hanging from the ceiling there's at least another twenty-five aircraft in the museum. Charlotte was still recovering from waking up at 3AM the previous morning so this was a quick visit.
A quick photo stop at Bamahenge, a fiberglass Stonehenge re-creation.
The following photos are from a stretch from Foley to Magnolia Springs to Fairhope. I don't know what I was expecting these towns to be, maybe I had no expectations, but these towns were all very nice. Foley and Magnolia Springs were on the quiet side. On a February Saturday, Fairhope was rocking. I don't want to oversell Fairhope, because it's still a small town, but something is going on here. A buzz of activity and development. Wawa opened an outpost here. A lot of new, recent investments. Decent barbeque. 
We spent our second night in Orange Beach - this felt like more of a family-oriented beach town. There were some amusement rides and miniature golf courses on the way into Gulf Shores. Lots of high-rise hotels several of which were being converted into either luxury hotels or condominiums. We stayed at a Hampton Inn and couldn't beat the beachfront value. We had dinner at The Gulf, a cool, hip restaurant on the beach. Would be a great place to drink and unwind after a day on the beach.
The next day we trudged back up Routes 292 and 98 - would for this to be an expressway. 

We reached Rosemary Beach, the crown jewel of the 30A communities, late morning. It was a bit chilly. That didn't stop us from exploring the town. Master planned to an extreme. Yet amazing. Perfectly planned. The cobblestone roads. The balcony-lined buildings. Where we in Europe?
We walked around the town center. Ate an ice cream. Shopped for books. Ate a light lunch.
The weather never quite warmed up enough to enjoy the beach for an extended period of time.
How much does Dad love Charlotte? We went to an indoor swimming pool believing a) that the pool was heated and b) there'd be towels. Neither were true. Charlotte could not be convinced to return to the hotel without taking a dip. Dad couldn't tell her no. We spent a long twenty minutes in the pool then used an undershirt and paper towels to dry off.
Chocolate fondue for desert.
The next day we drove to Alys Beach, the next town up/over from Rosemary Beach. Then returned to the airport.
Great trip. Not the relaxing recharge that Dad was hoping for because it's tough to sit and read a book at the beach or pool when a four-year-old is present. Can't spend an hour reading and writing in a coffee shop. We enjoyed the towns and the beach. It was a good getaway.