![\"Caribbean\"](\"https:\/\/www.kokomoman.com\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Caribbean.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI\u2019m reporting to you from the Northernmost Caribbean. The next great adventure starts here. I moved here for the second time in June, 2009. Although I intended for that move to \u201cstick\u201d, circumstances took over and I moved away. This time I intend to stay here through late fall\u2026 and maybe forever.<\/p>\n
When Jimmy Buffett talked about the \u201cNorthernmost Caribbean\u201d, he was really talking the New Orleans and the area running along the coast to Gulfport, Mississippi & beyond. It\u2019s logical that this extends all the way to at least Panama City in Florida. Geographically, it makes sense that if New\u00a0\u00a0Orleans is in the Northernmost Caribbean, then certainly all of the Florida Panhandle is in the \u201cNorthernmost Caribbean\u201d too.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s more than just the same body of water connecting the Northernmost Caribbean to the regions in the more southerly Caribbean… there are a lot of other similarities. First there are the magnificent beaches. The beautiful sugar white sand beaches may be the best of anywhere in the Caribbean… Northernmost or otherwise. These beaches may be the biggest reason Panama City Beach has become \u201cthe<\/i><\/b>\u201d destination for \u201cSpring Break\u201d.<\/p>\n
These are not just some kind of man-made beaches like a lot of the tourist spots in other areas of the Caribbean. These are natural and stretch hundreds of miles from Mississippi all the way to east of Panama City. The water is clearly Caribbean too. During the spring, summer, and fall months, the water is warm and inviting for every kind of water activity you can imagine.<\/p>\n
The area has a lot of other similarities to more southern areas of the Caribbean. Tourism has become big business. When I first went to Destin many moons ago, there was a billboard just outside of town that proclaimed Destin as the \u201cLuckiest Little Fishing Village in the World\u201d and that\u2019s just what it was\u2026 a little fishing village.<\/p>\n
Well\u2026 that same sign is still there, but Destin has grown up. It is now similar to many of the cruise ports I have been to. There is a \u201cHarbor Walk\u201d area that has all of the tourist shops including a Del Sol T-shirt shop. Now all they need is a Diamonds International and they would rival any of the cruise ports in Cozumel, Grand Cayman or Roatan. Of course in Destin you can still charter fishing boats for a day on the ocean fishing like the \u201cOld Man and the Sea\u201d.<\/p>\n
More than places or things, it’s the attitude that makes this a lot like the rest of the Caribbean. It leans toward the laid back, “no problem mon”, style. Certainly people here have to make a living and work most days. But the intensity is turned down. Most folks living here realize that they are living at least close to the Caribbean and their lives are more relaxed. A day on the beach or out fishing… or a frozen concoction to help you hang on… \u00a0is at least as important as days at work.<\/p>\n
All along the coast you can rent everything from a little bungalow to a high-rise condo right on the beach. Those high rise condos have a stunning view of the ocean\u2026 and a stunning price. There\u2019s also just about every kind of activity you can imagine\u2026 water-parks, go-kart parks, parasailing, boating, swimming, and just about everything you might want to do on a vacation.<\/p>\n
Not far from here is Jellystone park. Yeah\u2026 really\u2026 Jellystone park. Of course they are capitalizing on Yogi\u2019s fame, but just the same, I\u2019m going to make a trip to Jellystone soon. Also the Swanee River\u2026 \u201chow I love ya, how I love ya\u201d\u2026 is not too far away. I\u2019ve driven by there a lot of times and each time I do I say I\u2019m going to stop there one day. Well, that day will be soon. Oh\u2026 the mouse place is only about six hours drive away so I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be visiting there too.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay tuned\u201d\u2026 I\u2019ll be reporting here on all the goings on in the region and as many adventures I can manage. I intend to post here at least once a week with pics and stories.<\/p>\n
The Northernmost Caribbean<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Adventures Continue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019m reporting to you from the Northernmost Caribbean. The next great adventure starts here. I moved here for the second time in June, 2009. Although I intended for that move to \u201cstick\u201d, circumstances took over and I moved away. This … Continue reading