traveling from Marianna, FL to Las Cruces, NM. Part I: The Gulf Islands National Seashore
Traveling from Marianna, FL to Las Cruces, NM Part I. Gulf Islands National Seashore Our first stop was at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola, FL. I was starting to fret as we approached and then drove through Pensacola to get to the national seashore. It was very built-up, very crowded and very commercial. I mean, there were some attractive condos and apartments along the waterfront with bike paths and beaches galore, but that's just not my favorite sort of place. As we kept driving the buildings stopped and then it was miles and miles of beaches, dunes, waterways, sand and shrubs with a few historical batteries and an old fort, Fort Pickens, thrown in for some contrast and history. There were also bike paths, hiking trails and birds (😁!) including nesting osprey and bald eagles! Now doesn't that just sound like my sort of place? The weather, however was not quite as cooperative and was a bit on the sketchy side while we were ther...