patrick.net

I'd go panhandle personally. Yes, hurricanes can ramp up in the gulf and smash you, but inland 5-10 miles you can get cheap housing and not worry about storm surge. My mom just sold one of her houses in Milton on Garcon point. Canal front for $235k. Could get a boat that drafts 4' in there at any tide level and get out in Pensacola Bay or the Gulf if you got something that could handles that. Could flood during a hurricane, but it's a ranch with 3 beds and 2.1 baths. Pretty cheap in my world.

Wind is something you can't predict though, as even being inland it can rip your roof off or blow a tree into your house. But the best sand itself I've ever encountered is from about Orange Beach, AL to Panama City Beach, FL. Navarre Beach, FL and the National Seashore to the West is the best sand ever IMHO.

Water clarity is an issue as Clambo mentions, but if you get the right wind and weather, the water is damn near close to the Caribbean blue/emerald color. Very conservative as well if neighbors and politics are an issue. Tons of redneck millionaires from GA, AL and MS frequent the area since it's a 3-5 hour drive to the beach. They own most of the vacation rentals.

I know nothing of the Atlantic side besides cruising out of Miami and going to the Keys a couple times. Been to Anna Maria Island and Treasure Island on the gulf side. Going Sanibel Island area end of September. I'm younger and just don't like the vibe the further south you go. Lots of geezers and was kind of lame. Get the side eye bringing kids with as well.

Ceffer says

I was born in Jacksonville, LOL, but don't know anything about it (military brat, moved on).

Can you recommend areas closer to Jacksonville? I'm considering St Johns and St Augustine area as well.

WookieMan says

but inland 5-10 miles you can get cheap housing and not worry about storm surge.

How far in to be safe from storm surges?

zzyzzx says

WookieMan says

but inland 5-10 miles you can get cheap housing and not worry about storm surge.

How far in to be safe from storm surges?

My mom hasn't had her place flood. Since she's owned the places I don't think there's been much bigger than a Cat 3 though. Don't want to dox myself too much, but her two homes are on one of the inland waterways within that circle in the image. The others are maybe a mile inland from the Santa Rosa Sound and those have never flooded. They're actually trailers and they're survived every Hurricane or TS.

Other Floridans can opine, but I don't think storm surge is a huge issue once you're 5 miles inland. Your bigger concern would likely be wind from a hurricane or flooding from massive amounts of rain like we saw a couple years back with Houston Which is ~30-40 miles inland I believe

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