This was a Rosemary Beach adventure gone partly awry. I decided to have lunch with my friend Rhonda, who is also one of my agents at Rulnick Realty, and take a short drive to Rosemary Beach. It had been awhile, so we thought it would be fun to meander down Scenic Highway 30A. Ooops. We were wrong. For the most part, the drive down 30A was great, checking out all the Coastal Dune Lakes, bike trails and winding roads.  In mid-August, tourist traffic is down, well most of it. That is, of course, until you get to Seaside and Watercolor. Then we were driving behind vacationing cars and tourists crossing the road like ducklings.  Ok, ok, still we were having a good time, catching up and checking out the scenery. The congestion improved right past Seaside and through Alys Beach with its unearthly white houses and stately palms. Until we got to Rosemary Beach. Where should we eat? You could feel the vibe of “people” energy, lots of tourists of all ages,  baby carriages, bike riders, construction and delivery trucks. But we had a problem. Where to park?  Around and around we circled, hoping to eat at one of Rosemary Beach’s restaurants, like Summer Kitchen Restaurant Cafe,  Edward’s Fine Food and Wine, La Crema Tapas & Chocolate (really), or Havana Beach Bar & Grill at the Pearl Hotel.  I drove around three times, Rhonda egging me on to park behind someone’s garage. We finally gave up as I started getting dizzy from the pedestrian traffic in all directions and the cars doing aggressive Christmas mall parking maneuvers.  We left.

By this point our stomachs were rumbling, so we went to the next restaurant in sight, Shades Bar and Grill on the corner of 30A and Highway 98 in Inlet Beach.  Cool.  When you walked in there was a neat hostess station with chalk writing screaming “Draught Beer”, “Hot Wings”, “Crab Cakes” and more.  I settled for the Gulf Salad which featured the catch of the day, grouper. You could get it grilled or blackened, and I picked grilled. To be honest, it was a mediocre salad.  The fish was bland, and the spring lettuce was decorated with a few cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices.  Rhonda’s lunch was better. She got the Shrimp and Avocado Salad, loaded with black beans, tomatoes and cheese along with a citrus vinaigrette. She said it was very good. Our waiter was excellent, polite and professional. Maybe next time we would try one of the featured sandwiches, like the Chicken Jalapeno Wrap or Smoked Brisket Reuben, or one of the appetizers like Volcano Shrimp or Cider Glazed Pork Shanks. Today was not that day…. On the way back to Destin, we took Highway 98!

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, has been featured in “Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine” and “Florida Realtor Magazine”.  Wendy Rulnick sells real estate in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Panama City Beach Florida

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