What) The sand here owes its distinctive white powdery appearance to quartz crystals that were carried to the coast by streams from the distant Appalachian Mountains and then pulverized by the relentless surf and bleached by the sun.  The nearly 30 miles of fine, sugar-like sand took centuries to accumulate and the result is soft to the touch and dazzling to the eye.  And then there's the sea.  The Gulf of Mexico's warm, green tinted water gives this portion of the Florida Panhandle it's Emerald Coast nickname. (from the CAA guidebook)

    Why) We took many walks along the beach during our trip but I thought Pam might find the history of the sand interesting.






























You can see the crystals here but there is no way I can show you the softness.








I can show you these birds that were also enjoying a walk along the coast.







Here is the ocean that we were all enjoying.







And here is Pam enjoying the birds.