We went from Lake Charles to Pensacola to stay for a few days on our way down into Florida.  It’s a very beautiful area with a huge bay (Escambia Bay) as well as lots of white flat beaches.  The gulf coast is very different from the Pacific Ocean – it’s warmer although I wouldn’t say it was bath-water warm in December!  It’s also got very tiny waves.

We visited Fort Pickens, which was first established during the Civil War and was the site of a battle with the Union Army taking control of that Fort and fighting the Confederates who were at two other forts at different points in the mouth of Escambia Bay.  The fort was also used in WWI and WWII to protect the bay.  It’s mosly in ruins now but most of it is open to the public for a self-guided tour.  Here are pictures Jeff took at Fort Pickens.