Jim, the Panhandle is definitely a place I'd go back to. If I did much hiking I'd like to borrow a Rottie though, I have a little Gator phobia since I got chased by one on a golf course once.
The thing about that part of Florida is that you can shoot sunrises and sunsets, and add interest if you wish with parts of the beach leading into the shot. I flew in and didn't have my own car so much of the area went unexplored, but there are many state parks and lagoons and sand dunes to see. Lots of big birds flying up and down the coast.
Here is a shot of the colors when you get a few clouds in the sky. The colors and shapes change so much you can be there for 45 minutes getting good and different stuff. This is After Sunset:
