With Crye*Leike Coastal Realty being the only Crye*Leike office in the Florida Panhandle, sometimes we have the opportunity to show properties beyond our Destin locale. Recently, I had such an occasion!
After a day in Milton, FL, showing two properties, 3:30 p.m. found my husband and me, starving! We decided to return to a local restaurant where, earlier, at the actual lunch hour, we had seen a full parking lot, Ace's Filling Station. It was a cute restaurant, themed around an old-fashioned "filling station!" If you're our age, you know what that is. If you're 20-30 years younger, you might not! Exterior walls displayed a collection of auto license tags from all over the U.S. Menu covers were old metal vehicle license plates hooked together. The menu, itself, had some terms like "1/4 full" and "1/2 full" to indicate the size of their platters. The food was tasty and plentiful. My husband found his Friday fav: fish (mullet), cheese grits, hushpuppies and salad. I needed some "comfort" and tried their country-fried steak, mashed potatoes (real home-cooked--even had some lumps!), zipper peas (seasoned like Mom's). Their Southern iced tea was refreshing and refilled, without requests. Their staff was friendly and accommodating. I'm sure we'll stop in again when we're back in the Milton area.
Milton, FL, is about an hour's drive northwest of Destin. U. S. 90 runs right through the historic, little town. It still has an active "downtown"--which is a rarity these days in "small town America." After checking out the local shops, one should take a few minutes to strol along the banks of the Blackwater River. The city has turned the riverfront into a family-friendly spot with wide-open walks, gazebos, and benches, should you want to "sit a spell" and watch the river traffic. Steps away, you'll find one of the most poignant Memorial Parks I've seen in a small town, honoring military service personnel. It is well worth your time to walk through and read the various plaques inscribed there.
If you decide to check out our Florida Panhandle neighborhood and make it to Milton, explore, shop, and reminisce. Then, when you're ready for something to eat, beyond the drive-through, fast-food burger, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you stop at Ace's Filling Station (located on U.S. 90) for a bite (or two or three)!