[Kallysta]

I am moving to the Eglin AFB area in a few months, but I am not familiar with the area. I am looking for an easy commute to the base (ie. 20 minutes maximum, not stop & go traffic). A back injury is giving me difficulty with driving my stick shift car, so a long, traffic-heavy commute is definitely out. Any suggestions for good places to live? Ideally I'd like something within an easy drive of the beach, and a shopping mall (something with normal department stores..not Walmart). We are looking to rent a house, if that makes a difference. We don't have kids, so not too worried about schools.

Thanks!

[beachmouse]

20 minutes to the gate puts you in most of Ft. Walton Beach outside of Mary Esther, and also within Valparaiso, and the western part of Niceville.

I'd try looking a little bit south/southwest of base proper in the town of Shalimar or the Longwood/Poquito Bayou and Kenwood neighborhoods. Very easy commute to the west gate, and less aircraft noise than what you get in Valparaiso/ west Niceville.

That area's also a pretty easy shot down Eglin Parkway to the Okaloosa Island beaches. In terms of malls, Santa Rosa Mall and the shopping area around Mary Esther cutoff are rather of average. The nicer shopping is in eastern Destin around Destin Commons, but you really don't want to commute from Destin to base every day (and doubly the case during summer tourist traffic)