Florida Panhandle: Is it OK to visit?

Thousands of people in the Cincinnati area visit the Florida beaches of Destin or Panama City every year. But now they are unsure if they should book a trip, even for next spring spring, because of the the oil spill.

So how bad are the beaches, and are they still worth visiting? I traveled there in the past two weeks to find out.

As Beautiful as Ever... Most Days

At first glance, the beaches from Destin to Panama City look as beautiful as ever. At Yellowfin Ocean Sports in Seagrove Beach, owner John Farmer is telling tourists worried about the oil spill to come on down.

"It's as pretty as it has ever been, but I tell them to call me a week before you come and I'll tell you the truth," he said.

But the truth -- as newspaper headlines up and down the Panhandle point out --is that the oil has arrived.

Panhandle Life Has Changed

Tar ball hunting has become a way of life on the beaches of South Walton, where mystery globs show up one morning, are quickly cleaned up, and don't come back for two weeks.

But with pools sitting empty, cancellations up sharply, and new reservations at a trickle, hotels are slashing prices and guaranteeing your stay.

For instance, The popular Sandestin Resort has a 24 hour cancelation policy for oil. Sterling Resorts in Destin now guarantees "a clean beach or your money back. "

Yet there's a catch to many of these guarantees. Resorts will tell you you can get a full refund if the beach is closed. But the problem is, even with tarballs, most beaches aren't closed. So don't expect a refund if tar washes up briefly during your stay.

Attractions May Close Without Warning

Another new problem you may face: The sudden closing of beach attractions. In Destin, the many fishing boat charter companies are now forced to cancel fishing trips whenever oil gets too close to shore.

On the day I visited, Dianne Alvardo of Destin's Harborwalk Marina told me, "we canceled our trips for tonight because oil is right outside the pass and they're closing the pass tonight."

So What Should You Do?

Dealing with oil has become a new way of life here. But most days, the beaches are still beautiful.

If the Panhandle has a special place in your heart, and you want to support all the businesses that are now struggling, consider the advice Alice Docketts gave me at the "30A Art and Junk shop:" She reminded me that the Panhandle is still open.

Bottom line: If you already have plans to visit the Panhandle, don't cancel. For the most part, the beaches are clean.

Not convinced? You can see many of them for yourself on live webcams

• Click here to see Destin live
• Click here to see Sandestin beach live.
• Click here to see Panama City live.

Meantime, if you're unsure about where to go during your next trip to Florida, click here for  my companion report on great Florida deals in oil-free areas. We show you some great discounts in oil free destinations in other parts of the state, like Sanibel Island, where hotels are also suffering even though there is little risk of ever seeing oil or tar.

What do you think?  Would you book a vacation to Destin or surrounding beaches right now, with resorts offering up to 30 percent off?  Or does the oil spill frighten you off? Post your thoughts in the comment box below.

And don't waste your money.

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