m a g a z i n e
g n i n i d e t i r o 30A’s fav . s r a e y 8 2 r tradition fo
One legendary tradition. Two waterfront locations. on the beach in Seaside, FL 850.231.5900 on the water at Grand Lagoon, Panama City Beach 850.249.2111
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LEGENDARY BRANDS. ABUNDANT SELECTION. REAL SAVINGS. 110 STORES: Adidas, Ann Taylor Factory Store, BCBG Max Azria, Cole Haan, Dooney & Bourke, J.Crew, Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Loft Outlet, Nautica, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Tommy Hilfiger and more at savings of 25% to 65% every day. DESTIN, FL • ONE MILE WEST OF SANDESTIN® GOLF AND BEACH RESORT ON HIGHWAY 98 850-654-9771 • MON-SAT 10-9, SUN 10-6 • PREMIUMOUTLETS.COM/SILVERSANDS HOWARD GROUP | SIMON
What’s Inside Issue No. 1
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On the Cover m a g a z i n e
The shores along the Gulf of Mexico are known for their white sands, emerald waters, and laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. There’s always adventure to be had for paddleboarders, explorers of the deep, and fishermen of all ages. The sunsets are unparalleled. This iconic Northwest Florida– inspired image is a painting by Seaside-based artist Gordie Hinds created especially for Be magazine. Read more about the artist inside!
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Welcome!
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Gordie Hinds: The Artist Behind the Cover
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Life’s a Beach! Helpful Tips for Fun in the Sun
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Coastal Guardians—Gulf Islands National Seashore
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Destin: What’s in a Name?
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Growing and Eating Local
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Locally Grown Greens: Mac Farms
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Health in the Neighborhood: For the Health of It
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Taste the Difference: Twin Oaks Farm
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Healthy Earth = Healthy Earth: Dragonfly Fields
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The Champagne of Oysters: Apalachicola Oysters
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Great Events on the Coast
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Where You’d Rather Be
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What’s New? Get the Scoop on the Area’s Newest Restaurants and Shops
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Getting Real Along the Emerald Coast: An Insider’s Guide to the Great Outdoors
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America’s Favorite Beaches— Why You Made the Right Choice
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Newman-Dailey Resort Properties: Company Overview
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Newman-Dailey Properties
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Get a Taste of the Local Flavor: South Walton and Destin Dining Guide
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Who’s Looking Out for You? An Experienced Agent Is Your Best Guide
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Featured Real Estate
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Your Perfect Vacation Rental
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Serving Up an Exceptional Experience: Enjoy Tennis at Hidden Dunes
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Swing into Action: Local Golf Links and Greens
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Shopping in Style: Retail and Entertainment Centers
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Exciting Activities and Attractions
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Playing It Safe at the Beach DestinVacation.com 5
CREATIVE TEAM
Publisher Lisa Burwell
Editor-in-Chief Gerald Burwell
Assistant Editor Jordan Staggs
VP of Creative Services Bob Brown
Art Director Tracey Thomas
Graphic Designers Jeremy Kennedy Jake Meyer Troy Ruprecht Devan Allegri Watkins
Copy Editor
Margaret Stevenson
Contributing Writers
Sallie W. Boyles Melanie A. Cissone Kim Duke-Layden
Cheryl Casey Carlo Pieroni Romona Robbins
Tracy Louthain Anne W. Schultz
L. Jordan Swanson Bill Weckel
Contributing Photographers Renee Savary L. Jordan Swanson Mark Wallheiser
Marla and Shane Photographers Moon Creek Studios
Advertising Sales Excectutives Julie Dorr Mary Jane Kirby Scott Sajowitz
PUBLISHED BY
114 Logan Lane, Suite 4, Grayton Beach, FL 32459 www.theideaboutique.com Contact us at info@theideaboutique.com
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Welcome! Welcome to the inaugural issue of Where You’d Rather Be magazine. After opening Newman-Dailey Resort Properties in 1985, I’ve had the pleasure of watching South Walton and Destin evolve over the last several decades. Among the many changes we’ve experienced, one thing remains the same: the beauty and tranquility that can be found along our pristine shores. It is the one thing that consistently attracts visitors here year after year and fuels the desire to own a second home or move to this gorgeous coast as a full-time resident. But beyond the beaches, there are tales of people and places that have played a vital role in shaping the coastal communities of Northwest Florida. Through this issue of Where You’d Rather Be, we aim to share some of the incredible stories about the special places and the passionate individuals who bring life to our community. We know you want to be together with family and friends and have fun while you’re at
the beach, so we’ve also highlighted fun things to do, great places to eat, hot spots to shop, and more. With so many more stories to tell, we hope you’ll keep the stories coming by sharing your memories and vacation experiences with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ (#DestinVacation or #SouthWaltonVacation). Please enjoy our inaugural issue—we think you’ll come to find that this is where you’d rather be.
Founder and CEO, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
JEANNE DAILEY cofounded Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc. in Destin, Florida, in 1985 and became the sole owner of the growing company in 1988. She has since led Newman-Dailey to become one of the most successful companies along Florida’s Emerald Coast, specializing in resort rentals, sales, and association management in Destin, South Walton, and 30-A. With more than 220 combined years of experience at Newman-Dailey, the friendly team of professionals brings in-depth knowledge of the marketplace along with stellar service and warm welcomes.
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THE ARTIST BEHIND THE COVER BY KIM DUKE-LAYDEN In the late 1990s, Gordie Hinds moved to our little slice of paradise from Memphis, Tennessee. After obtaining his captain’s license, he bought a boat and launched his
new business, Angry Fish Charter Company. Business was good for Gordie—so good
that he decided to upgrade to a bigger boat. One day, while he was waiting for his new boat to arrive, he dropped by the House of Art, an art gallery in Grayton Beach that featured emerging folk artists. The gallery’s owner, Lisa Woodruff, who eventually added “Hinds” to her last name, recalls that fateful day well.
“He happened to be there during a hectic day and as I needed some time to take care of business, I asked him to go out back to my studio and ‘paint something.’ And, well, the rest is history!” says Lisa. Two decades later, the fishing charter business and the art gallery are still going strong, and though the two are no longer married, they still maintain the art business together. Last year, the gallery moved into Seaside’s tony artist haven, Ruskin Place, under a new moniker, Gordie Hinds Contemporary Art.
Although the themes and scenery vary in Gordie’s paintings, they tend to evoke either serenity or excitement. From the area’s rare coastal dune lakes to the chaos of a game boat cockpit with a big fish on the leader, Gordie believes that his best paintings embody movement, drawing the viewer into the moment. While Gordie doesn’t necessarily have just one favorite subject matter to paint, he does prefer scenes that show
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action, such as dogs chasing seagulls on the beach or a keeling sailboat in the throes of a race. “As long as there is a purpose or the illusion of more story within, I find those most gratifying.” Beach and coastal scenes are common threads in many of Gordie’s works, and he is often inspired by a combination of his surroundings and his personal experiences. “I may like the landscape, but it needs activity, people—people doing stuff, whatever. I tend to utilize my pencil sketches to fill in the blanks of a random landscape and scenes in order to give the effect of ‘being there.’ Sometimes it works,” says Gordie. Then he quips, “I bet that sounds excruciatingly and tragically artsy, doesn’t it?” Vivid acrylic paintings like this magazine’s cover are what Gordie is best known for, although he also works in oil, watercolor, and charcoal. “Oils are wonderful, but the drying time alone prevents them from being an entirely practical medium from a gallery standpoint,” explains Gordie, who primarily sketches in watercolor and pencil—he makes notes on them, so they rarely appear in the gallery. “It’s a pity really, as some of the sketches are my best work.” While this is the first time Gordie’s work has been published on a cover, his paintings have been seen in several publications, including Coastal Living magazine, which featured an extensive spread on him, broadening his clientele considerably. One of the things Lisa likes most about working in their gallery every day is getting to meet and chat with all the people who visit, and to hear firsthand their reactions to Gordie’s work. “Sometimes a painting will trigger a memory or a past experience, or they will ‘recognize’ someone in a painting. But for the most part, I think everyone loves this area, so it’s nice to be able to take home a painting that reminds them of this special place every time they look at it.” While Gordie may be the captain at sea, Lisa is at the helm of the gallery, as Gordie readily admits. “Lisa has been almost entirely responsible for that aspect of the business, and it would be outrageously improper for me to take any credit for that whatsoever. Her attention to the business side of the gallery has given me the ability to concentrate exclusively on painting when I’m not on the water fishing.”
“FROM THE OUTSET OF MY PAINTING CAREER, WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FABULOUSLY SUPPORTIVE CLIENT BASE.” 10
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The art world can be a very challenging business, but Gordie and Lisa have successfully maneuvered through uncharted waters for the past twenty-plus years. “From the outset of my painting career, we have been extremely fortunate to have a fabulously supportive client base,” says Gordie. “I suppose a good deal of our acceptance here has been due to the fact that we actually live here and do things here yearround that most visitors only get to do a few weeks per year, at best. Hopefully, the gallery is a reflection of what our clients appreciate about the area.” Gordie Hinds Contemporary Art is open every day from ten in the morning until sunset. For more information, visit Gordie Hinds Contemporary Art on Facebook, or call (850) 231-1041.
the Sun n i n u F r ips fo Helpful T
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9 THINGS TO BRING 1 Sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen! We recommend SPF 15 or higher, and remember to bring the lip balm. 2 Hats, visors, and sunglasses (bring a floatable cord if you plan to take a dip). 3 Flip-flops or sandals (these powdery sands can sizzle in the summertime). 4 Hydration! Pack plenty of nonalcoholic beverages such as bottled water with electrolytes or Gatorade, which can keep you from getting overheated and dehydrated. If you do plan to have an adult beverage, make sure to drink responsibly and avoid dehydration.
PROTECT OUR SEA TURTLES!
If you’re visiting the Emerald Coast between May 1 and October 31, you’re likely to see sea turtle nests clumped under sand piles up and down our beaches. Fascinating female sea turtles don’t need a GPS to find their nesting site—they return instinctively to the same exact place every two years to lay their eggs. Green and loggerhead sea turtles have long called the Emerald Coast home but, without our support, their populations will continue to decline. We’d love your help in ensuring that our beloved sea creatures are safe and sound during their critical nesting season.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
5 A cooler with snacks such as hummus, celery sticks, carrots, whole-grain chips, nuts, deli sandwiches, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, and refreshing seasonal fruits.
½½ Prevent all lights from illuminating the beach: Turn off balcony and porch lights and draw blinds each night. Avoid using torches, lanterns, flashlights, or flash photography while on the beach at night. Use only flashlights with red film covers (available at the South Walton Visitor Information Center), as sea turtles easily become disoriented on their crawl back to the surf.
6 If the kids are in tow—and even if they’re not—bring a Frisbee, boogie boards, rafts, a soft-foam football or a beach ball, and a pail and shovel for sand castle building.
½½ Look but don’t touch: disturbing or handling any sea turtles, their eggs, or their nests are federal and state violations.
7 If you’re not renting an umbrella and beach chairs, countless nearby stores sell no-hassle portable ones that you can carry. Don’t forget the beach towels!
½½ Don’t leave holes: fill in any holes you dig or create, whether from beach umbrellas or building sand castles, as doing so eliminates both potential tripping hazards for humans and obstacles for nesting sea turtles.
8 Your favorite music downloaded on your cell phone or a portable radio. As a courtesy, please bring earbuds if you like the volume loud.
½½ Keep the beach clean and reduce litter by properly disposing of your trash. Waste bins are located at all beach access points.
9 Books, crossword puzzles, or a tablet for reading and catching up on Facebook posts—better yet, post your own and show your friends back home how much fun you’re having (please share them with us on our page, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties).
½½ Remove all personal items from the beach each night; failure to do so on South Walton beaches is a county ordinance violation and your belongings will be discarded.
THE ABC AND DS OF EMERALD COAST BEACHES ALCOHOL: Except at state parks, alcohol is allowed on beaches for of-age drinkers; however, no glass is permitted on the beach. BONFIRES: Fires are illegal on the beach between the water’s edge and mean high-water mark or vegetation line, whichever is farther. Bonfire permits can be obtained from the county in some areas.
CASTING: Fishing from the shoreline requires a saltwater fishing license (available at several area locations, including Walmart). This includes all anglers fishing from or on a sandbar or any other landmass accessible by boat or by swimming through water deeper than four feet. DOGS: Visitors are not permitted to have dogs on Destin or state park beaches. On South Walton public beaches, residents who have
obtained a proper permit and tag are allowed to bring leashed dogs on the beach. DUNES: Natural sand dunes are very fragile and vital for protection against storms. They also provide shelter for our local wildlife. Walking or playing on beach dunes is not allowed at any time. Please use beach walkovers and designated access routes to get to the shore. DestinVacation.com 13
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Coastal Guardians Gulf Islands National Seashore By Anne W. Schultz • Photography by Cheryl Casey
Nothing clutters the unbroken symmetry of dunes rising and falling like ocean swells down to beaches lapped by the clear greenish-blue water distinctive to Florida’s northwest Gulf Coast. Silence as dense as a moistureladen fog permeates the atmosphere. Although the scene appears devoid of life, some of Florida’s most unique and threatened species are sustained by these barrier islands that stretch 160 miles west from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to Cat Island, Mississippi, now protected in Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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One of the paradoxes of barrier islands is that their strength and resilience is a result of their fragile and fluid nature. Most visitors will never see all the life forms nourished by these islands, but here are a few. Their soft sands provide cushy layovers for migratory birds flying north after a balmy Caribbean winter. In summer, female sea turtles find these secluded beaches ideal sites for laying their eggs, as do shorebirds. Native Americans camped and fished off their abundant offshore waters. Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna and crew found safe harbor and attempted settlement here in 1559. It’s always been the mainland’s first line of defense, a shock absorber for hurricanes roaring in from Africa. Now it also provides recreation and refuge for the five million people visiting every year. It usually requires a long flight to discover a paradise of undeveloped islands like these. 16
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But here they are—made in America—a barricade of islands running parallel to and separated from the mainland by brackish waters of bayous, sounds, and bays. Count on America’s national parks to save our richest treasures—those natural landmarks that retain the authentic character of our country—and preserve the abundant natural resources that have attracted and sustained human life since Native Americans starting arriving twenty to thirty thousand years ago. To explore the Florida sections of the park, begin at Fort Pickens. Drive over Pensacola Bay on the bridge and enter a magical realm where America’s earliest history played out on Santa Rosa Island. Besides military forts and archaeological sites, Fort Pickens abounds in untrammeled beaches for hiking and
crystal Gulf waters for swimming, boating, and kayaking: a complete getaway from the stresses that characterize our twenty-firstcentury lifestyle.
FORT PICKENS A drive through the density of Pensacola Beach shows you what these pristine islands were saved from when protected as part of the national seashore in 1971. They are a living history museum, preserving what the Florida Gulf Coast once looked like from the Pensacola region to Destin before intensive development. Feel lucky to even glimpse the beach or water through the wall-to-wall condos, high-rises, shops, and restaurants that ironically block the reason people flock here. Keep driving until the scenery opens up into a spacious, luminous scene of rolling dunes, blue skies, and sparkling seas.
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It’s hard to miss the large white cross crowning one of the few high dunes spared by Hurricane Ivan. It marks the site where Dominican friars in the party of Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna held their first religious service in 1559. Those sailors must have been grateful for calm Gulf waters and a deep protective harbor after a choppy Atlantic crossing. William Bartram, the first American naturalist, described Pensacola Harbor in 1775 as “safe and large enough to shelter all the navies of Europe.” It’s doubtful they had ever encountered sand so blindingly white that it resembles drifted snow. “While the powder-white sand is mostly quartz, it originates in the Appalachian Mountains as granite that’s washed seaward by rivers and creeks until pulverized into fine grains that are swept onto shore by currents,” explains Mike Aymond, who has worked as a park ranger for more than twenty years and specializes in resource education. Ancient scriptures about the foolishness of building houses on sand make practical sense as well as spiritual wisdom when you learn more about barrier islands. “Most don’t realize the islands are constantly moving and shifting, reshaped by wind and waves,” says Aymond. “They are one of Florida’s most dynamic landforms. In big storms like hurricanes, they even roll over on themselves. One of the paradoxes of barrier islands is that their strength and resilience is a result of their fragile and fluid nature.” Aymond teaches these and other fascinating facts to schoolchildren on the barrier island ecology walk that’s part of the environmental education program offered by the park. “As future stewards of the planet, these children need to understand how nature works to make better-informed decisions,” he says. They learn how they can make a difference right now. “Regardless of where you live, everything you put on your lawn and pour down the drain will end up in the ocean eventually.” Science comes to life at the amazing state-of-the-art interpretative center Aymond helped design. Sounds of booming cannons shattered the island’s quiet in 1861 when Union and Confederate troops clashed at Fort Pickens, one of the forts now open for visitors. These national seashore forts span over three hundred 18
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years, from the Spanish Colonial era Bateria de San Antonio on Pensacola Naval Air Station to the World War II vintage Battery 234, as one of the largest collections of evolving seacoast defenses in the country. Fort Pickens also gained the infamous distinction of holding Apache warrior Geronimo as a prisoner from 1886 to 1888. Stroll down the length of Santa Rosa Island on the Florida National Scenic Trail, the only one of the National Scenic Trails to traverse a beach. Wander inland on the Blackbird Marsh Nature Trail and walk past marshes and wetlands until you reach a battery fortification where a narrow footpath leads to breathtaking Gulf views. A variety of wildlife habitats, including beaches and dunes, freshwater and salt marshes, and a maritime forest, draw large numbers of birds. Three hundred and forty-five species have been identified since counting began in 1965. Long stretches of open beach attract scores of nesting shorebirds. Black skimmers and least 20
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terns nest in colonies from March to August, while Wilson’s plovers are solitary nesters. The rare snowy plover nests from February to August. Help these shorebirds survive by being a responsible beach user. Stay at least three hundred feet away from a nest; you are too close if birds become agitated. Use designated walkways and don’t walk in posted areas. Always secure dogs on leashes and keep the beach clean of food and litter that can entangle birds and other wildlife. Nesting shorebirds are not the only ones who keep returning. “The park is so familyoriented that generations come back year after year for family reunions. People talk about it as their therapy: they get out in fresh air and sunshine, hear the water, and watch kids play on the beach. It’s an idyllic experience,” shares Aymond.
NAVAL LIVE OAKS For many today, Florida’s Gulf Coast is all about fun and sun, but that was not always the case. In the late 1700s and early 1800s,
marauding pirates attacked ships, snatched hundreds of seamen from decks, and held them as prisoners for ransom. Conflict fermented along these shores until the American Navy outfoxed their enemies by using a tree! A live oak tree’s resistance to rot, disease, and decay make it an ideal material for building ships. The Mediterranean-based pirates had no access to this durable wood as this particular live oak species only grows along Southern coastal regions from southeastern Virginia to Texas. To ensure future supplies, John Quincy Adams protected live oaks in America’s first federal tree farm in 1828. Descendants of the old-growth trees are still protected at Naval Live Oaks, a section located off US Highway 98 near Gulf Breeze. “Pirates must have puzzled about why the cannonballs they fired bounced right off our warships,” exclaims Sigrid Benson, a former writer and editor for the USDA Forest Service and park volunteer for twelve years. “Once they figured out live oak wood made the difference, they started poaching
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the trees. People love our exhibit where you see for yourself just how heavy this wood is compared to other trees. They have no trouble using a rope pulley to raise a block of pine, but few make headway lifting the live oak block even a few inches.” A plaster replica of a massive live oak dominates the park visitor center where panels tell the history of the region and about live oaks. Although iron and steel later replaced wooden warships, these majestic trees remain as old warhorses, still defending the natural and historical assets of our Southern shores and their people as they have since the barrier islands formed five thousand years ago. One information panel enlightens us: “Trees our nation once preserved for military defense now protect our coastlines in unexpected ways.” Some of those ways include sheltering coastal communities from hurricane winds as they reduce wind speed by at least fifteen miles per hour. Their broad canopies provide shelter for local and migratory birds. Insects, rodents, and small mammals secure homes in the fallen
leaves, bark, and expansive roots. “Live oaks turn a hammock into a home,” reads another panel. They provide quality of life by absorbing carbon dioxide and replenishing it with fresh oxygen. They also help prevent erosion, nourish the soil, and inspire us with their sheltering beauty. Stroll down the Breckenridge Nature Trail, an interpretative path behind the visitor’s center to learn more about native flora and fauna. Cross US Highway 98 to hike the Andrew Jackson Trail down the first road connecting Pensacola to St. Augustine. Or see how the expression “busy as a beaver” came about by watching these enterprising animals at work on Beaver Pond Trail. Old Borrow Pit Trail leads through longleaf and sand pine communities where you can observe how prescribed burns rejuvenate forests of this type.
OKALOOSA SEGMENT On the outskirts of Fort Walton Beach, drop by the Okaloosa section off US Highway 98 on the way to Destin. It’s mainly a large open grassy area with a boat launch and narrow
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paths leading to the bay and its long narrow beach. This day-use facility offers picnic tables, beach walks, and swimming. Like other sections of the park, it’s an interlude of tranquility woven between bustling beach communities where you can chill out and just be. “Barrier islands are magical places. Here nature reveals itself a little more readily, geological processes may be observed a little more easily, and patterns seem to emerge from chaos,” Aymond shares. Like migratory birds, we need resting places where we find refuge from the distractions of our time. Come empty-handed, leaving your cell phone behind, and enter a timeless sanctuary where you find peace and serenity: qualities never outdated but sought in every generation. No wonder prophets, sages, mystics, and religious teachers retreated alone to natural places like mountaintops, the seashore, and into the wilderness, seeking enlightenment and silence to better hear the still small voice within. These Gulf Islands welcome us today, still providing refuge from the storms of life.
Park Information Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida District Headquarters 1801 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 (850) 934-2600 or visit: www.nps.gov/guis
®
Gift Card
FREE fun with each night you stay
Newman-Dailey Gift Card When you book with Newman-Dailey, you’ll get much more than just great accommodations and superb customer service. With each night’s stay, you’ll get free stuff through our Gift Card program, as well as incredible special offers on area activities, attractions, restaurants and more. Find out more information and view the special offers at: d e s t i n va c at i o n . c o m / g i f t - c a r d
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CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE! * SNORKELING * SNUBA * SHELLING * * DOLPHINS * FISHING * 66 Harbor Blvd - Destin, Florida - In Harborwalk Village
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Destin What’s in a Name? BY TRACY LOUTHAIN
There are many monikers for Northwest Florida’s coastal region— the Emerald Coast and the Florida Panhandle are but a couple. And while there are multiple cities that make up this region, the city of Destin, also known as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village, is one of the most recognizable. It was named “Destin” in 1904 but was not incorporated as a city until 1985.
W
hat is the meaning behind this notable name that is now synonymous with some of the most beautiful beaches and most abundant fishing in the world? Interestingly, the name “Destin” has a French origin and means “destiny.” Many think it was indeed destiny that brought a resilient and determined young man named Leonard Destin to the area in 1840. Those who knew Leonard knew he was courageous and tough and had an immense appreciation for family and hard work. Leonard was one of six children whose father, George, was a fisherman in New London, Connecticut. As Leonard grew older, he would sail each winter with
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his father from Connecticut down the eastern seaboard to Key West to work in the wrecking business. Ships would frequently sink on the reefs around the Keys, providing a very lucrative business for ship captains in the early 1800s. One year, on the trip down, Leonard, his father, and one of his brothers, William, ran into a hurricane near Cape Canaveral, Florida. His father and brother were lost at sea, but Leonard managed to survive the storm. It is believed he made his way to Key West and stayed in the area for a while before sailing up the coast of Florida in search of the best fishing. He found an abundance of red snapper in the waters outside the East
Pass in the Florida Panhandle and decided to settle in the area. In 1845, Leonard met and married Martha McCullom from South Carolina. The region was largely a military reservation and Leonard claimed a parcel of land near the East Pass, where he built a home. Frequent battles in the region between militia and Creek and Seminole Indians were common, and Leonard was always prepared to defend himself and his family. As the intensity of the Civil War increased, Leonard’s Yankee upbringing made him a target. He was suspected of being a spy and nearly killed. Since two of Martha’s brothers served in the Confederate army, Leonard was taken into custody and imprisoned near Freeport, Florida. With his execution looming, Leonard’s life was ultimately spared by a judge who was a fellow Mason and would not persecute a member of the Masonic Lodge. By the late 1870s, Leonard had built a thriving commercial fishery and employed many people in the community (known as East Pass). In 1879, he hired a thirteen-year-old boy named William Marler. In a few short years, Leonard gave William command of his own ship, and “Captain Billy” created an informal post office in East Pass. With only a small number of families in the region, it was a close-knit community and each family helped one another while living a relatively primitive life. Leonard cherished time with his family, including his wife, four sons, and three daughters, until his death in 1884. After Leonard’s death, his commercial fishing business, led by his sons, continued to flourish. In 1904, Captain Billy was formally made the area’s postmaster. When the Post Office Department in Washington, D.C., asked for the official name of the new post office, Captain Billy responded with “Destin” in honor of his boss and friend, Leonard Destin. The post office was named more than a century ago, and Leonard’s descendants continued the family business. Generations of Destins have grown up fishing the rich waters outside of the East Pass while overcoming challenges, including severe storms that have swept through the region. Leonard’s great-great-great-grandson, Dewey Destin, started working on the boats and in the seafood processing plants at a very early age. After attending school at Auburn University, he returned to the family business. The business had grown to eleven commercial fishing boats with fifty crewman and thirty thousand square feet of freezers when the family
was faced with a new challenge. In 2000, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission banned net fishing. All of Dewey’s vessels and equipment were fashioned for net fishing, and while he tried to repurpose the boats and integrate new equipment, the learning curve and costs were steep. With the same perseverance, determination, and family values that Leonard had embodied, Dewey and the family redirected their energy and talents to a new venture—the restaurant industry. In 2001, Dewey, along with his wife, Rebecca, his sister Nina, and his kids, opened Dewey Destin’s Seafood and Restaurant overlooking Crab Island and the East Pass. The transition was seamless. Much of their equipment, including the large freezers, was easily repurposed and perfectly suited for the restaurant business.
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Our passion has always been about delivering the freshest seafood,” says Dewey Destin. “Now we’re delivering it fresh to
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the table.
The tables have indeed turned for Dewey, and many of the businesses he once supplied seafood to over the years now sell him the fresh fish and seafood he serves in his restaurants. He works regularly with Charles Morgan at Harbor Docks, as well as other commercial fisheries along the Gulf Coast. He is proud to support the local commercial fishing business and serve the freshest seafood at his eateries. The success of the Crab Island restaurant led to a second location. Dewey Destin’s Harborside Restaurant opened in 2009 on the site where their seafood processing facility was once located. Dewey’s three sons and daughter are also involved in the business. Following in their dad’s footsteps, they all attended Auburn University. “My dad has always thought education is important and has encouraged us to go to college,” shares Cameron Destin, Dewey’s daughter. “He was DestinVacation.com 27
the first in his family to attend college, and in spite of fellow fishermen teasing him about where he’d hang his diploma, he finished school and moved back to Destin to continue working for the family business. He is happy for us to join the family business, but he wants us to have choices.” Despite the breadth of choices, generation after generation of Destins continue to work in the family business. Cameron is a fourth-generation Destin who grew up on the docks like much of her family. “It’s been wonderful having my dad as a commercial fisherman,” Cameron says. “I remember walking from the docks to the processing plant where the restaurant sits today to sort fish. We’d sit at the conveyor belt and pick out the nonedible fish, such as blowfish. Since I was little the rule has always been, if father is working, we work.” The resilience of the Destin family is evident in the success of their two restaurants. “Mom, Dad, Aunt Nina, Jewelene, Mema, my brothers, cousins, and even friends from school have all been part
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of our restaurants over the years,” Cameron continues. “It’s incredible. Jewelene Thrasher is seventy-five and she still works with us. My Mema and her eighty-eight-year-old boyfriend peeled shrimp and cut fish with us for the last ten years. We’ve also been able to carry on Destin traditions through the recipes we use at our restaurants.” Dewey Destin’s hush puppies may taste familiar to those who have been visiting the area since the ’80s. The hush puppies are made from the original recipe used at Jewel Melvin’s on Destin Harbor. Another Destin favorite was the Grouper Parmesan served at Captain Jimmy Trammell’s Outriggers Five Seafood and Steaks Restaurant. This favorite grouper dish is now one of the signature menu items at Dewey Destin’s. “We’ve been really blessed,” says Dewey—a sentiment that was reiterated by the rest of the family. The family has no intentions of slowing down. In fact, Grant Destin is shadowing his dad and learning the craft of buying the best seafood at the best price. Other members of the family are looking at ways to bottle and sell some of their most popular condiments, including cocktail sauce and rémoulade. So, what’s in a name? In this case, the Destin name represents a resilient family that overcomes adversity, embraces family values, and approaches each day with gratitude and hope for the future—a lot like the Destin community itself. It must be destiny.
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Growing and Eating Local Farm to Table Movement Is Making Its Way in America By Sallie W. Boyles
T
he farm-to-table (or if you live by the coast, the sea-to-table) idea is hardly revolutionary. The practice has been around since humans learned to plant and grow crops, catch fish, and raise domesticated herds for meat and dairy. But along with the Industrial Revolution came the appeal of mass farming and production. With a desire for convenience and the need for a long shelf life, processed foods and frozen dinners became staples of nearly every modern household.
In recent years, however, consumerism has made a breakthrough. At last, by turning away from unhealthy options, people are returning to the natural goodness of Mother Earth. Farmers’ markets, such as the ones that take place along the Northwest Florida coast in the town square of Seaside and in the Grand Boulevard Town Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, have popped up in cities across the country. Vendors peddle fresh fruits and vegetables, and local chefs, grocers, and regular Joes alike choose
the goodies they’ll take directly to the kitchen to whip up tasty, healthy meals for their families or patrons. While investigating the farmers, markets, and retailers that are driving the farm-to-table movement in Northwest Florida, we handpicked some of the freshest and, arguably, the healthiest fruits of the land—and, of course, the sea. We’re delighted to share a taste of what we learned about Apalachicola oysters, Dragonfly Fields, Mac Farms, Twin Oaks Farm, and For the Health of It. Yes, we repeatedly heard that local and fresh go hand in hand, but we also gained some intriguing insights about today’s farming methods, along with a better understanding of how this back-tobasics (but certainly not backward) approach fuels economic growth and healthy relationships within communities. It’s no wonder that Americans are now returning to food production and distribution strategies that, from the beginning, were nutritionally practical.
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Great Events on the Coast
MAY
ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival www.artsquestflorida.com
JUNE
Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach www.digitalgraffiti.com Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival www.billybowlegsfestival.com Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic www.fishecbc.com
JULY
Seaside Fourth of July Parade www.seasidefl.com Fourth of July fireworks (various locations)
AUGUST
Emerald Coast Boat Week/Emerald Coast Poker Run www.emeraldcoastpokerrun.org Sandestin Triathlon www.sandestintriathlon.com
SEPTEMBER
Destin Beer Festival www.chanswineworld.com/destin-beer-fest
The Destin, South Walton, and 30-A communities are home to fun activities and events for the whole family year-round. Join us for concerts, holiday celebrations, festivals, culinary events, art fairs, and more!
EggFest BBQ Competition www.eggsonthebeach.com
JANUARY
Destin Fishing Rodeo www.destinfishingrodeo.org
30A Songwriters Festival www.30asongwritersfestival.com
FEBRUARY
Sandestin Gumbo Festival www.sandestingumbofestival.com Wine, Women & Shoes www.winewomenandshoes.com/sinfonia
MARCH
Seaside School Half Marathon www.snsrun.com
APRIL
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival www.sowalwine.com
OCTOBER
Destin Seafood Festival www.destinseafoodfestival.org
Festival of the Arts www.mattiekellyartsfoundation.org South Walton Fashion Week www.swfw.org
NOVEMBER
Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival www.facebook.com/BluesBrewsBBQ Seeing Red Wine Festival www.seeingredwinefestival.com Seaside Holiday Parade www.seasidefl.com
DECEMBER
Destin Charity Wine Auction Weekend
Destin Harbor Boat Parade www.emeraldgrande.com/event.aspx
www.dcwaf.org
New Year’s Eve celebrations (various locations)
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Where You’d Rather Be We’ve all said it and we’ve all thought it:
“I’d rather be at the beach.”
For three decades, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has been helping families create the perfect white-sand beach vacation. Generations have returned to our beaches year after year to enjoy relaxation, reunions with family and friends, and, of course, sunny days spent staying and playing near the shimmering Gulf of Mexico. We are proud to offer premier beach accommodations to property owners, loyal guests, and first-time visitors alike. We turn your dreams into reality by providing a premier vacation experience with clean, well-appointed, and well-maintained vacation condos and homes. Our superior staff, instilled with a philosophy of excellence, goes above and beyond to create spectacular experiences for our guests. With a diverse collection of quality properties along
the pristine beaches in Destin, South Walton, and 30-A communities, Newman-Dailey is proud to achieve consistent “excellent” ratings from guests on TripAdvisor and has become a trusted source for family vacation planning. Newman-Dailey offers a better experience and better value for your hard-earned vacation dollars. We invite you to learn why our loyal following of guests return year after year— and generation after generation.
Visit DestinVacation.com and SouthWaltonVacation.com to learn more. DestinVacation.com 51
The area’s most talked-about event.
Chic Trunk Shows. Talented Local Designers. Emerging Designer Contest. Model Competition. Celebrity Judges. Runway Shows. Style Lounge. Exclusive Retail Tent. VIP Shopping Experiences.
benefitting the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County
What ’s New? G E T T H E S C O O P O N T H E A R E A’ S N E W E S T R E S TA U R A N T S A N D S H O P S
Two of the top three most popular activities among visitors to the Northwest Florida coast are shopping and dining out, and we’re not surprised—just take a look around at all of the fabulous shops and restaurants that our little slice of heaven has to offer. And thanks to a rebounding economy, more and more of these irresistible eateries and stores are opening every week.
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H ER E’ S A B R I EF RU N DOWN O F TH E COO LEST NEW VENUES MAKING A SPLASH:
South Walton and Scenic Highway 30-A Anchored at the “gateway to paradise” at the eastern intersection of Scenic Highway 30-A and Highway 98, 30Avenue is an all-new piazza offering shopping, dining, and entertainment choices, as well as office space. Within easy walking and biking distance to Rosemary Beach, Seacrest, and Alys Beach, and with plenty of parking for those staying a little farther away, 30Avenue is sure to become a new mecca for work, play, and retail therapy in the area. An area landmark since 1978, the Donut Hole Bakery Cafe opened its third location in summer 2014 on Highway 98 at Inlet Beach. Daily favorites are key lime pie, gourmet doughnuts, and Southern-style comfort food served all day long. A few miles away on 30-A at Seacrest Beach, the trendy watering hole Acme Ice House is serving up made-from-scratch pub fare, ice-cold brews, and homemade milkshakes, and it features thirteen screens for watching your favorite sports. Farther west, beyond quaint Seaside where Bud & Alley’s restaurant, Modica Market, and the Perspicasity clothing bazaar have ruled for over twenty-five years, is the popular stomping ground of Grayton Beach. This area features a longtime favorite, the Red Bar, and the casual new Grayton Bar and Grill, opened by longtime Grayton chef Johnny Earles. Nearby in Blue Mountain Beach, check out the Bowery on Thirty-A, a multifunctional hideaway in Redfish Village featuring fine dining amid old-world elegance, a live music venue, and casual breakfasts and lunches in the café. At Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach, catch some live tunes at La Playa on the corner of 30-A and South County Highway 393, with patio seating and a hip bar perfect for hanging out with friends. Fans of vintage home decor should drop by Lola’s on 30A in Santa Rosa Beach for reclaimed treasures, consignment goodies, and original art. The Bay, overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay on the south side of the Highway 331 bridge in Santa Rosa Beach, is a sister restaurant to Seaside’s famed Great Southern Café. Both serve delicious Southern-inspired cuisine and seafood. In addition, the Bay features a thirty-seat sushi bar.
Miramar Beach Grand Boulevard Town Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, which already boasts nearly a dozen restaurants, scores of retailers, and the Carmike Cinemas, recently welcomed its newest retailer, Fab’rik. 54
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SILVER SANDS PREMIUM OUTLETS IS THE NATION’S LARGEST OUTLET MALL, WITH OVER A HUNDRED DESIGNER AND NAME-BRAND OUTLET STORES, PLUS SEVERAL RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES.
Shopaholics will relish Fab’rik’s trendy fashions and accessories, all of which are priced under $100. Breakfast sensation Another Broken Egg Café opened a Grand Boulevard location near Publix, complementing other locations in Sandestin and Grayton Beach. A Sandestin landmark since the mid-1980s, the Market Shops at Sandestin is getting its groove back with a two-million-dollar extreme makeover. Besides an extensive exterior renovation, several new merchants are moving in to join the existing tenants: a new fine dining restaurant by the owners of Baytowne Wharf ’s Bistro Bijoux; Sirens at the Beach, featuring upscale lingerie, sleepwear, and swimwear; Favori Gift Boutique featuring sweets, apparel, jewelry, and art; and Market Shops Nail and Spa bringing plenty of opportunities to get pampered. On Sunday mornings, drop by their farmers’ market from nine to one, and keep an eye out for more retail additions. Silver Sands Premium Outlets is the nation’s largest outlet mall, with over a hundred designer and name-brand outlet stores, plus several restaurants and eateries. Silver Sands’ newest retail faces include the North Face adventure wear, Solstice Sunglass Outlet, ASICS athletic footwear and apparel, Armani Italian apparel, and Quiksilver surf wear. Also noteworthy, Coach recently expanded its product line to
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include an in-store “shoe boutique” to complement its handbags selection, and J.Crew now offers designer swimwear. Kate Spade ladies’ fashion and accessories has joined the throng of prestigious outlets, along with Jos. A. Bank men’s apparel and Lids Locker Room sports team hats and apparel.
Destin
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Destin Commons—home to over eighty retailers, restaurants, an AMC multiplex, and a soft-play kids playground—recently underwent a hundred-thousand-square-foot expansion anchored by H&M and Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill. Other new retailers include Foot Locker athletic shoes and apparel, Everything But Water swimsuits and resort wear, Sunglass World, Tervis, Destin Stars (formerly Michael Stars) women’s fashions, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Yogo Mogos self-service frozen yogurt, Queork luxury cork handbags and accessories, and more. Destin’s newest hot spot for casual dining and dancing is Bric à Brac Restaurant and Bar, located in Shoreline Village Mall. Open nightly for dinner and live music, this Destin offshoot of the Red Bar and Louis Louis features a similarly eclectic menu and funky decor. On Destin’s western edge near the foot of the Destin Bridge at HarborWalk Village is tropical favorite Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Not surprisingly, it is one of the biggest draws at this harbor-front shopping, dining, and entertainment complex that also offers water sports rentals and daily dolphin and sunset cruises. With all of the new and exciting things to do and see in Destin, you may never want to leave!
J B JBielawski@ndrp.com
8 5 0 . 59 8 . 0 0 2 0 ½ 12 years of real estate experience in the Destin area ½ Top Newman-Dailey producer for 5 years
½ Top 10% producer of all agents on the Emerald Coast
½ Continues to exceed expectations with genuine personal commitment to customer satisfaction!
~ ~ -
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Getting Real Along the Emerald Coast AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS
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Our little slice of heaven is popular for its world-class dining, shopping, attractions, and nightlife, but the coast of Northwest Florida is equally revered for its gorgeous scenery and extremely rare wonders of nature. From unspoiled state parks to breathtaking seaside habitats, visitors have countless opportunities to wander, bike, paddle, swim, and discover!
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Beachfront State Parks with Rare Coastal Dune Lakes Coastal dune lakes appear in only a few places on earth: some are found in such faraway places as New Zealand and Madagascar. But lucky for us, fifteen of these glistening jewels happen to be strung like a precious diamond-studded necklace along Scenic Highway 30-A in South Walton and are begging to be explored!
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camp helen state park
Located in Inlet Beach at the Walton–Bay County line and straddling Highway 98, Lake Powell is the largest of our coastal dune lakes. Nuzzling its southern shores is Camp Helen State Park, a former shady vacation haven for Avondale Mills employees. The lodge is chock-full of historical memorabilia and lined with rocking chairs for admiring the lake. Visitors can explore nature trails, kayak, canoe, or fish the lake or Gulf with easy access to secluded beaches. Across the highway, Lake Powell fans out to an expansive body of shimmering blue water where WaveRunners, water-skiers, and motorized boats are allowed. A public boat launch and park is located nearby. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Inlet Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-5059 • floridastateparks.org/camphelen Like snowflakes, no two coastal dune lakes are exactly alike. Their waters run the gamut from freshwater to brackish, with varying degrees of saltiness. Some coastal dune lakes have a dark, tea-stained hue, which, despite some swimmers’ concerns, does not make the water toxic. Tannins from decomposing leaves are what give them this Creature from the Black Lagoon tint. Our coastal dune lakes do share a common trait, however; when they exceed their high-water line, they breach the dune system and flow into the Gulf of Mexico via tributaries. 58
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Another notable state park with a coastal dune lake on Scenic Highway 30-A, between the Camp Creek and WaterSound Beach communities, is Deer Lake State Park. The 1,920-acre park features numerous meandering paths, a plethora of pine scrubs, and unique indigenous vegetation, including deer’s tongue (vanilla plant), beach rosemary, lupine, rusty lyonia, and conradina, better known as shortleaved or false rosemary. If the botanicals don’t entice you, Deer Lake’s spectacular coastline surely will! Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. 6350 East County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-8300 • floridastateparks.org/deerlake
3 grayton beach state park
A bit farther west is Grayton Beach State Park, home to the area’s second-largest coastal dune lake and a beach ranked best in America by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, who bestowed Grayton with this prestigious honor in 1994. Among the park’s winning attributes are its natural beauty, pristine trails, and uncrowded environment. Amenities include a boat ramp, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, and camping at the annex a few miles away. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. 357 Main Park Rd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-8300 • floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach
4 Point Washington State
Forest Trail System
It’s no secret that South Walton has stunning, sugar-white beaches and warm, crystalline waters, but did you know it is also home to a sprawling fifteen-thousand-acre state forest? Highway 395, running north from Seagrove Beach to Point Washington’s Eden State Gardens, is smack-dab in the middle of it. Once prime habitats for black bears and wild boars, these lush woodlands are now crisscrossed with hiking and biking trails that connect many of the area’s state parks, gardens, and preserves. While exploring, you’ll likely discover abundant wildlife, including gopher tortoises, numerous bird species, alligators, deer, quail, and wild turkeys.
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Nestled in the heart of Point Washington State Forest, canopied live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and seasonal displays of azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, and dogwood trees are a far cry from when Wesley Lumber Company’s sawmill plant dominated these grounds two centuries ago. Stroll the gorgeous gardens, take a docent-led tour of the antebellum home (offered Thursday–Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), enjoy a picnic overlooking the bayou, or attend one of their many outdoor events. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. 181 Eden Gardens Rd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-8320 • floridastateparks.org/edengardens
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Henderson Beach State Park
This pristine two-hundred-acre state park features six thousand feet of uncrowded, sugar-white shoreline perfect for relaxing or strolling before taking a refreshing dip in the warm, crystal clear Gulf waters. Explore the beautiful nature trail that provides a rare view of some of the last-remaining endangered coastal scrub communities in the Florida Panhandle. Amenities include restrooms, changing facilities, and boardwalks that provide easy beach access while protecting the dunes, which are home to a variety of wildlife and native vegetation. Open daily 8:00 a.m. until sunset. 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-7550 • floridastateparks.org/hendersonbeach
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Crab Island
Located north of the Destin Bridge and Harbor, this renowned “island” is actually a giant, submerged sandbar that is popular among both locals and visitors. On any given warm, sunny day, the area is blanketed with bobbing boats, WaveRunners, and bathing-suit-clad tailgaters. Not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart, this summer party hot spot offers some of the best people watching you’ll ever have along the Emerald Coast. Pets allowed. crabisland.com
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Topsail Hill State Preserve
Topsail Hill offers a wide variety of natural resources including over three miles of secluded white-sand beaches with majestic dunes over twentyfive feet tall. Three rare coastal dune lakes provide excellent freshwater fishing. Lakes, pristine beaches, longleaf pines, sand pine scrub, and a variety of wetlands offer a birdwatching and hiking paradise. Visitors may bike, walk, or enjoy a quick ride to the beach on Topsail’s timely tram service. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset 7525 West County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 (850) 267-8330 • floridastateparks.org/topsailhill
Find more information at EmeraldCoast.com and VisitSouthWalton.com. DestinVacation.com 59
America’s Favorite
BEACHES WHY YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE
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Good Morning America called our little slice of emerald-and-white paradise one of the ten most beautiful places in America. Southern Living readers chose Destin, Florida, as the number one beach town in the South and, for the past fourteen consecutive years, they voted Destin as one of the top three family vacation destinations. In South Walton, Seaside has been voted the best family beach on earth by readers of Travel + Leisure. Call us biased, but we wholeheartedly agree—the stretch of coastline that includes Destin, Miramar Beach, South Walton, and the communities of Scenic Highway 30-A has some of the most beautiful beaches in America!
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Northwest Florida beaches are fringed with crystalline jade waters, yet just ten miles offshore, the seas turn to a deep sapphire blue as the depths plunge to a hundred feet or more...
First-time visitors often remark about our blindingly white sand beaches, which sparkle as though billions of tiny sugar crystals were sprinkled along the water’s edge. Some of our savvy tourism marketers have been known to attend travel trade shows where they asked attendees to distinguish between a cup of white sugar and a cup of sand from the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast—most could not successfully complete such a challenge. The beaches are among the whitest and purest in the world. Each ovalshaped grain of sand is actually a piece of ground quartz that originated in the Appalachian Mountains eons ago. The tiny quartz particles flowed via the Apalachicola River and were deposited along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Pristine Santa Rosa Island emerged as an arm extending west from Destin and continues to grow as these tiny quartz grains are swept westward before reaching their final depository at the Pensacola Pass. Northwest Florida beaches are fringed with crystalline jade waters, yet just ten miles offshore, the seas turn to a deep sapphire blue as the depths plunge to a hundred feet or more, and as the “old salt” saying goes, “The bluer the water, the bigger the fish.” After all, anglers the world over 62
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don’t know Destin as the Luckiest Fishing Village for nothing. Living up to its nickname, the area holds nine saltwater fishing world records! The area is also touted as the Billfish Capital of the Gulf, as its waters yield more billfish annually than all other Gulf ports combined. It’s no wonder that Destin Harbor is the largest and most elaborately equipped wharf in all of Florida and is home to more than two hundred charter fishing boats. If you’re in the mood for a smaller excursion, hire a boat out of Grayton Beach on 30-A or venture out in a kayak or even on a stand-up paddleboard—some of the locals’ favorite ways to reel in a fresh catch! Whether you love to fish for your dinner or just reap the rewards from someone else’s excursion, the surrounding Gulf waters always have at least twenty delicious species of fish available during various seasons, which is more than four times as much as most other destinations. When in the area, be sure to check out our bounty of fresh seafood markets that dot the coastline, which can make for a very memorable meal. Many will even steam your fresh shrimp upon request. Or leave the cooking to someone else and check out the “Local Flavor” dining guide and the “What’s New?” section for some great restaurant recommendations. Either way, you’re certainly in for a tasty treat!
NEWMAN-DAILEY RESORT PROPERTIES Company Overview
Celebrating thirty years serving Destin and South Walton, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is far more than a vacation rental company. The team’s knowledge and experience span the full range of hospitality and real estate services. If you own a vacation home on Northwest Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast and are looking for a property manager, Newman-Dailey has talented and dedicated industry professionals ready to assist you.
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Newman-Dailey Property Management
Choosing the company that will represent and safeguard your new vacation home is a monumental decision. Such a substantial investment should only be looked after by the most trusted and caring steward— a company that secures rentals only from considerate, responsible guests and maximizes your revenue through an expert understanding of the industry and an intimate knowledge of the destination.
96% 96% Satisfaction Rate
Survey of Owners—Majority Opinion Research
98% Helpful and Knowledgeable Staff
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92% Would recommend Newman-Dailey to friends or family
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is that company. Newman-Dailey Resort Properties believes owning a vacation home should be a fun and rewarding experience. Your vacation home can become both the place and the means to retire, all the while providing you and your family with a vacation home and a revenue stream. As your property management company, we provide you with both. By partnering with owners, Newman-Dailey helps build your vacation rental into a healthy, long-term financial investment. Newman-Dailey is committed to the Emerald Coast and only represents properties in South Walton and Destin, Florida. By understanding the market and reacting to its challenges and demands, Newman-Dailey is able to respond with pricing that achieves maximum returns while keeping units occupied. Newman-Dailey rental managers are hands-on, working closely with owners to analyze past performance, fine-tune the property for peak revenue, and update annual goals.
Stewardship is paramount. Maintenance and care of a vacation rental is critical to protecting an owner’s investment. Newman-Dailey has a loyal and dedicated team of housekeeping managers and inspectors who perform a rigorous thirty-five-point inspection on every unit after each stay, ensuring each property is kept in prime condition. In business for more than thirty years, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has earned a reputation for providing both owners and guests with an outstanding experience. To guests, the name Newman-Dailey is a mark of quality and a guarantee of a great vacation rental. To owners, Newman-Dailey means professionalism, expert care, strategic marketing, and exceptional management that have resulted in a 96-percent owner satisfaction rating. Whether you are considering buying a property or you already own one, discussing its revenue potential with Newman-Dailey is a wise decision.
Newman-Dailey Real Estate
The Newman-Dailey Resort Properties real estate division has been providing top-notch buying and selling services along the Emerald Coast since 1985 and is honored to have won Best Real Estate Company on the Emerald Coast on multiple occasions. Our team of experienced real estate professionals is here to help you buy, sell, and research Destin homes, condos, and more. We’re the Emerald Coast experts, focusing solely on the area we know best: The Beach! Licensed by the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations and staffed by knowledgeable and friendly agents, NewmanDailey Real Estate is listed in the top 10 percent of real estate agencies on the Emerald Coast, according to the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR) Closed Sales Summary Report. Let Newman-Dailey help you find and purchase the home Where You’d Rather Be.
Newman-Dailey Association Management
As the leading association management company for the Destin, South Walton, and 30-A areas, our fully staffed association management division manages thirty-five associations with more than 1,400 individually owned units. Whether they are beachside condominiums, gated home communities, or commercial plazas, Newman-Dailey believes residential developments are as individually unique as the people who live, work, play, and visit there. From large properties of approximately three hundred units to smaller communities of eight units, what works in one place may not somewhere else, and this is why we specially tailor our style to the communities we manage.
While our style may be different from property to property, there is one constant our clients can always rely on: highly detailed and personalized service performed by a team of licensed professionals with practical experience in areas from nonprofit accounting to physical plant maintenance. We work closely with our association boards to maintain their properties and to protect the sizeable investments of their members. Newman-Dailey offers a unique approach to association management, utilizing a team of licensed CAMs, both on- and off-site. We offer all the employee benefits of a large company without incurring undue costs to your association, enabling us to hire extremely qualified personnel. In addition, we excel in sound fiscal management and accurate budgeting. We work with expert attorneys specializing in community association law and knowledgeable CPA firms to ensure that all Florida Statute requirements are met. Newman-Dailey Is Where You’d Rather Be!
NEWMAN-DAILEY is proud to be a member of the following organizations:
Better Business Bureau A+ Rating
Rated Excellent on TripAdvisor and FlipKey
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Jade East Towers 1018 U.S. 98, Destin, FL 32541
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Beachside Inn 2931 Scenic Highway 98 Destin, FL 32541
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Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort 9815 U.S. Highway 98 W Destin, FL 32550
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Sanctuary at Redfish 1360 W County Highway 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
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Newman-Dailey Headquarters 12815 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Suite 100 Miramar Beach, FL 32550
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Newman-Dailey P R O P E R T I E S
Whether you’re looking for a simple, relaxing getaway spot or for a vacation rental that will put you in the lap of luxury, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has the ideal place for you along the white sands of the Gulf Coast. Browse some of our top resorts and communities and find exactly what you need!
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Hidden Dunes BE AC H AN D T ENNIS R E SORT Hidden D unesDestin .com
One of South Walton’s undiscovered escapes is Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort in Miramar Beach. With winding footpaths, colorful gardens, and relaxing fountains, this secluded resort invites guests to become happily lost on the twenty-seven-acre Gulf-front property. Recognized as one of the top fifty tennis resorts in the country by Tennis Resorts Online, Hidden Dunes Tennis Center features six championship Rubico tennis courts. The seclusion of this resort and its quaint stretch of sugar-white beach make Hidden Dunes feel like an oasis. The paths lead guests to neighborhood pools, hot tubs, and picnic hideaways with gas grills. Lodging options include well-appointed Gulf-front condos, spacious villas overlooking the lake, and charming Carolina-style cottages tucked into the lush landscape. 70
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Beachside Inn Destin B eachside Inn .com
Nestled in one of Destin’s favorite communities, Beachside Inn exemplifies the charm of Crystal Beach. Originally built to satisfy the need for quality hotel rooms in the area, Beachside Inn has been transformed into an exclusive retreat for guests with distinctive taste. Located at the corner of Hutchinson and Scenic Highway 98, Beachside Inn offers both privacy you crave and the convenience of being right across the street from the beach and only a mile from some of Destin’s best dining and shopping experiences. The property has an inviting two-tier swimming pool surrounded by plenty of space for sunbathing on the newly restored, brick paver deck. Enjoy the cool evening breeze with a dip in the hot tub before you get ready for dinner at Camille’s, one of the two on-site restaurants. A select number of rooms are pet friendly, so even the furriest members of the family are welcome. DestinVacation.com 71
Jade East Jade EastCondos .com
Jade East Towers, in the heart of Destin, is great for families. The upscale Gulf-front condominium resort features spacious two-bedroom units with large balconies overlooking the beach. (If you really want to impress your crew, rent the penthouse!) Guests enjoy amenities including a Gulf-front pool, a lighted tennis court, and seasonal beach service. Each stay comes with a Newman-Dailey gift card good toward family activities including the Track, Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park, a sunset dolphin cruise, and more. Jade East is immediately across the street from Big Kahuna’s and less than a mile from the Track. Other nearby attractions include the Destin Harbor, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, and Gator Beach at Fudpucker’s.
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Sanctuary AT R E D F I SH
SouthWaltonVacation .com/resor ts
Sanctuary at Redfish on Highway 30-A in Blue Mountain Beach is a luxury condominium resort nestled within the natural vegetation alongside Big Redfish Lake, one of South Walton’s rare coastal dune lakes. Located on approximately fourteen acres, Sanctuary at Redfish features three separate pools, two Jacuzzis, a large fire pit, two outdoor grills, and private pool cabanas. Each condo includes a balcony offering breathtaking lake and Gulf views. A pontoon boat is available to take guests on a scenic five-minute ride through Big Redfish Lake to the Gulf of Mexico and the beach. Your stay comes with a gift card good toward a bike rental, a kayak tour, golf, and seasonal beach service. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonders that surround you.
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SOUTH WALTON AND DESTIN DINING GUIDE
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DINING GUIDE
While there are many choices for deliciously fresh fare, Buffalo Jack’s Legendary Wings $–$$ we’ve compiled a list of some of the local favorites in Your top stop for great wings, pizza, and cold beer in Miramar Beach. Come by on game day and watch your favorite sports team while the South Walton and Destin. whole family enjoys great food and fun.
PRICE KEY: $ – Inexpensive ($10 and under) $$ – Moderate ($10–$30) $$$ – Splurge ($30 and up)
SOUTH WALTON SELECTIONS (30-A, SANDESTIN, AND MIRAMAR BEACH):
Basmati’s $$ A hidden gem in Blue Mountain Beach, Basmati’s is big on flavor in a small intimate space. Fresh local seafood and Asian flavors combine within a cozy setting overlooking Draper Lake. Sit inside or on the candlelit porch and savor this local treasure. 3295 West County Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-3028 • basmatisthirtya.com
The Bay $$ One of South Walton’s newest local hot spots, The Bay will seem familiar. Jim Shirley, the owner of Great Southern Café in Seaside and The Fish House in Pensacola, has introduced another coastal favorite. With a mouthwatering menu that includes sushi, a great selection of beers and wines, and indoor and outdoor seating, The Bay is the perfect mix of casual and gourmet. 24215 U.S. Highway 331 South, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 622-2291 • baysouthwalton.com
Bud & Alley’s & The Tarpon Club $$–$$$ The Tarpon Club (upstairs at Bud & Alley’s) is a Seaside favorite where locals come for a sunset drink. Get there early and guess the time of sunset on the chalkboard. When the sun sets and the bell rings, the accurate guess receives a free drink. The lunch and dinner menus offer fresh fish (grilled, roasted, sautéed) as well as shellfish, quail, chicken, pork, and plenty of delicious accompaniments. 2236 East County Road 30A, Seaside, FL 32459 (850) 231-5900 • budandalleys.com
11275 U.S. Highway 98, Suite 3, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 424-6288 • buffalojackslegendarywings.com
Café Thirty-A $$–$$$ Visit this longtime trendy haunt for pineapple cosmos, duck confit sliders, Chilean sea bass, artisan pizza, truffled mac ’n’ cheese, and fine wines. Reservations suggested. Dinner served nightly. 3899 East County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-2166 • cafethirtya.com
Elephant Walk $$–$$$ Elephant Walk is back. A dining hot spot for eighteen years, Elephant Walk has been revived. The casual upscale eatery has something for every taste. From pasta and steak to yellowfin tuna, shrimp, and other seafood, as well as the famed Grouper Elizabeth, Elephant Walk delivers. Open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. 4009 South Sandestin Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 267-4800 • elephantwalkatsandestin.com
Fat Clemenza’s $–$$ This local trattoria features brick-oven pizzas, homemade pastas, and other specials for lunch and dinner. Dinner reservations suggested. Closed Sundays. 12273 U.S. Highway 98, Suite 101, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 650-5980 • fatclemenzas.com
Old Florida Fish House $$–$$$ The Old Florida Fish House is a casual dining restaurant that opened in summer 2005, combining fine dining and casual menus, along with a children’s menu, game room, family-friendly atmosphere, and reputably one of the best sushi bars in the area. At night, listen and dance to the sounds of the best bands on 30-A. 5235 East County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 534-3045 • oldfloridafishhouse.com
Pizza by the Sea $–$$ Thin, crispy pizzas baked on hot stone and topped with the highest quality toppings. Tasty gluten-free, dairy-free, and carb-free options are available. Serving lunch and dinner daily in two convenient locations on 30-A. 88 Watercolor Way (beside Publix), Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-3030 95 Laura Hamilton Boulevard (Gulf Place), Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-2022 • pizzabythesea.com
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Pompano Joe’s $–$$
Tommy Bahama $$
A neighborhood “snack shack” on the beach with great Gulf views, a lively bar, and live music during happy hour. Come enjoy fresh seafood specialties with a Caribbean twist. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
There are only thirteen Tommy Bahama Restaurants nationwide, and we’re lucky enough to have one at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. Whether you’re looking for an off-the-beach location for lunch, dinner, or happy hour, Tommy Bahama serves delicious creations year-round. All dishes start with fresh seafood and seasonal produce, and Chef Crystal Castillo enhances the menu with mouthwatering seasonal specials.
2237 Scenic Highway 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 837-2224 • pompano-joes.com
The Red Bar $$ A Grayton Beach institution with eclectic decor, live music, and everyone’s favorite chalkboard menu. Try delicious crab cakes, panéed chicken, or fresh grouper. Cash or check only. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 70 Hotz Avenue, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-1008 • theredbar.com
Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood $$–$$$ Founded in 1998, Seagar’s is a renowned New York-style steakhouse extolled for an award-winning wine list, original fresh seafood dishes inspired by acclaimed Executive Chef Dan Vargo, and the finest aged Prime USDA steaks. Seagar’s is a salute to the good life. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa – 4000 South Sandestin Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 622-1500 • seagars.com
Sugar Shak $–$$ Known as “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” the Sugar Shak in Rosemary Beach is consistently voted 30-A’s best place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Stop in for an array of candy, ice cream, cupcakes, and other homemade goodies.
525 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 654-1743 • facebook.com/tommybahamasandestin
Vin’tij Wine Boutique and Bistro $–$$$ As they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Vin’tij is located across from Silver Sands Premium Outlets, and on the exterior it doesn’t look like much. But once you step inside, you’re transported to a world of fine wines, delectable fare, and friendly faces. The charmingly intimate space is complemented by local art and a menu designed from the freshest ingredients. The diverse menu includes salads, pizzettes, sandwiches, and entrées, and the daily specials are inspired by what is fresh off the docks and produce that is in season. 10859 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 103, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 650-9820 • vintij.com
Vue on 30a $$–$$$ When you’re at the beach, it’s only natural to want to enjoy a meal overlooking the beautiful white sands. The Vue features a deliciously fresh menu of salads, seafood, steak, lamb, and wild game prepared by Chef Giovanni Filippone, whom you may remember from Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The meal is complemented by expansive views of the Gulf, all within a climate-controlled, comfortable dining room.
5 Main Street, Suite 2-A, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 (850) 231-3655 • facebook.com/thesugarshak
4801 West County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-2305 • vueon30a.com
SunQuest Cruises – Solaris Dinner Cruise
Whale’s Tail Beach Bar and Grill $–$$
See page 108 in Activities and Attractions Section
Sushimoto $–$$ Visit this local hot spot for a great blend of creativity and tradition. Featuring innovative sushi and sashimi rolls, udon noodles, tempuras, soups, salads, and specials for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays. 11394 Highway 98 West, Suite H, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 424-5977 • destinsushi.com
A Destin landmark for thirty years with indoor and deck seating overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Come enjoy beach drinks, Southernstyle breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, and fresh seafood dinners and baskets. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 100 Seascape Drive, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 650-4377
DESTIN SELECTIONS:
Back Porch Restaurant $–$$ Situated right on the beach since 1974, this casual Destin landmark serves up its famous smoked tuna dip, fresh seafood, and sweet iced tea, plus numerous other delights. Lunch and dinner served daily. 1740 Scenic Highway 98 East, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2022 • theback-porch.com DestinVacation.com 79
DINING GUIDE
Cuvee Bistro $$–$$$
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Learn more about Dewey Destin’s Seafood and the family that started this beloved beach town on page 26!
Cuvee Bistro features French-, Asian-, and Italian-influenced delicacies by proprietor and executive chef Tim Creehan. Award-winning signature dishes include Amy Grant’s seared rare tuna and Vince Gill’s pecan-crusted grouper. The delectable menu is complemented with an impressive wine list that has been recognized with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 36120 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-8900 • cuveebistrodestin.com
Dewey Destin’s Seafood $–$$
Beach Walk Cafe at Henderson Park Inn $$–$$$
This waterfront dive is steeped in Destin’s seafood roots, serving up fresh fried or steamed seafood baskets, sandwiches, and entrées. Enjoy two locations: one overlooks Crab Island and the Choctawhatchee Bay; the other is on the Destin Harbor. Serving lunch and dinner daily.
Award-winning fine dining with spectacular Gulf-front views and intimate romantic settings. You can even dine by tiki torches with your toes in the sand! Reservations suggested. Dinner served nightly; join us for Saturday and Sunday brunch.
Destin Harbor: 202 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-7525 • destinseafood.com
2700 Scenic Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-7100 • beachwalkhendersonpark.com
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House $$ Located on the Destin Harbor, Boshamps features four decks and incredible views. Featuring “Gulf to table Southern cuisine” in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, Boshamps is a casual coastal eatery with a deliciously diverse menu created by Chef Andi Bell. The family-friendly setting is enhanced by a large sandy beach with beach toys, games, and hammocks for relaxing. 414 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-7406 • boshamps.com
Camille’s Cafe $ Located steps from the Gulf at the Beachside Inn at Crystal Beach, Camille’s Cafe is a casual eatery featuring breakfast and lunch. The openair setting invites guests to dine alfresco while enjoying the beach breezes. The menu includes sandwiches, smoothies, fresh juices, coffee, and more. 2931 Scenic Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 337-8860 • camillesatcrystalbeach.com
Camille’s Restaurant $–$$ Located upstairs at the Beachside Inn in the heart of Crystal Beach, Camille’s Restaurant features the freshest fish and seafood from Harbor Docks Seafood Market and is a local favorite for sushi. Chef Blake VanZant has created a menu that includes a mouthwatering combination of seafood, steaks, and pizza, all made from the freshest local ingredients. 2931 Scenic Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 337-8860 • camillesatcrystalbeach.com
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Crab Island: 9 Calhoun Avenue, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-7575
Harbor Docks $–$$ For more than thirty years, Harbor Docks has been serving the freshest seafood right off the boats and made-from-scratch specialties. Located along the Destin Harbor, Harbor Docks features a sprawling deck, as well as inside dining and several sushi bars. Owner Charles Morgan invites guests to enjoy the view and soak in the local color and flavor. 538 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2506 • harbordocks.com
La Paz Restaurante and Cantina $$ Located in downtown Destin on Holiday Isle since 1993, La Paz serves classic Southwest and Mexican cuisines made with the freshest ingredients. With three dining rooms and a cantina-style bar, La Paz has plenty of seating and a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. 950 Gulf Shore Drive, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2247 • lapazdestin.com
McGuire’s Irish Pub $–$$$ Overlooking Destin Harbor, this lively turn-of-the-century Irish saloon delights with huge portions, hearty pub fare, and gourmet entrées, accompanied by an on-site brewery, live music, and a friendly staff. Kids welcome. Lunch and dinner daily. 33 Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-0000 • mcguiresirishpub.com
SOUTH WALTON AND DESTIN:
Donut Hole Bakery Café $–$$
Chan’s Wine World – The Wine Bar $–$$
One of the area’s most popular breakfast locales, the Donut Hole features a diverse menu of breakfast favorites as well as their fresh-baked donuts in a diner-style setting. Multiple locations ensure there is always a Donut Hole nearby!
With three locations, Chan’s is a local favorite. You will find not only some of the area’s best wine and craft beer selections, but also a quaint European-style bistro inside. The Wine Bar menu features tapas, salads, tasty entrées, daily specials, and an extensive wine list. Lunch and dinner served daily with late-night dining available at the Grand Boulevard location. Destin: 4424 Commons Drive East, Suite E3, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 269-2909 Grand Boulevard Town Center: 655 Grand Boulevard, Suite 100, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 • (850) 622-0802 WaterColor: 1735 East Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-1323 • chanswineworld.com
BEST BETS FOR BREAKFAST:
Another Broken Egg $$ With multiple locations along the coast, Another Broken Egg is conveniently delicious. The Destin location opened in the mid-90s and its popularity has led to many more. Whether you’re craving sweet cinnamon roll French toast or savory shrimp ’n’ grits, the distinctive menu will satisfy any appetite.
Destin: 635 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-8824 Santa Rosa Beach: 6745 Highway 98 West, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 • (850) 267-3239 Inlet Beach: 12983 Highway 98 East, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 213-3127
KaraBoo Bakery $–$$$ Locally owned and operated by professional pastry chef Kara Enache, KaraBoo pastries are handmade from scratch using the finest and freshest ingredients. KaraBoo bakes delectable breakfast pastries, croissants, and breads daily. Available for special events, weddings, and custom catering. *Guests of the Beachside Inn receive fresh-baked bread with their stay. 10859 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 532-1750
Destin: 797 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite F, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-0499 Sandestin Locations: Village of Baytowne Wharf: 9100 Baytowne Wharf Boulevard, Suite A-4, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 • (850) 622-2050 Bayside: 158 Sandestin Boulevard North, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 267-7108 Grayton Beach: 51 Uptown Grayton Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 • (850) 231-7835
The Breakfast Table Café $–$$ A fantastic new breakfast option in Destin, the Breakfast Table Café features a variety of egg options “the way you like them” with handmade sides, as well as simple but delicious varieties of omelets and the popular shrimp and grits—we dare you to try “Granna B’s Bulls Eye.” Lunch items include homemade sandwiches, salads, and soups.
WHAT’S NEW! Also, be sure to check out “What’s New” on page 53 for the area’s newest hot spots and the Apalachicola oyster story on page 44 for more local oysters and seafood.
385 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 460-7322
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WHO’S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?
AN EXPERIENCED AGENT IS YOUR BEST GUIDE TO NORTHWEST FLORIDA REAL ESTATE
With the many miles of sugar-white sand beaches and the shimmering emerald waters here in Northwest Florida, it’s natural for families to want to transition from being occasional visitors to owning a slice of paradise. There are hundreds of listings, dozens of websites, and a wide range of prices. Where to begin? With a real estate agent, of course. Here’s why: 82
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Expedite the search In today’s technology-driven environment, the world is at our fingertips, often creating information overload. A sales agent can cut the search time in half, saving buyers many hours of sifting through listings that don’t meet their needs or expectations. By beginning with a series of questions that identifies the buyers’ interests, geographic area, lifestyle needs, and price range, a real estate agent will narrow the list of choices and share new listings that will save buyers a great deal of time and energy.
Just the facts Third-party websites such as Trulia and Zillow aggregate content in one location. Unfortunately, facts, details, photos, and other relevant information often get lost in translation on these sites. Agents are able to clear the clutter and shed light on the facts about a given property, and they know the important questions to ask.
Understanding of the market There is no substitute for experience. Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has a thirty-year history serving Destin, South Walton, and 30-A. Our agents can advise clients based on their personal experience of the area’s growth, economic changes, and adjustments in home values over the years, giving sharper insights into market valuation and investment performance.
A trusted resource There is much to consider when buying or selling a home, and a real estate agent knows the important details about each property. A quality real estate agent will walk potential owners through the process and honestly evaluate what to expect when purchasing a property to place on a rental program. If purchasing a condo, knowing the details about the condo association (beyond just the monthly dues) is imperative to understanding how decisions about the property are made and how it will be managed.
Long-standing relationships It’s as much what you know as who you know. Finding an established real estate agent with deep relationships in the market is key to expediting the closing of a purchase or sale and can greatly help with any other needs. Relationships with banks, lenders, title companies, repair services, and city and county officials all greatly improve the efficiency and quality of transactions.
Understanding the process Once a buyer or seller is locked into a contract on a property, it’s extremely important to have a real estate agent who understands the transaction process. An experienced sales agent will know the steps to take to protect both buyer and seller and will provide guidance on what’s included in the ever-growing sales contract, which is now at a lengthy nine pages.
MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOME 2003
$158,400
2004
$182,400
2005
$235,100
2006
$248,300
2007
$233,600
2008
$187,800
2009
$142,600
2010
$136,500
2011
$131,700
2012
$144,945
2013
$169,000
NUMBER OF NEW FLORIDA RESIDENTS PER YEAR 2006
355,000
2009
20,000
2013
280,000
*Source: Florida Realtors®
Sure, it is possible to find a dream investment property or a primary residence or second home without the use of a real estate agent, but why not engage the best in the business to save you time, money, and potential mishaps? A company such as Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, which features a professional team of fourteen agents with more than 265 years of combined experience, is a good place to start! Ranking among the top 10 percent of real estate companies along the Emerald Coast according to ECAR, Newman-Dailey is a trusted resource for all your property needs.
Visit DestinSales.com and start the search for your new slice of paradise today!
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Featured
REAL ESTATE The Gulf Coast housing market is still on the rise, and the time to buy is now! If you’ve been searching for that perfect vacation home or condo, or if you’re hoping to make the move to the beach communities of Destin and South Walton permanently, the real estate experts at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties can help. Here are just a few of our favorite condos and houses in the area. Contact us today at sales@ndrp.com or visit DestinSales.com to find out how you can make one of them yours!
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FEATURED REAL ESTATE
Hidden Dunes Grand Villa #950 4 BEDROOMS • 4 BATHS • 2,435 SQ. FT. • $1,100,000 • L# 612989 Situated directly on the Gulf of Mexico, this west-end unit has unbelievable panoramic views from its extra-large balcony! This spacious, private ninth-floor residence is located in the exclusive nonrental community of Grand Villa at Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort. Unit #950 features four bedrooms (each with its own separate bath) and wood interior shutters throughout, and is selling fully furnished for all your beach vacation needs! Grand Villa is an exclusive gated building with an indoor parking garage, a pool, a spa, a gym, tennis courts, walking trails, on-site grills, and outdoor games such as horseshoes, all situated on beautiful grounds with fountains and walking paths. The seasonal tram, twenty-four-hour security, and on-site property management guarantee a convenient and comfortable stay for you and your guests. You will never want to leave this exquisite property! 9815 HWY 98 WEST #950, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
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Hidden Dunes BeachVilla #21 4 BEDROOMS • 4 BATHS • 2,032 SQ. FT. • $599,000 • L# 702409 This charming beach villa is spacious, open, and inviting. With four-plus bedrooms and four full baths, it is renovated and ready for your family’s ultimate beach getaway! Keep tabs on the kids at the pool from your vantage point on the large screened porch. A total of six king-size beds make for comfortable accommodations, while all-new stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and beautiful finishes in the kitchen give all the comforts of home. The master bedroom includes a private entrance onto the screened porch. Perfect for use as a beachside retreat for your family or as a great vacation rental. You don’t want to miss this unit—see it soon! 9815 US HWY 98 WEST #21, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
Sanctuary at Redfish #2110 3 BEDROOMS •3.5 BATHS • 2,009 SQ. FT. • $510,000 • L# 700542 Sanctuary at Redfish is a gated community along Scenic Highway 30-A, which is set on Big Redfish Lake and has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico via private boat shuttle. This condo unit has the look and feel of a five-star resort with breathtaking views of the lake and the Gulf. The floor plan has an open feel with three large bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a large living room and dining area, and a gas fireplace. The spacious kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances and gorgeous granite countertops—the same granite is used in all of the bathrooms as well. There is crown molding throughout the unit with airy ten-foot ceilings. The resort amenities continue throughout the property, starting with the massive pool deck that is home to four outdoor pools (one heated in the winter), two hot tubs, four gas grills in the barbecue area, and natural landscaping that lends to the feel of a private oasis. More special amenities include a newly constructed walkway to the floating dock for the private boat shuttle, a full fitness center with his-and-her locker rooms, designated storage units, and underground parking. 1653 COUNTY HWY 30-A #2110, SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL 32459
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FEATURED REAL ESTATE
Mediterranea #D-209 2 BEDROOMS •2.5 BATHS • 1,471 SQ. FT. • $536,500 • L# 702273 The location of this unit is prime with a large balcony and back steps to the pool, grounds, and beach. This meticulously maintained nonrental has been used as a second home and is decorated like no other! Selling fully furnished with designer touches: slipcovered dining chairs, L-shaped sofa, leather swivel recliners, beautiful wood accent pieces, original artwork, and custom draperies—all purchased within the last two years. Maple-glazed cabinets and granite in the kitchen, full tile throughout, ninefoot ceilings with crown moldings in the living room, and six-inch baseboards throughout give the unit a luxurious feel. Both bedrooms have private full baths with a jetted tub in the master, and both have doors to the Gulf-side patio. This unit comes with garage space and an oversized locked storage closet. Mediterranea is a gated complex with underground parking, a fitness center, and a private owner community room with fireplace, heated pool, hot tub, and tennis court. 50 SURF SONG LANE #D-209, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
Sanctuary at Redfish #1105 3 BEDROOMS • 3.5 BATHS • 1958 SQ. FT. • $535,000 • L# 701166 A true resort getaway, this gated community, located on Big Redfish Lake, is home to the finest amenities on 30-A. Unit #1105 is a “Long A” floor plan, consisting of three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. It offers granite countertops, travertine floors, a large master bathroom, walk-in closets, and an oversized balcony to enjoy the scenic property, which features four resort-style pools (one heated seasonally), two hot tubs, a fire pit, a community barbecue area with gas grills, and a newly constructed dock for the private boat shuttle to the Gulf of Mexico. Also featured are a full fitness center with his-and-her locker rooms, underground parking, and personal storage units. Sanctuary at Redfish is only minutes away from some of the finest restaurants and entertainment that Scenic 30-A has to offer. 1653 COUNTY HWY 30-A #1105, SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL 32459
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2915 Pine Valley Drive 4 BEDROOMS • 3.5 BATHS • 3,527 SQ. FT. • $1,090,000 • L# 614085 This beautiful Boswell-built four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath house is right on the lake in the upscale gated community of Burnt Pine at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. High ceilings add to the spacious, open, and functional floor plan. The screened lanai offers privacy and peacefulness with a panoramic view of the lake and Burnt Pine Golf Course. Captivating views can be enjoyed from almost every room. Additional features include custom bookcases surrounding the gas fireplace in the great room, granite countertops with tile backsplash in the kitchen, huge bonus room that offers flexibility of use as an office, media room, or studio, and attractive landscaping. This house has all the elements of relaxed coastal living with a touch of simple elegance. Sandestin owners enjoy the finest amenities, including seventy-two holes of golf, professional tennis facilities, sugar-white-sand beaches, miles of walking and bike paths, fishing lakes, a marina with a café, a fitness center, and wonderful restaurants, shopping, and entertainment at the Village at Baytowne Wharf and Grand Boulevard Town Center. 2915 PINE VALLEY DRIVE, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
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FEATURED REAL ESTATE
107 Rue Caribe 3 BEDROOMS • 3.5 BATHS • 2,720 SQ. FT. • $799,000 • L# 599796 This exceptional home is located in the highly regarded neighborhood of Caribe. The soaring great room, with windows galore, makes this home serene and comfortable. It features a large kitchen overlooking the dining and living areas, exterior Bahama shutters and plantation shutters inside, crown molding throughout, and hardwood floors in most rooms. The master bedroom enjoys privacy on the main level, while the two large guest bedrooms are upstairs with access to the fabulous porches on this home, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the Gulf breezes. 107 RUE CARIBE, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
33 Newman Drive 6 BEDROOMS • 5 BATHS • 2,830 SQ. FT. • $724,500 • L# 700831 This great beach house is just across the street from the sparkling Gulf of Mexico! Spacious and well appointed, the house can sleep up to eighteen guests and enjoys access to the private swimming pool. Pompano Joe’s beachfront restaurant is an easy stroll from the home, as are many souvenir shops and sweeping views of white-sand beaches. It’s a must-see if you are searching for your new place in the sun! 33 NEWMAN DRIVE, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
To learn more about the Newman-Dailey Real Estate Sales team and to view current listings, visit DestinSales.com.
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YOUR PERFECT VACATION RENTAL Sometimes a vacation getaway requires a “true” home away from home. For those occasions, Newman-Dailey features a diverse collection of well-appointed rental homes along the pristine beaches of South Walton and Destin. Beach houses range from cozy two-bedroom cottages to expansive five- and six-bedroom houses that can sleep up to twenty-two guests. The added space is ideal for multigenerational gatherings, reunions, and special celebrations with family and friends. Here’s a sampling of Newman-Dailey’s premier beach houses.
Beach Vacation Homes
BLUE STARFISH 4 BR | 4.5 Bath | Sleeps 12 This brand-new luxury vacation home featuring a sleek kitchen with stainless steel appliances and gas range with double oven is ideal for the family who loves to cook. The serene coastal blue hues make a stay in this home feel wonderfully relaxing, as do the private pool and private deck with flat-screen TV. This house is a star by the sea!
BLUE HEAVEN FIND MORE AT DESTINVACATION.COM.
7 BR | 6.5 Bath | Sleeps 20 Blue Heaven is a gorgeous seven-bedroom home in the heart of Miramar Beach with private pool and large backyard. This beach house is heavenly!
EMERALD BEACH HOUSE 5 BR | 6.5 Bath | Sleeps 22 Located in the private neighborhood of Avalon, Emerald Beach House features three floors of versatile space, allowing everyone in the group to spread out and enjoy. Large balconies off every level, as well as a patio and private pool, ensure there is plenty of space for gathering outdoors. Welcome to Destin! 92
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GOOD VIBRATIONS
STAIRWAY TO HAMMOCK HEAVEN
5 BR | 4 Bath | Sleeps 10
4 BR | 3 Bath | Sleeps 12
This beautifully remodeled beach home in Crystal Beach definitely has good vibes. With the calming blue palette, the many porches and balconies, the separate entertainment room with flat-screen TV, and the wet bar, Good Vibrations is jammin’.
Located in the heart of Crystal Beach, this home delivers on its name. With a staircase to a covered rooftop deck filled with hammocks, guests can hide out and relax high above the neighborhood. Great for family gatherings, the enormous kitchen is totally remodeled and fully stocked for the gourmet chef. Beautiful decor, a private pool, and a spacious deck with grill and Cajun boiler make this home truly dreamy.
OCEAN ESCAPE
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
4 BR | 4.5 Bath | Sleeps 12
5 BR | 5 Bath | Sleeps 21
Located in Destiny by the Sea, Ocean Escape is the ultimate beach house. Three stories swathed in casually elegant decor and amenities such as minikitchens, large flat-screen TVs, and comfortable furnishings make this home pure bliss. Soak in the community pool and hot tub after the beach.
Reminiscent of an Italian manor, Under the Tuscan Sun features a gated courtyard with a private pool. An open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops extends out to designer suede couches and dining for seventeen. The colossal third-floor master suite with private balcony ensures this home is fit for a king.
Townhomes, Cottages, and Villas
SOLEIL LEVANT 3 BR | 3 Bath | Sleeps 6 Located in the neighborhood of Caribe in South Walton, this spectacular home features a spiral staircase connecting the three levels. Special touches such as a claw-foot bathtub in the master, a fire-engine red kitchen, a private pool, and two balconies on the top floor make this home as bright as the “rising sun.”
COSTA DEL SOL #A1 3 BR | 3.5 Bath | Sleeps 8 Located in Miramar Beach, Costa Del Sol is right on the beach and features three levels. The first is a mother-in-law apartment downstairs. Upstairs, a two-story townhome is perfect for beach living with tile and wood flooring and decks at all levels overlooking the beach! DestinVacation.com 93
SERVING UP an Exceptional Experience ENJOY TENNIS AT HIDDEN DUNES
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Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort was named a Silver Medal Resort by Tennis Resorts Online, ranking the Miramar Beach resort among the top fifty tennis resorts for a third consecutive year. Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort features six championship clay Rubico courts and consistently receives high marks for overall tennis experience, tennis staff, instruction, and game matching.
“WE ARE HONORED TO ONCE AGAIN EARN A SPOT ON THIS PRESTIGIOUS LIST,” SAID RENEE BROXSON, TENNIS DIRECTOR AT HIDDEN DUNES. “OUR WELL-MAINTAINED CLAY RUBICO COURTS ARE POPULAR AMONG AVID TENNIS PLAYERS, AND WE’RE ESPECIALLY KNOWN FOR OUR GAME MATCHING AMONG PLAYERS WITH LIKE-LEVEL SKILLS.” Broxson took over direction of the tennis program in August 2011 after six years as the head pro at Hidden Dunes. She previously coached the women’s tennis team at the University of West Florida and had served as the director of tennis at Pensacola Country Club. Broxson’s expertise is complemented by her team members, including tennis pro George Cobia and pro shop manager Anne Toone. Cobia, who has been a Level 1 United States Tennis Professional for more than twenty-five years, designs and leads the instructional clinics and lessons. Toone is an expert at putting together matches for players of similar skill levels. Tennis Resorts Online solicits the opinions of racquet-wielding vacationers worldwide and compiles their collective experience into an annual rankings list, the Top 100 Tennis Resorts and Camps. Clients rank the resorts in more than twenty categories, including the quality of the tennis courts, instruction, accommodations, children’s programs, and value for the dollar. “For the past three years our tennis group has traveled to Destin, Florida, to play tennis,” said L.C., who posted an online review of Hidden Dunes.
“Each year we have returned to the Hidden Dunes Tennis Resort for drill sessions and instruction with Renee Broxson. She is an exceptional instructor. The Hidden Dunes clay courts are set in a picturesque setting. The staff always is friendly and courteous. They made our tennis experience one worth returning for every year.” The secluded twenty-seven-acre beachfront resort provides a quiet oasis amid trees, lush gardens, and fountains for tennis enthusiasts and beach lovers alike. The well-appointed Destin vacation rentals range from three- and four-bedroom beach villas to two-bedroom Gulf-front condos and Carolina-style cottages with private screened porches. With easy access to the beach and tennis, the resort also features two pools, hot tubs, natural gas grills, a lighted basketball court, a clubhouse, an on-site rental office, wireless Internet, twenty-four-hour gated security, and seasonal tram and beach service. “People like coming to South Walton and Destin for the emerald water and beautiful pristine beaches, and we aim to enhance the beach experience by offering exceptional courts, instruction, and game-matching services for the avid tennis player,” continued Broxson. Hidden Dunes offers customized tennis packages, clinics, and game matching for players of all levels.
The Newman-Dailey Resort Properties on-site rental office at Hidden Dunes provides each guest convenient check-in and prompt service throughout his or her stay. For more information on Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort, visit www.HiddenDunesDestin.com or call (850) 225-7652.
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Consistently delicious since 1995!
’TINI NIGHT Every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. In the Bar Only.
BOGO Buy one entrée, get one FREE. 5–6 p.m. daily.
3899 East Scenic Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach · 850.231.2166 · Online Reservations · Open Daily At 5 · cafethirtya.com
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SWING INTO ACTION LOCAL GOLF LINKS & GREENS
You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy the great game of golf.
Our area has numerous pristine courses that cater to all levels of golfers. Just get out there and have fun!
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LOCAL GOLF LINKS & GREENS
CAMP CREEK GOLF COURSE
REGATTA BAY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
This eighteen-hole Tom Fazio design features a pure golf experience accentuated by wetlands and the beauty of a par-seventy-two championship course measuring 7,151 yards. Camp Creek also offers practice facilities.
This breathtaking 6,894-yard par-seventy-two course along the Choctawhatchee Bay is a golfer’s paradise. Designed by Robert C. Walker, Regatta Bay has been named one of Golf Digest’s “Top Places to Play in North America.”
684 Fazio Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 231-7600 • campcreekgolfclub.com
465 Regatta Bay Blvd., Destin, FL 32541 (850) 337-8080 • regattabay.com
EMERALD BAY GOLF CLUB
SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT
Emerald Bay Golf Club was designed by Bob Cupp to be the premier full-service championship eighteen-hole golf course in Destin, Florida.
Four award-winning championship courses by three renowned designers, including the Raven Golf Club, home of the 2006 and 2007 Boeing Championship at Sandestin. All courses are ranked four stars or higher.
4781 Clubhouse Dr., Destin, FL 32541 1-888-GOLF-BAY (465-3229) • emeraldbaygolfclub.com
THE GOLF GARDEN OF DESTIN Great for families, this facility features a nine-hole executive course, an eighteen-hole putting course, and a driving range and offers lessons and clinics from a PGA-certified instructor. Cart and club rentals are available. 12958 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 837-7422 • thegolfgardenofdestin.com
INDIAN BAYOU GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Featuring three recently renovated and updated nine-hole courses.All twenty-seven holes offer wide, forgiving fairways with lush, undulating greens, majestic pines, and sparkling lakes and water features. 1 Country Club Dr. East, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-6191 • indianbayougolf.com
KELLY PLANTATION GOLF CLUB Designed by Fred Couples and Gene Bates, this 7,099-yard par-seventy-two golf course is topped only by the spectacular views of the Choctawhatchee Bay, where you may even spot a playful dolphin or two as you pass by. 307 Kelly Plantation Dr., Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-7600 • kellyplantationgolf.com
ORIGINS GOLF CLUB
9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. West, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 267-8000 • sandestin.com • BAYTOWNE GOLF CLUB Pristine Tom Jackson course with undulating greens, ample bunkers, and water surrounding twelve of the eighteen holes. (850) 267-8155 • BURNT PINE GOLF CLUB Designed by renowned Rees Jones, this eighteen-hole course challenges with bay views, meandering wetlands, and marshes. (850) 267-6500 • THE LINKS GOLF CLUB A second Tom Jackson eighteen-hole course, the Links is moderately fast with generous, undulating greens. (850) 267-8144 • RAVEN GOLF CLUB This Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design delights with eighteen holes expertly carved through marshes, wetlands, and pine trees. (850) 267-8155 • SANDESTIN GOLF ACADEMY Golf instruction is available for individuals, groups, and junior players. (850) 267-8156
This Davis Love design features a six-hole regulation course that alternatively plays as a nine-hole executive course and a ten-hole par-three layout, making it more fun and appealing to families, beginners, and casual golfers.
SANTA ROSA GOLF AND BEACH CLUB
530 Pathways Dr., WaterSound, FL 32413 (850) 641-0007 • originsgolfclub.com
4801 West County Hwy. 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-2229 • santarosaclub.com
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The only course in the area that has two holes backing right up to the Gulf of Mexico. Affiliated with Audubon International, the pristine eighteen-hole course also meanders through natural wildlife habitats.
SEASCAPE RESORT GOLF CLUB Designed by famed course architect Joe Lee, this 6,100-yard par-seventy championship course has tall pines, shimmering waters, and rolling hills that challenge players of every skill level. 112 Seascape Dr., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 654-7888 • seascape-resort.com/Golf.aspx
SHARK’S TOOTH GOLF CLUB This Greg Norman–designed layout, located on the shores of Lake Powell, features an eighteen-hole, par-seventy-two championship course with a majestic wooded backdrop within acres of preserved wetlands. 2003 Wild Heron Way, Lake Powell, FL 32413 (850) 249-3041 • sharkstoothgolfclub.com
For even more local courses, visit www.destinvacation.com/destin-guide/directory/golf
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TA I N R E T N IL & E
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THE BOARDWALK ON OKALOOSA ISLAND Featuring covered picnic areas, volleyball nets, public restrooms, outdoor showers, eateries, shopping, and nightlife. A vast parking area is available adjacent to the beach—no trekking over the dunes loaded down with beach supplies! 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 796-1782 • theboardwalkoi.com
DESTIN COMMONS Outdoor lifestyle center with over seventy-five retail stores, including Belk, BooksA-Million, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bass Pro Shops, and Williams-Sonoma; a variety of restaurants such as Hard Rock Café, Panera Bread, and Johnny Rockets; and the AMC Destin Commons 14, a stadium-style multiplex theater—plus a children’s playground, a splash fountain, and train rides! New expansion opening summer 2014. 4300 Legendary Dr., Destin, FL 32541 (850) 337-8700 • destincommons.com
GRAND BOULEVARD TOWN CENTER Upscale lifestyle center with green lawns offering shops, dining, movies, and entertainment. Merchants include Chico’s, Orvis, Tommy Bahama, Cantina Laredo, Fleming’s Steakhouse, Mitchell’s Fish Market, P.F. Chang’s, and Carmike Cinemas Boulevard 10. 585 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 654-5929 • grandboulevard.com
GULF PLACE TOWN CENTER Situated just steps away from the beach on Scenic Hwy. 30-A and Hwy. 393 in Santa Rosa Beach, this eclectic community features several resort boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and bars—plus outdoor concerts and special events. 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 32459 (850) 267-2562 • gulfplacefl.com
HARBORWALK VILLAGE Located at the foot of the Destin Bridge, this harbor-front shopping, dining, and entertainment complex also offers water sports rentals, parasailing, pirate ship excursions, and dolphin cruises and has a full calendar of events, including weekly fireworks, live entertainment, and more! 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-0600 • emeraldgrande.com
THE MERCHANTS OF SEASIDE Scenic 30-A’s first planned community and site of the hit movie The Truman Show, Seaside features more than seventy-five shops, galleries, restaurants, markets, food trucks, and bars. Check out the year-round calendar of events, including farmers’ markets, festivals, theatre performances, and concerts. East Scenic Hwy. 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-5424 • seasidefl.com DestinVacation.com 101
ROSEMARY BEACH Located on the western end of Scenic Highway 30-A and featuring trendy upscale shopping, dining, nightlife, weekly farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts, and year-round special events, Rosemary Beach is a charming Euro-style beach village. Stroll the cobbled streets and choose from more than a dozen restaurants, where the offerings range from casual snacks to fine dining. (877) 859-5342 • rosemarybeach.com
SILVER SANDS PREMIUM OUTLETS The country’s largest factory outlet center—110 stores—includes Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, DKNY, Gap Outlet, J. Crew, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Nautica, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Tommy Hilfiger, and much more. 10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 654-9771 • premiumoutlets.com
THE VILLAGE OF BAYTOWNE WHARF Located at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort along the Choctawhatchee Bay, this entertainment complex features shops, eateries, restaurants, and nightlife—plus year-round outdoor festivals and special events. Family friendly with a zip-line, a carousel, a climbing wall, and a ropes course. 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy., West Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 267-8000 • baytownewharf.com
TWO LOCATIONS: DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE 202 HARBOR BOULEVARD • (850) 837-7525 DEWEY DESTIN’S BAYSIDE 9 CALHOUN AVENUE • (850) 837-7575 DESTINSEAFOOD.COM
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BEST of the BEST DAVID YURMAN KWIAT GURHAN DANIEL K MARCO BICEGO ROBERTO COIN ERICA COURTNEY JEAN-FRANCOIS ALBERT KONSTANTINO OSCAR HEYMAN PAUL MORELLI ALEX SEPKUS HEATHER MOORE HENRI DAUSSI JUDE FRANCES PAMELA FROMAN
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McCaskill & Company —— Finest Jewelry & Watches ——
13390 Highway 98 West, Destin, Florida 32550 850.650.2262 • www.McCaskillandCompany.com
T I I C N X E Activities & Attractions G
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SYMBOL KEY: One adult pass per day included with Newman-Dailey Gift Card Special offer and discounts provided for Newman-Dailey Suggested rainy-day activities
AAA DESTIN CHARTER BOAT SERVICE
With over twenty-six years of experience in Destin’s charter boat fishing fleet, AAA books only the best charter boats, captains, and crews and isn’t bound by a rotation system. Charters specialize in bay, light tackle, and deepwater fishing, and family-style, corporate, and overnight trips. 3794 Indian Trail, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-9401 • fishdestin.com
ABRAKADOODLE
Located in Destin Commons, Abrakadoodle is always on the cutting edge with new and exciting art lessons. Specialty art classes allow kids the opportunity to focus on different aspects of art such as painting, drawing, design, or art history. Classes are offered at various times and locations. 4008 Legendary Drive, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-5058 • abrakadoodle.com/fl-northwest
AJ’S WATER ADVENTURES
Day and sunset dolphin cruises, moonlit and sunset sailing cruises, pirate cruises, snorkeling, and more! Enjoy a thrill ride on our sixtyfoot speedboat, Sea Quest, or a sail on our seventy-four-foot custom schooner, Daniel Webster Clements. Free beer, wine, soda, and water are available, and kids can even captain the boat! 116 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (behind AJ’s Oyster Bar) (850) 837-2222 • dolphincruisesdestinfl.com
ARNETT’S GULFSIDE TRAIL RIDES
Ride beautiful trails on this forty-acre ranch and the adjacent thirteenthousand-acre Point Washington State Forest. All levels of riders are welcome. Take a post-ride plunge at the nearby beaches of 30-A! 613 South County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 208-3114 • gulfsidetrailrides@gmail.com
BAYTOWNE ADVENTURE ZONE
At the Village of Baytowne Wharf, you can zip-line across the lagoon, test your balance on the Sky Trail Ropes Course, climb the tower challenge, and flip out on the Euro Bungy. 9100 Baytowne Wharf Boulevard, West Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 428-2736 • baytowneadventurezone.com
BIG KAHUNA’S WATER AND ADVENTURE PARK
Huge and constantly expanding with over forty water attractions for sliding, splashing, or just basking in the sun, Big Kahuna’s is your Destin fun HQ. For nighttime fun, enjoy miniature golf, go-kart tracks, and thrill rides. 1007 U.S. Highway 98 East, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-8319 • bigkahunas.com
BEACH COMMUNITIES ALONG SCENIC HIGHWAY 30-A
This eighteen-mile scenic strand is dotted with rare coastal dune lakes and eleven beachside villages, each featuring its own unique personality, architecture, and local color and flavor. Ride along the bike path that runs from Dune Allen all the way to Inlet Beach. (800) 822-6877 • visitsouthwalton.com
BEACH SAND SCULPTURES
It’s not just a lesson on how to build a sand masterpiece in two hours— it’s about making a lifelong family memory! Fun for all ages, Beach Sand Sculptures also creates “romance” sandcastle designs for that special proposal or “I do.” Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549 (303) 681-2631 • beachsandsculptures.com
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ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS BOOGIES WATERSPORTS AND GLASS BOTTOM BOAT DESTIN CHARTER FISHING SERVICE Offering dolphin excursions on WaveRunners, parasailing, and glassbottom boat dolphin cruises. Located at the foot of the Destin Bridge at the HarborWalk Marina. 16 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 654-4497 • boogieswatersports.com
BUCCANEER PIRATE CRUISE
The whole family will enjoy this interactive tour with sword fights, water gun battles, storytelling, singing, dancing, and treasure hunts! Join in on the merriment or kick back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful emerald-green seas. Their Scurvy Dogs’ Club offers high-seas adventures for swashbuckling adults. 100 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 269-0896 • destinpirateship.com
CAPT. NEMO SUNSET AND DOLPHIN CRUISES
Load up the kids for fishing memories that will last a lifetime. The crew at Capt. Nemo will engage your little ones with wildlife facts as they catch fish, watch the dolphins, feed the seagulls, check out the crab traps, and even drive the boat. 210 Highway 98 East, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2404 • capt-nemo.com
CHARTER BOAT PHOENIX
Destin, Florida, deep-sea fishing aboard the Phoenix. From four-hour trips to overnight charters, the Phoenix is conveniently located in the HarborWalk Village Marina. (850) 837-9734 • deepseafishingindestinfl.com
CHARTER BOAT SUNRISE
Having broken world records for largest species caught, Capt. Kelly Windes and the charter boat Sunrise are world renowned in the fishing community. Capt. Kelly Windes specializes in deep-sea fishing and is sure to impress even the most seasoned fisherman. Private fishing charters are available from four-hour excursions to 36-hour safaris. 210 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2320 • charterboatsunrise.com
CRAB ISLAND CRUISES
Whether you’re looking for a wild day at Crab Island, a cruise through Destin Harbor, or a relaxing day on a private island, you have the fun, and let the captain do the driving! Open seven days a week. (850) 710-3527 • crabislandcruises.com
Offering fishing charters for bay, inshore trolling, offshore trolling, shark, and bottom fishing. Catering to families, corporate groups, bachelor outings, church groups, and more, Destin Charter Fishing will meet you on the docks and have everything ready to go. 210 Highway 98 East, Destin, FL 32541 (877) 837-1981 • destinfishingservice.com
DESTIN FISHING MUSEUM
See examples of the wide range of unique fish caught in Destin’s waters and experience life in Destin before high-rises, cell phones, and even electricity. Enjoy vintage Destin photos and antique fishing rods and reels, including the original Penn Reel that belonged to Ernest Hemingway. Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 108 Stahlman Avenue, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-6611 • destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org
DESTIN HELICOPTER TOURS
Get the best views of the beautiful Emerald Coast from the cockpit of a thrilling helicopter! Departs from next to LongHorn Steakhouse in Destin. 34859 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-5125, ext. 2 • destinhelicopterrides.com
DESTIN PARASAILING
Destin Parasailing offers single, double, and triple parasailing rides from their state-of-the-art parasailing vessel! See Destin from a whole new level. 390 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (866) 359-3114 • parasailing-destin.com
DESTIN SNORKEL
Offering several snorkeling tours: two-stop snorkeling, Snuba, shelling, dolphin, sunset, and fireworks tours. No other company gives you this variety of tour choices. Snorkel boats include Reef Runner, Kokomo, Sand Dollar, Explorer, and Snuba Runner. 66 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 269-2329 • destinsnorkel.com
DESTIN VACATION BOAT RENTALS
Whether you are looking for pontoon boat rentals to take the family out for a day of fun in the sun at popular Crab Island, center console fishing boat rentals, fishing charters to try your luck at catching that once-in-alifetime trophy, power boat rentals for skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding in the bay, WaveRunner rentals to set out on a dolphin excursion, or sailboat rentals to spend the day sailing the Destin Harbor, Destin Vacation Boat Rentals has the boat to fit your needs! 612 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-2628 • destinvacationboatrentals.com
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ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS FIRED UP PAINT-YOUR-OWN POTTERY
Located in Seaside on Highway 30-A, Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery is a fun, family-friendly place where you can paint your “art” out on over five hundred unique pottery pieces. With prices starting at just $14, it’s the perfect way to create affordable family memories. No reservation required. 27 Quincy Circle, Seaside, FL 32459 (850) 231-3211 • firedupseaside.com
FLORIDA BOY ADVENTURES
Welcoming any skill level, Florida Boy is great for kids and first-time fishermen. They offer inshore and flats fishing along the Choctawhatchee Bay, guiding in a Hell’s Bay Neptune for redfish, trout, sheepshead, flounder, bluefish, ladyfish, and sharks using live and artificial baits. (850) 499-4473 • floridaboyadventures.com
DOCKSIDE WATERSPORTS AND PARASAILING
Located on the Destin Harbor, Dockside Watersports and Parasailing is a one-stop shop for everything on the water. You’ll find parasailing; Sea-Doo, WaveRunner, pontoon boat, and fishing boat rentals; sunset and fireworks cruises; wildlife and dolphin tours; fuel, and a marina shop. 288 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 428-3313 • boatrentalsindestin.com
ECCO MOTORS STREET LEGAL GOLF CARTS
The Emerald Coast’s premier provider of rental low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and golf carts, Ecco Motors provides a variety of services and products to meet your vacation needs. Whether you need a golf cart for use within your gated resort or community or a street-legal LSV to tour the natural splendor of our beaches, Ecco has the vehicle to get you going. (850) 830-0415 • streetlegalcarts.com
EMERALD COAST SCIENCE CENTER
GILLIGAN’S WATERSPORTS
Offering watersports in Destin since 1990, Gilligan’s includes parasailing, WaveRunner rentals, pontoon boat rentals, and dolphin tours on WaveRunners. 530 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-9000 • gilligansofdestin.com
GULFARIUM
Located at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, the Gulfarium provides an educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. Dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, penguins, sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles are but a few of the hosts that will entertain and educate guests. 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 243-9046 • gulfarium.com
HARBORWALK CHARTERS
Located in downtown Fort Walton Beach, the Emerald Coast Science Center features indoor activities including exhibits, hands-on learning, and guided programs. Open daily.
Single, group, or private charters for deep-sea and bay fishing trips lasting four to twelve hours or overnight. Boats range in size: 38-foot to 65-foot deep-sea boats and 22-foot bay boats. Prices include bait, license, tackle, and ice. Located at HarborWalk Village on Destin Harbor.
139 Brooks Street, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 664-1261 • ecscience.org
10 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (888) 976-4568 • harborwalkfishing.com
EMERALD COAST SCUBA
HARBORWALK VILLAGE
503 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-0955 • divedestin.com
66 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-0600 • harborwalkdestin.com
Three- and four-hour day and night dives in the beautiful waters of the Emerald Coast with abundant marine life and dive wrecks such as tugboats, barges, liberty ships, and landing crafts in 55 to 120 feet of water. Snorkeling, dolphin, sunset, and Crab Island tours available.
A fun place to gather with family and friends, HarborWalk Village features shops, restaurants, and activities, including a zip line and a rock-climbing wall. The village is also a hot spot for events and live music all year long!
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ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS HURRICANE LANES
Family-friendly entertainment daily featuring twenty-six bowling lanes, a dozen pool tables, an arcade, Rupert’s Sports Bar, Cabana Cafe, and free ping-pong. (Must be over 21 in bar area.) 34876 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 654-5251 • hurricanelanesdestin.com
INDIAN TEMPLE MOUND MUSEUM
Located on the National Register of Historic Places, the Fort Walton Beach Indian Temple Mound is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Florida. The museum features many ancient artifacts and offers several hands-on displays that are popular with kids. 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 833-9595 • fwb.org/museums/indian-temple-mound-museum
INTO THE WILD… ECO DIVERSIONS
Guided hiking, biking, sailing, and kayaking ecoadventures throughout South Walton County’s natural ecosystems with an experienced guide who has been leading tours in the area for over twenty years.
SILVER KING CHARTERS/ACTION FISHING CHARTER SERVICE
Providing world-class bay and Gulf fishing: light tackle, inshore, bay, shark, trolling, deep-sea, offshore, sport, fly, and overnight trips. Family, private, or corporate charters are available all day, plus sunset cruises. 827 Kell-Aire Court, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2028 • fishingdestin.com
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS See Shopping Guide on page 100
SOUTHERN STAR DOLPHIN AND SUNSET CRUISE
Destin’s original sunset dolphin cruises. Two-hour sightseeing cruises in our eighty-foot glass-bottom boat with dolphins, marine life, seagulls, and spectacular sunsets. Dolphin cruises begin at 2:00 p.m. and sunset cruises begin at 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, all year. Book your reservation online.
(850) 974-2258 • itwecodiversions.com
100 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL (next to Tightlines Restaurant at HarborWalk Village) (850) 837-7741 • southernstardolphincruise.com
POWER UP WATERSPORTS
SUNQUEST CRUISES – SOLARIS DINNER CRUISE
101 Calhoun Avenue, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 461-1034 • powerupwatersports.com
9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 650-2519 • sunquestcruises.com
SEA BLASTER DOLPHIN TOURS
SUNVENTURE I SAILING CRUISES
Power Up Watersports features pontoon boat and WaveRunner rentals, as well as the hottest new activity—Flyboard. Flyboard is a jet-powered board that uses the propulsion of a personal water craft to allow you to hover and fly through the air over the water.
Sunset and special holiday cruises of Choctawhatchee Bay aboard the three-deck yacht SOLARIS feature chef-prepared cuisine, live entertainment, and dancing. Cruises are family friendly, and reservations are required. Departs from Baytowne Marina at Sandestin.
Take a fun and exciting cruise with Capt. Larry, who has been entertaining families in the Destin area since 1995. Search the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico along sugar-white beaches for the most playful dolphins. Guests can also enjoy sunset and snorkeling cruises.
This sporty forty-five-foot catamaran departs from Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina and offers eco-dolphin cruises and Crab Island excursions, plus private charters for up to forty-nine people.
60 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 654-6888 • seablasterdestin.com
SURE LURE CHARTERS
SCUBATECH OF NW FLORIDA
Choose from dive trips on Destin’s unique limestone ledge filled with abundant tropical fish, wreck dives in deeper water, and scuba diving classes. ScubaTech also offers professional snorkeling trips in the Choctawhatchee Bay grass flats and Destin’s eastern jetties. 301 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-2822 • scubatechnwfl.com
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314 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 424-6465 • sunventurecruises.com
The Sure Lure is a beautiful, comfortable, air-conditioned fiberglass-hulled Infinity Sportfisher. Bring up to six guests for a private, fun-filled deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Offering bottom fishing, trolling (offshore and inshore), and cobia fishing—plus bay fishing aboard the Fish Dish! 210 Highway 98 East, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 376-8399 • surelurecharters.com
ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS TIMBERVIEW HELICOPTER RIDES
Sightseeing from a bird’s-eye view along the Emerald Coast’s world-famous beaches. Tours depart from Destin Airport. 1001 Airport Road, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 774-0991 • destinhelicopters.com
THE TRACK
This family recreational center in the heart of Destin features gokarts, bumper boats and cars, an arcade, miniature golf, bungee jumping, and kiddie rides such as a carousel, a miniature train ride, swings, and a Ferris wheel. 1125 Highway 98, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 654-4668 • destintrack.com
UNCLE BUCK’S FISHBOWL AND GRILL
Located at Destin Commons, Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill features a unique atmosphere and design geared for family fun and dining. The shipwreck-themed bar area offers the experience of being underwater and features a huge saltwater aquarium with scores of tropical fish. Enjoy bowling on sixteen unique underwater-themed lanes. Destin Commons – 4251 Legendary Drive, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 269-6100 restaurants.basspro.com/unclebucksfishbowl/destin
MOVIE THEATERS AMC DESTIN COMMONS 14
The AMC Destin Commons 14 offers RealD, the premier digital 3-D experience, as well as true stadium seating in all fourteen auditoriums, innovative digital sound systems, and tons of leg room. Destin Commons – 4000 Legendary Drive, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-4539 • amctheatres.com
ARTISTIC PURSUITS BAYOU ARTS CENTER
Operated by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, the Bayou Arts Center overlooking Hogtown Bayou in Santa Rosa Beach hosts special events, exhibits, and art workshops taught by a variety of talented local artists. 105 Hogtown Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 622-5970 • culturalartsalliance.com/bayou-arts-center
MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION
Northwest Florida’s premier cultural arts organization since 1995, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation has been committed to cultivating and nurturing a deep appreciation of the arts along the Emerald Coast with annual concert series, festivals, and other events. Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village – 4323 Commons Drive West, Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-2226 • mattiekellyartsfoundation.org
SEASIDE REPERTORY THEATRE
For the past ten years, this intimate seventy-five-seat theater has offered year-round shows from comedies to dramas, Shakespeare to Charlotte’s Web, and everything in between. Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre – 216 Quincy Circle, Seaside, FL 32459 (850) 231-0733 • lovetherep.com
SINFONIA GULF COAST
Led by innovative and energetic conductor Demetrius Fuller, Sinfonia Gulf Coast presents engaging musical performances that redefine the symphony experience. Events are held from Rosemary Beach to the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island. 495 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32459 (850) 269-7229 • sinfoniagulfcoast.org
BOULEVARD 10
Located within Grand Boulevard Town Center at Sandestin, the new Carmike Cinemas Boulevard 10 features ten screens, including the state-of-the-art “BigD” auditorium and the Ovation Dining Club. 465 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (850) 502-8819 • carmike.com
THE GRAND 16 PIER PARK
Located within Pier Park in Panama City Beach, the Grand 16 features RealD 3-D, IMAX, stadium seating, high-backed rocking chairs, a game room, and more. 500 South Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-4835; Movie Hotline: (888) 943-4567 thegrandtheatre.com
For more ideas, visit our Destin Guide at destinvacation.com. DestinVacation.com 109
Playing It Safe at the Beach
You’ve traveled a long way so that you can plunge into our glorious Gulf of Mexico, and while we want you to soak up all the fun in the sun that our beautiful waters have to offer, keep in mind that Mother Nature can be unpredictable and unforgiving at times. On occasion, the Gulf of Mexico isn’t safe, which is why we have a highly effective beach flag warning system in place to alert locals and visitors alike of the daily surf conditions. Whether this is your first visit to the Destin or South Walton area, or you are a frequent visitor, please take the time to familiarize yourself with this crucial alert system. We want you and your loved ones to experience the best beach vacation ever—and to return again next year or even sooner!
DECODING THE BEACH FLAG SYSTEM Red Flag: High hazard (high surf and/or strong currents, such as rip currents) Yellow Flag: Medium hazard (moderate surf and/or currents) Green Flag: Low hazard (calm conditions; exercise caution) Purple Flag: Marine pests present (jellyfish, stingrays, dangerous fish) Double Red Flag: Dangerous water conditions (water closed to public) 110
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GET BEACH CONDITION UPDATES BY TEXT MESSAGE If you’re staying in South Walton County or visiting beaches there, you can receive daily beach condition updates. It’s quick and easy—just text “SAFETY” to 67463, enter the length of your stay, and you’re all set to receive daily messages. Go to visitsouthwalton.com for more information. If you’re staying in the Destin area or plan to visit any beaches in Okaloosa County, receive up-to-the-minute updates via Twitter by following @okaloosaguards or become a fan of Okaloosa County Beach Safety on Facebook.
Recognizing Rip Currents and Knowing What to Do
Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: beachgoers and can form along any coastline ½½ A channel of churning, choppy water with breaking waves.While rip currents are ½½ Darker colored surf, indicating deeper water especially dangerous for weak or nonswimmers, ½½ Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up on the bottom some rip currents have been known to sweep ½½ A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward even the strongest swimmers out to sea. ½½ A break in the incoming wave pattern with waves breaking out to sea on both sides of the rip current
½½ Smaller unorganized waves alongside more evenly breaking waves over a sandbar
HOW TO AVOID AND SURVIVE RIP CURRENTS: ½½ Don’t panic and fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim toward shore. ½½ If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore. ½½ If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
Rip currents are horizontal currents that most WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT: often form at breaks or low spots in sandbars ½½ Notify a lifeguard if one is available, or have someone call 911 with and around structures such as jetties and piers. accurate landmarks. A common misconception is that rip currents ½½ Do not enter the water. Many people drown trying to save pull you under the water—they actually pull you someone else from a rip current. away from shore. Drowning most often occurs ½½ Throw the person a flotation device. when someone is unable to stay afloat and swim ½½ Try not to lose sight of the victim. to shore due to any combination of fear, panic, ½½ The best way to avoid a rip current is to know the surf conditions exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills. before entering the water. Memorize the flag alert system!