Thursday, December 19, 2013

Spring Break 2014 Countdown

The countdown to Spring Break begins after the New Year arrives, and comes faster than you can say, “it’s bikini season!”



During this Spring Break, journey on over to the beautiful Emerald Coast for a week of fun in the sun and sand, great shopping, delicious food, exciting area attractions and so much more. Book your stay at one of the many beachfront hotels or condominiums located right on the Gulf of Mexico. Wake up each morning with a view of the gorgeous emerald waters and white sand right outside your window—it’s truly a one-of-a-kind vacation!

Whether you come to the coast for an adventurous and eventful Spring Break, or if you are in search of some rest and relaxation on the beach, there is no doubt that you’ll leave feeling satisfied.


Start planning your Spring Break getaway to the Emerald Coast today and make 2014 the best year yet!




Check out www.DestinTravelAdvisor.com for more information on booking your trip to the area this Spring Break.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Where Will You Ring in 2014?

The question is not who is hosting New Year’s celebrations—the question is, who isn’t?

December 31 will give way to skies decorated in fireworks, 2014 flair, and groups of people yelling “Happy New Year!” come midnight.

Baytowne Wharf, HarborWalk Village, Emerald Grande, and numerous accommodations, restaurants, and bars up and down the Emerald Coast will host New Year’s festivities to celebrate 2014. Hop around to a few different venues, or stay at your favorite one all night long.

Photo courtesy of The Emerald Grande.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will host its end-of-the-year party, complete with live bands and fireworks for dancing fun and a light show.

Head on over to the Emerald Grande for Vegas-style gaming, dinner and a dance party with a DJ in the Harborview room. Toast the New Year with champagne as you watch the Big Ball Drop and fireworks at midnight.

Photo courtesy of The Emerald Grande.
The Grande Ballroom Party at Emerald Grande will have live music from Cool Rayz, a chef-selected menu and a champagne toast at midnight as you watch the fireworks light up Norriego Point and see the Big Ball Drop over the glistening Destin Harbor.

No matter where you plan to welcome 2014, if it’s on the Emerald Coast it will be an exciting and memorable night!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Holiday on the Harbor


Nothing says Christmas on the beautiful Emerald Coast like a magically lit boat parade idling down the Destin Harbor on a Sunday evening. On December 15, 2013, watch the 27th Annual Holiday on the Harbor Destin Boat Parade pass by from the Boardwalk, dock, restaurant, or even your balcony up above. Your friends and family will be in awe at the colorful and calming sight in the spirit of the holidays! The Destin History and Fishing Museum will host the event. Festivities will be held that afternoon along Destin Harbor.

Participating boats will begin lining up in the Destin Harbor between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The parade will kick off at 6 p.m. and judging with take place upstairs at Harry T’s Restaurant. A lightshow of fireworks will decorate the night sky at the close of the boat parade.

All commercial, charter, and private boats are invited to light up the Destin Harbor with true Destin spirit. Prizes will be awarded for the following categories: private 30 ft. and under, private 31 ft. and over, charter/commercial boat 30 ft. and under, charter/commercial boat 31 ft. and over, tour boat/motorized, sailboat 30 ft. and under, sailboat 31 ft. and over. An additional award will be presented to the Best Overall lighted boat entry. The City of Destin is sponsoring an award to the boat that best showcases the Harbor heritage. 



You can pick up an entry form in person at the Museum, Destin Community Center, City Hall, DestinChamber of Commerce, or many Destin Harbor businesses. You can also request an email copy by calling the Destin History and Fishing Museum at 850-837-6611 or by emailing Kathy Marler Blue at KathyDestinHistory@gmail.com. There is a $25 entry fee per boat.


In the event of poor weather conditions, the parade will be held on Sunday, December 22. 
For more information and to register, please visit www.destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org.

Come celebrate the holidays and be a part of a unique boat parade that showcases the history of Destin!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Things to do on the Emerald Coast this December

Here are some exciting events happening on the Emerald Coast for December 2013:

December 4
McGuire's December Wine Tasting

December 5
Festival of Trees in FWB
Fort Walton Beach Christmas Boat Parade

December 6
Howl at the Moon Fundraiser – Benefits Military Widows at Air Force Enlisted Village

December 7
Christmas Open House at De’France Indoor Flea Market and Antiques
Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus – “Christmas Miracles”
Christmas Open House at the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
Santa’s Arrival and Holiday Performance at Silver Sands Premium Outlets
SOCKS Christmas Pet Photo Shoot in FWB

Photo courtesy of SOCKS.

A Victorian Christmas – Northwest Florida State College Series
Destin Craft Fair
Tee Off for Toys in Destin
Santa at HarborWalk Village

Photo courtesy of Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village.

Shelter House to host 3rd Annual Luminaria Run in Destin

December 8
Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Winter Concert – NWF State College Series
Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus – “Christmas Miracles”

December 9
Hard Rock Cafe Christmas Networking Event in Destin

December 11
Charity Gift Wrap at Silver Sands Premium Outlets

December 12
Eat at Chick-fil-A to benefit Feline Friends of Destin

December 13
Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra – “Holiday Pops” Concert
Holiday Open House

December 14
Fisher House Holiday Boat Parade
35th Annual Jingle Bell Jog
Spencer’s Art of Illusion – National Tour Artist Series
Christmas Market at De’France Antiques and Collectibles
Breakfast with Santa at Bubba Gump
Destin Christmas Parade
Baytowne Holiday Lantern Parade

December 15
27th Annual Holiday on the Harbor Destin Lighted Boat Parade

Photo courtesy of Ocean Reef Resorts.

December 21
Annual Emerald Coast CHRISTmas Miracle Children’s Fiesta

December 26
After Holiday Sales at Silver Sands Premium Outlets

December 31
New Year's Eve Celebrations


For more information on any of these events, click here and here

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

2014 Halloween Happenings!


There will be no shortage of Festive Fun this weekend on the Emerald Coast. Whether you are a Big Ghost or a Little Goblin, you're are sure to find the perfect spirited celebration here this weekend.  





Oct. 25-26, 31 & Nov. 1-2
8th Annual Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Haunted House 
Located on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk at 7 p.m. Not recommended for children under 10. EcWildLifeRefuge.com 

Oct. 25-26 
Haunted Coast Guard Station 
The Coast Guard station, 2000 Miracle Strip Parkway in Destin, haunted house from 7-10 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to donate one non-perishable food item per person. Not recommended children under 10.For more information call 244-7147

Oct. 25-26 & 30-Nov. 2 
Jaycees Haunted House at Fuds
Fudpuckers on Okaloosa Island at 8 p.m.!  Proceeds fund Give-A-Kid-A-Christmas and Thanksgiving Baskets. Not recommended for children under 10. 
Oct 26 Kid’s Day in the afternoon with non-scary characters. 850-598-2158 | FudPucker.com

Oct. 25-26
6th Annual Haunted History Tours
City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE. Four tours will be conducted each night at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. DownTownFWB.com

Oct. 25-26, 31 & Nov. 1-2.
8th Annual Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Haunted House
at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk at 7 p.m. Not recommended for children under 10. EcWildLifeRefuge.com 

Oct. 25-26.
Haunted Coast Guard Station
The Coast Guard station, 2000 Miracle Strip Parkway in Destin, haunted house from 7-10 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to donate one non-perishable food item per person. Not recommended children under 10.For more information call 244-7147

Oct. 25-26 & 30-Nov. 2
Jaycees Haunted House at Fuds
Fudpuckers on Okaloosa Island at 8 p.m.!  Proceeds fund Give-A-Kid-A-Christmas and Thanksgiving Baskets. Not recommended for children under 10. 
Oct 26 Kid’s Day in the afternoon with non-scary characters. 850-598-2158 | FudPucker.com

Oct. 25-26
6th Annual Haunted History Tours
City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE. Four tours will be conducted each night at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. DownTownFWB.com

Oct. 25
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Relive the classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Harborwalk Village main stage from 7-11 p.m. Props will be provided. Costumes are expected. Doing the Time Warp is mandatory! EmeraldGrande.com

Oct. 26
Monster Paddle at Harry T’s HarborWalk
The only costumed stand up paddle poker run in the United States, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Paddle Club, takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Paddle anything … SUP, kayak, canoe, outrigger, dragon boat, row boat, coffin ... anything. Get the highest ranked poker hand and win a huge prize. EmeraldGrande.com

Oct. 26
Magical Halloween Contest HarborWalk Village
Hundreds of costumed characters compete in a contest at 9 p.m. The winning stakes are high with more categories and better prizes. EmeraldGrande.com

Oct. 26
Destin Commons Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt from 4-6 p.m. on Main Street and Center Plaza. Fun includes a kids’ costume contest for ages 0-12; pet costume contest; fantasy face painting; creepy crafts; street dancing; trick-or-treating; and free photos with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang at Bass Pro Shops. DestinCommons.com

Oct. 25 -26
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Fall Festival
The annual festival will be held from 6-10 p.m. There will be a haunted tram ride, activities, food, and games for children. This is an all ages event although there may be age restrictions on the haunted tram ride. 267-8330 | FloridaStateParks.org/TopSailhill

Oct. 26
McGuire’s Irish Pub of Destin 17th Annual Halloween 5K/10K Run
At 9 a.m. costumed runners will dash through Destin. Run is followed by a post race party featuring live entertainment, Irish fare, Irish Wakes, McGuire’s ale and soft drinks! McGuiresIrishPub.com

Oct. 26- 27
Gulfarium Splash-or-Treat Spooktacular
GulfScarium’s Splash-or-Treat Spooktacular will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with family-friendly games and activities such as the HallowGreen Scavenger Hunt, free face painting, and a costume parade and contest. New fun house complete with a mirror madness maze. Gulfarium.com

Oct. 31
Gulfarium Trick or Treat
Kids can trick or treat around the park, enjoy crafts and watch a dolphin and a sea lion show. Gulfarium.com

Oct. 27  
Not-So-Spooky Family Fun Fest
Little ghosts and goblins can ride HarborWalk Village Express, a spunky kid-friendly spooky train ride around the village, take home treats and candy bags, and trick or treat at Village merchants from 2-5 p.m. Annual kids’ costume contest at 2 p.m. on center stage. The pet Howl O’ Ween parade and costume contest begins at 4 p.m. and is open to all four legged costumed creatures. EmeraldGrande.com

Oct. 28
City of Destin’s Fall Festival
From 5-8 p.m. at the Destin Community Center. Please bring one non-perishable food item for admission. There will be booths with fun games and activities, a cakewalk, a costume contest, a spacewalk/slide, food for sale, and candy for those just stopping by to Trick-or-Treat. Judging is at 5 p.m. 654-5184 | DestinCommons.com

Oct. 30
11th Annual Light the Night
Village Baptist Church in Destin from 6-7:30 p.m. All are invited to join in this family friendly event that offers activities for all ages. VillageBaptist.org

Oct. 31 
Trick-or-Treat off the Street at Silver Sands
All goblins and ghosts, families with children 13 and under, are invited to stroll the sidewalks at Silver Sands Premium Outlets in costume to collect goodies from each store from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Look for the pumpkin sign in the window of participating stores. PremiumOutlets.com

Oct. 31
Halloween Fireworks
Come out and enjoy a fireworks show over the Destin harbor to celebrate Halloween and the end of the Destin Fishing Rodeo on at HarborWalk Village. EmeraldGrande.com

Oct. 31 
Village of Baytowne Wharf Trick or Treat Street
Friends, fireworks and frights take center stage from 6-8 p.m. throughout the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Trick or treat through the Village streets and visit merchants as they hand out Halloween treats. Dance on the stage as the D.J. plays frighteningly good tunes and end the evening with a spooky fireworks show over the lagoon at 8 p.m. BaytowneWharf.com  

Nov. 1
Halloween Candy Buy-Back
Dr. Scott Runnels will buy back candy for $1 a pound of unopened candy, up to five pounds, from 8 a.m. to noon at his office, 4399 Commons Drive E #10 in Destin. Candy will be sent to Operation Gratitude to be sent to troops. Soldiers often give the candy to children in local villages. Call 269-0333.

Nov. 2
Biophilia Fall Festival
Biophilia Center hosts its Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a haunted trick or treat trail, hay ride, the Science Brothers, Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters, petting zoo, live music by Mike Whitty, carnival games, harvest produce, bounce house, Abrakadoodle arts and crafts, face painting, Tucker Dukes food truck, Biophilia exhibits, local organizations and more. Admission is$8/adults and $5/children. Ages 2 and under free. EoWilsonCenter.org

Don't forget to Like us on Facebook! We will keep you up to date on everything happening all along the Emerald Coast!