Destin is called "the worlds luckiest fishing village" for a reason! Thousands come each year to see
the beautiful emerald green waters and to catch the many varieties of fresh
local fish that the Gulf of Mexico is famous for. Fisherman love the shallow water shelf and easy deep water access to the Gulf. Crab island is where all go for a good time! Visit Florida's Emerald Coast and enjoy the great people, fishing, and food!
Emeril Lagasse loved fishing in Destin so much, he moved his family to the barrier island!
Don't forget to VOTE! For more information about Destin and the Emerald Coast pick up a copy of our Spring issues of Life's A Beach, THE Visitor's Guide to the Emerald coast or order on online here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook for your chance to WIN a FREE Emerald Coast vacation!
Everyone can benefit from some tips for ensuring a stellar day at the beach. So, we researched some of the best tips as seen on the popular site, Pinterest, and included some of our own, and here is what we came up with!
1. Pack the sunscreen and apply it often
Depending on what level SPF you purchase, apply the good stuff around the clock even if it doesn’t look like you are getting burnt. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Also, don’t forget to apply a lip balm with SPF to keep your lips safe from the sun.
2. Wear eye protection
Whether you prefer to wear sporty sunglasses or a floppy sunhat, any sort of protection for your eyes is a good idea.
3. Pack plenty of towels
Towels at the beach can be used for drying off after playing in the water or for sitting on while tanning, so pack away!
4. Load up an ice chest with plenty of water
Heading to the beach with a cooler stocked with cold waters, drinks and snacks is great for keeping hydrated and making sure you have food for energy while out in the hot sun. For those who want to be super prepared, purchase a cooler with wheels!
5. Put your cell phone in a plastic Ziploc bag
This is a safety precaution for keeping your phone sand free and from accidentally forgetting it in your swimsuit pocket before jumping in the water. If only phones could swim!
6. Pack baby powder
Now, this one may sound a little odd at first, but for those beach goers who don’t want to track a pound of sand back into your car or hotel room, check out this is a neat trick. Apply a generous handful of baby powder to your legs and feet, and watch as the powder absorbs the moisture on your body, causing the sand to fall off.
7. Don’t forget the Toys
A lot of people, especially children, like to be active on the beach. Pack some buckets for sandcastle building, a football or Frisbee for throwing around, or some boogie boards for riding the waves.
8. Throw somefloaties/arm inflatable floaties in your beach bag
You can never go wrong with having a floatie for the children to play on in the water or packing a pair of arm inflatable floaties to put around a young child’s arms to aid in helping to keep them safe when you take them for a swim.
9. Bring along a good book
For those of you who love to enjoy a good read while relaxing, be sure to pack that new novel you’ve been wanting to dive into.
10. Be cognizant of the Beach Warning Flags
This isn’t a physical item that you can bring along, but we thought it was too important to not list. Please do heed the beach warning flags as they are displayed to keep you safe.
Above all, enjoy your day at the beach and we hope you make many wonderful memories with your family and friends while doing so!
If you are in Destin for St. Patty's Day weekend, you're in LUCK! On Saturday, March 16th the city of Destin's Parks and Recreation Department will once again host the 13th Annual Run with the Dogs 5k. Registration for the Run/Walk is open until Friday, March 15th. All dogs are welcome, and there will be awards for both two-legged and 4 four legged participants. For more information or to register, call 850.650.1241. Sunday, March 17th, from 12-11 p.m. you don't want to miss the festivities at he 5th Annual HarborWalk Village Grogg Games & Irish Street Festival. Enjoy live Irish music by authentic bag pipers Irish dancers, classic Irish fare and authentic Irish beers. Crafts and activities for children too! Fun for the whole family! For more information visit EmeraldGrande.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will also be celebrating the luck of the Irish Saturday, March 17, 6-9 p.m., enjoy the beautiful scenery, live traditional Celtic music in the events plaza, sponsored by Henri’s Notions. For more information visit, BaytowneWharf.
So get out there and enjoy all of wonderful festivities the Emerald Coast has to offer! For more information about local restaurants,dining, attractions,shopping,events,maps,coupons and MORE pick up a copy of Life's A Beach Spring issue. We are THE Visitor's Guide to the Emerald Coast. Be sure to LIKE us on FACEBOOK for you chance to WIN the Life's A Beach Spring Giveaway!
St. Patty's day is right around the corner and Downtown Fort Walton Beach is the place to be! It all kicks off with Ladies Night Downtown, sponsored by Bella Day Spa and Salon this Thursday, March 14 at 6:30. Bella's will be offering chair massages & demonstrations, over $400 in raffles and door prizes will be given away and don't forget Ladies, The ULTIMATE GALS WEEKEND Giveaway! The winner will be announced at December’s Ladies Night Out Event….but you must attend at least 6 Ladies Night OUT events in order to be eligible.No kids, no men, no hassles..just girl time!
If you're looking for an evening out with the family, check out the Downtown Art walk this Friday, March 15. This Free event will have local Artists lining the sidewalk of Historic Downtown Fort Walton Beach to share and sell their original art from 5:30-8:30. To make Artwalk even more fun for the family there will be live entertainment, food, face painting, and much much more!
Want to burn some pre-pub crawl calories? Join the crew over at Run With It. They had so much fun doing the “Lucky Leprechaun 5K & 10K Run” last year that they have decided to do it again it's a great run with a fantastic after party at KC’s Sandbar. Register at Run With It or online Here
Be sure to save some energy and get "green" at the FWB St. Patty's day pub Crawl, Sunday March, 17. Starting at 5 p.m be ready to walk the walk at any participating location. For more information any any of the great events visit, DowntownFWB. To keep up with all the the latest and greatest The Emerald coast has to offer be sure to pick up a Spring Issue of Life's A Beach, THE Visitor's Guide to The Emerald Coast.
As if the people of Florida's Emerald Coast aren't already proud to call this beautiful and much admired place home, popular news outlets have recently ranked the area for its alluring qualities, raising the level of gratitude even more.
In summer 2014, leading media outlet, MSN News, named Fort Walton Beach as one of the “10 Happiest Cities in America.” The Fort Walton Beach area landed as the happiest location in Florida and the 10th overall happiest city in the nation, according to the rankings. The results are based on satisfaction levels reported by respondents to a multi-year survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were presented in a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Also in 2014, Destin was voted number six for "Best Spring Break Destinations: Readers' Choice Winners" by USA Today. After four weeks of voting in 10Best.com's Readers' Choice contest, USA Today readers helped name the best Spring Break destinations.
These acclaims are much appreciated and adored by locals and visitors alike, and we look forward to receiving more in the years to come!
Spring is here on the lovely Emerald Coast and we would like to be the first to WELCOME you to our little piece of paradise. The water is clear and the temperature is on the rise, let us guide you through all of the wonderful events and activities the Emerald Coast has to offer. Be sure to pick up our Spring Edition and Like us on Facebook for the latest news and events, be sure to enter our spring giveaway for your chance to "Win" a Life's A Beach souvenir box of spring time "must haves".
If there’s one thing you won’t want to miss
this weekend, it’s the 36th Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival.
Recently named one of the USA’s top 12 food festivals by Parade Magazine, this spirited fall festival offers something for
everyone. Festival fun will include high-quality arts and crafts, a huge
selection of clothing, jewelry and other goods, collectibles and merchandise,
carnival rides and booths, kids’ activities, local and big-name entertainment,
and more!
Festival History
Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival 1978
The festival began back in 1976 in the town
of Niceville, then a happy little fishing village known simply as Boggy Bayou.
In those days, local fisherman poled flat-bottomed skiffs out into the bay at
night, listed for the jumping mullet, and cast their nets. During the
depression, mullet saved the Boggy Bayou area by providing pioneer families
with the means to barter with regional farmers for needed goods and services,
so this little town owes the mullet a lot.
Since its beginning, this annual festival
honoring the mullet has grown to one of the South’s most celebrated festivals,
gaining much recognition and notoriety nationwide. It has become one of the
best-known country music events in the South.
For folks living in the area, it’s an event
that brings the townsfolk together every year, allowing them to renew old
friendships and celebrate with neighbors. For visitors, it’s an excellent
opportunity to have some good old-fashioned family fun.
Food
Photo: MoscatoMom.com
Throughout the three day festival, thousands
of hungry mullet fans will consume up to 4 tons of this tasty fish. Of course,
everyone who goes the Mullet Festival will have something to eat. Aside from
fried and smoked mullet, a wide variety of menu options will be available including
seafood, oriental foods, Cajun and country cooking, sweet treats and more. Just
a few of these must-try items include shrimp, shark, alligator, crawfish, BBQ,
shrimp tempura, fried vegetables, bratwurst, wings, chicken, burgers, funnel
cakes, kettle corn, cotton candy, hot apple dumplings and ice cream!
Arts and Crafts
A large arts and crafts show will make for
some truly unique finds. This juried show features only original, high-quality
work. All exhibitors are eligible for the “Best of Show” Purchase Award. In
addition, there will be tons of hand-made and/or decorated clothing available
in the Boutique section.
Entertainment Galore
As previously mentioned, the Boggy Bayou
Mullet Festival has become known as one of the South’s best country music
festivals. Known for featuring nationally-recognized country acts in a small,
festival atmosphere, if there’s one thing there’s no shortage of at this event
it’s entertainment. The best part? The festival’s low admission price INCLUDES
all the entertainment. How awesome is that?
To see a complete schedule of entertainment Click Here.
Family Day
Sunday, October 21 is Family Day at the
Mullet Festival. Sponsored by Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities
Hospital, this is the festivals only alcohol-free day. No sales of beer or any
other alcoholic beverages will be permitted on this day. On Family Day,
volunteers from Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital will
be selling soft drinks on site to raise funds for the United Way.
The entertainment on this day is geared
specifically towards a family audience. Children can enjoy rides, clown shows,
cartoon characters, pony rides, magicians, face painting, and much, much more!
What’s A Mullet?
Black or striped mullet are a versatile fish
that can be found throughout the world in warm, coastal marine waters and
sometimes in fresh water. They are abundant in Florida Waters, especially in
Choctawhatchee Bay and its bayous. Mullet are sometimes called jumping, or
happy mullet because these fish leap right out of the water and skip along the
surface in great exuberance.
Well known and held in high esteem for
centuries, these fish were often included in the writings of the ancient
Romans. Mullet, which feed on vegetation, algae and plankton, take on the
flavor of their surroundings. In most areas, dirty or polluted waters render
mullet inedible. For this reason, the mullet is no longer a prize delicacy in
Rome because Italy’s canals and coastal waters became polluted.
Mullet taken from the Niceville’s
sandy-bottomed waters are fat and clean. Their firm-texture has a mild, almost
sweet, nutlike flavor. Don’t take my word for it, come out to the 36th
Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival and see for yourself!
Check out this Mullet Festival T-Shirt Worn by the "Sam Merlotte" Character on HBO's Popular TRUE BLOOD Series
