7th Annual “Backpack 2 School” Drive

Southern Resorts applauds the Silver Sands Factory Stores in Destin, Florida for partnering with the Destiny Worship Center and The Walton Sun newspaper for this annual “Backpack 2 School” drive. Last year’s drive provided supplies and clothing for more than 600 children and the goal this year is to assist at least 750 local children. With every $25 donation, the Backpack 2 School program can provide a backpack full of the required school supplies to children K-12 whose families have financial needs. Each child also receives a new pair of shoes and a haircut, along with certificates to purchase some new back-to-school clothing. What a wonderful cause.

But, 300 backpacks are still needed to fulfill this year’s requests and donations are due by July 25th. If you'd like to help, stop by Silver Sands Factory Stores!

Silver Sands Factory Stores is the nation’s largest designer outlet center located in Destin, FL. The Center currently features more than 100 designer factory stores with 465,200 square feet of retail space, and ultimately 700,000 planned for the ultimate shopping adventure. Visited by over seven million shoppers each year, Silver Sands was recently voted “Best Outlet” by Florida Travel & Life. Designer merchandise is available at up to 75 percent off retail prices. Visit online at silversandsoutlet.com.

Last Minute Vacation Specials

Head to the beach before the end of summer and visit Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals for last minute vacation specials on beach homes, cottages and condos along Florida's Northwest Gulf Coast. With a few openings here and there, we can offer great rates on some wonderful vacation rentals. Look at our 4 Some Fun vacation home in Destin that is open July 26 - August 1, 2008 for only $435 Daily & $2,395 Weekly. Stay in this beautiful 5 bedroom home in Maravilla, just a short walk to the beach and SAVE! Visit 4 Some Fun. And visit the Specials page for more savings in available properties in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Beaches of South Walton, Panama City Beach and the Forgotten Coast.

Surfing for Cystic Fibrosis

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is hosting a Surf Camp on August 2, 2008. This one day surf camp will be hosted by Innerlight Surf Shop on Pensacola Beach, Florida from 10am - 1 pm. The cost is $50 with all of the proceeds benefiting CFF. While I do not typically blog or promote the Pensacola beach community, since Southern Resorts' focus is on the shores to the east beginning in Fort Walton Beach through Destin, the Beaches of South Walton, Panama City Beach and over to the Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe coastal communities, this event warrants some attention. Good for them. Attendees can be age 8 and up and all you need to bring is yourself, positive attitude, towel and plenty of sunscreen. The surf boards will be provided for your use. I think it is worth the drive over there to learn an incredible sport, while supporting an incredible cause.
For those of you that may want to continue to learn about surfing, Destin has a great camp, too. Billabong sponsors the Ride on Surf Camp in Crystal Beach. Our small summer waves are perfect to learn the fundamentals. And don't be fooled by Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast seemingly flat waters. The waves here can get big. And, as most people here for their Destin vacation can attest, there are not many places in world with as pretty white sand beaches and emerald green water!

Southern Resorts is proud to help support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For more information on how you can help, please visit here.

School of Fish Open 7 Days a Week!

Clark and Blake Brennan's School of Fish restaurant in Windmark Beach, Port St. Joe, Florida, is now open 7 days a week. They are now serving their wonderful dishes Monday - Saturday, 11am - 9pm with Sunday brunch 11am - 2pm. I looked at their menu and loved all of it. I cannot wait to head back over to the Forgotten Coast and sample the menu and experience what they refer to as elegantly relaxed, gulfside dining.
If it is as good as their Destin counterpart Royal B, a Southern Resorts' favorite partner, I am sure it is fantastic!
Stay there at Windmark Beach at the new vacation lofts managed by Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals. Experience Morning Glory encompassing two and three bedroom vacation rentals and Turtle Glass featuring one bedrooms. Explore the possibilities!

Kids Night at Baytowne Wharf in Destin Florida

Today is Tuesday and if you have not planned anything for tonight, I highly recommend going to Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, just east of Destin, Florida. Every Tuesday night they have kids activities starting at 7PM with jumping "playgrounds and slides", boat riding, music activities and a very nice playground. Lexi, my 4 year old just loved it last week. We will definitely be back there. The end of a great evening is their fireworks. Unfortunately, we did not experience it since that was the ONLY thing my Lexi did not like. Hopefully that will change soon.

For more fun of things to do please visit our Calendar of Events on Southern Resorts' web site http://www.southernresorts.com/.

Maybe I will see you at Baytowne tonight.

Save your Appetite for Commander's Palace

Last night my husband and I celebrated our 18th year anniversary. We wanted it to be special and when I saw that Commander's Palace had just opened, we made reservations to dine there. We were greeted with open arms and were very impressed. The decor is absolutely outstanding, as well as the view. They could not have picked a better location. Now the food.... it was absolutely DELICIOUS. Words alone cannot describe it; You need to experience it. I will definitely return to Commanders Palace.

Commander's Palace is located at Emerald Grande in Destin, directly overlooking the Destin Harbor. Make it a weekend experience and stay with Southern Resorts at Emerald Grande.

Art Series at Grand Boulevard

This Thursday, July 17th, begins a new art series at the Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, just east of Destin. An already wonderful place to shop, it now will feature a little evening life too. With the Beaches of South Walton already such a patron of the arts, it is only natural that this shopping center embraces it. From 5pm to 9pm, this new sidewalk art show will feature a variety of art mediums, with both artists and gallery staff available to discuss the pieces. Aptly held on Artisan Lane, the street between Gallery NU Fine Arts and The Orvis Company the series is free and open to the public. As an added highlight, guests can also enjoy refreshments from Cantina Laredo while enjoying the sounds of progressive funky jazz by Green Hit. It is sure to be a grand evening and the beginning of an even grander vision of supporting the Arts.

For more dates on this Art Series, visit Southern Resorts' event calendar.

Florida State Parks

Florida's Emerald Coast has quite a few state parks preserving the natural beauty of our many beach communities. In Destin, I often frequent our Henderson Beach State Park. Starting in downtown Destin and ending in the Crystal Beach community of Destin, this park is a great way to get away from crowded beaches and buildings. Being centrally located in Destin is wonderful because it allows the area to still have a touch of pristine untouched nature amidst development. My husband and I biked there today before the showers began. Today was apparently "state park" day because it was free to get into all state parks throughout Florida today.  The park was busy with beach goers. The gazebos had visitors seeking refuge from the sun and the beach and crystal waters were had lots of families enjoying their day at the beach. I was surprised, however, at how much empty and open space there still was. The state was even building more boardwalks and gazebos and parking for future park goers.

It was all very nicely done. The facilities look and operate great and there was even Dunes Dogs hot dog vendor busy supplying lunch. 

Some other wonderful State Parks in our immediate  area of the beach are St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Topsail Hill State Park and Grayton Beach, both in the Beaches of South Walton, just to the east of Destin.

For more on Florida's State Parks, visit the Florida State Park Online Guide here. 

This image is from a photo contest on that site and was taken at St. Andrews State Park. The photographer is Vicki Jordan.