Port St. Joe, Florida

I visited Port St. Joe, FL for the first time last Friday. I like the Barefoot Cottages with the screened in porches & the pool in the center of the complex . It would be a great place for family reunions. They have a community room that overlooks the pool that would be nice for getting everyone together. The small town feel is great here, mostly locally owned restaurants & businesses with a few familiar businesses here and there. View Southern Resorts website & check out Barefoot Cottages .

Founder's Day Fish Fry in Destin

While visiting Destin or the Beaches of South Walton, stop by Clement Taylor Park in Destin to enjoy a traditional fish fry event on May 5th 11am – 1pm. Fresh fish cooked by locals in a beautiful setting overlooking the Bay, our other wonderful waterway, it doesn't get much better than this! Donations requested. For information, call 850.654.5184. Stay at Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals on Holiday Isle or in downtown Destin to be close to this event.

Beautiful Days in Destin

Take a look at the beach cam on the Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals site. Visit it often if you'd like. It shows an always current view of the beach here - live. The weather has been incredible this past March and, now April. While, like most of the nation, we did have a cooler spell around Easter, but it has been just beautiful almost ever since. With weather like this, and rates so low this Spring, how can you resist a spontaneous trip to the beach? For vacation rentals available in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton, visit http://www.southernresorts.com/.

Destin and the Emerald Coast News

For current events and news happening on the Emerald Coast in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton as well as neighboring communities like Port St. Joe, Florida visit a new section on Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals website. The new News link will keep visitors informed on an on-going basis. Take a look and let us kow what you think.

Dining Out for Life

I love when communities band together for great causes. April 26th is Dining Out for Life night. Local restaurants join a nationwide fundraiser for their local HIV/AIDS Service Organizations. To see participating restaurants close to Destin in Fort Walton Beach, Grayton Beach, Gulf Breeze, Niceville, Navarre, and Pensacola click here. It is a phenomenal selection of restaurants. Most offer lunch and dinner. Take a break from cooking, try local favorites and give to a good cause!

Beach Blast Triathlon and Duathlon in Mexico Beach

Get your running shoes, bike and swim cap out for the Beach Blast Triathlon and Duathlon in Mexico Beach on Saturday, April 28th. To register, visit their site. For vacation accommodations and rentals in Port St. Joe, adjacent to Mexico Beach, visit http://www.southernresorts.com/. The new Barefoot Cottages would be a great place to relax before and after the event. The beautiful pool area is one of the loveliest places in the area. The cottages are just ideal.

Support our local Wildlife

Dine out on Thursday, April 26 and support the wildlife on the Emerald Coast. All participating restaurants will donate at least 10% of proceeds from this evening to the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. The ECWR mission is the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured wildlife and to educate the public on Florida's natural fauna.

To see the local restaurants that are participating in this event, click here.

There are several great restaurants participing, should I choose an old favorite Graffiti's or try Enzo's Italian Restaurant? I passed this restaurant today on the way to one of our new Beaches of South Walton Properties & it sparked my interest.

Earth Day Beach Clean-up

Want to do your part and keep the beautiful beaches of Destin and Fort Walton Beach clean? Take some time this Saturday, April 21st from 8am - 11am and clean up the coast. Sponsored by the Okaloosa Tourist Development Council, the Coastal Cleanup volunteers will meet at various parks and beach accesses throughout the county. The parks closest to most Southern Resorts vacation rentals are, in Destin, at Henderson State Park and Destin Harbor behind Lucky Snapper. For Fort Walton Beach visitors and locals, meet at Beasely Park or Surf Dweller condo on Okaloosa Island. Our beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Let's keep it that way.

Stinky's Fish Camp

We visited the new Stinky's Fish Camp this evening. Pretty interesting place, reminds me of the beach restaurants that I went to when I was little, wood floors & wood shellacked tables. Our dinner was started off with Fried Green tomatoes topped with Crawfish Etoufee. I had the Stinky's Stew which is a great concoction of shrimp, mussels, gulf fish, crab legs & oysters. Very tasty. My husband had the Catfish Meuniere which he enjoyed as well, although he did mention his meal was a bit "prissy". It was actually catfish over au gratin potatoes with brown sugar sauce.

Try out this new eatery and stay in Southern Resorts Bawdy Blue home, it's walking distance away.

Destin Towers Redone

Our Destin Towers #91 has been redecorated. Beautiful new furnishings and upgraded appliances highlight the always spectacular view and location on this property. Directly on the beach and in downtown Destin, this vacation rental is a wonderful getaway to the beach. Visit Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals for beach homes, cottages and condos in Destin, Fort Walton Beach. Beaches of South Walton and Port St. Joe.

Southern Resorts Updates Site

Looking for a vacation rental in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Beaches of South Walton and Port St. Joe? Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals just made it easier. The website www.SouthernResorts.com just got updated with some nice features on nearly every page like Quick Search, Live Chat, Guest and Owner testimonials, Deals/Specials as well as property reviews, a press Room and so much more. Also coming this spring are even more photos. Stay tuned!

Sandestin Wine Festival

Looking for something else to do in Destin, other than play on our beautiful white sand beach? Try attending the 21st Annual Sandestin Wine Festival. Held again in the charming Baytowne Wharf, this affair transforms the Village "into the South of France for the four day event." Stay at one of Southern Resorts' vacation rentals and meander over to the Wharf. It is sure to be entertaining as well as educational. For more details visit here.

Destin Harbor ranked 6th in Country

Destin boasts one of America’s 10 best harbors according to Coastal Living magazine, which ranked Destin’s harbor sixth in the country. The list appears in Coastal Living’s April issue, and at www.coastalliving.com.


Jim Breitenfeld of the Destin Harbor Association stated “I think we’re pleased to see Coastal Living and their readers will have an opportunity to learn what those of us who live here already know, that Destin Harbor is a unique, very special place that combines heritage and history with the Southeast’s largest fishing fleet and a vibrant entertainment district.”

Come stay with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals and enjoy all that Destin has to offer.

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Destin has garnered a reputation for beautiful beaches, vacation rentals, shopping and dining. Do visitors know about the culture and arts associated with Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton? We have wonderful art festivals and wine festivals as well as world-class performances in symphony and dance. This Friday, for instance, soloists join the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on Friday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. for a performance of “The German Requiem”, hailed as Johannes Brahms' greatest vocal work and a time-honored masterpiece. The concert will be performed in the main theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville, just north of Destin. Tickets for the public are $22.50 and may be purchased at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office or online at www.owc.edu/arts.

Fine Wine Gala at Fresh Market

For those of you who have not visited our new Fresh Market here's your chance.
The Fresh Market in Destin, Florida will host a gala wine taste tomorrow evening to benefit the Northwest Florida Ballet. Enjoy this unique new market in a party setting with hors d'oeuvres, prime rib and more, all accompanied by complementary wines. The event will be held from 7-9 pm at the new store located at 4495 Commons Drive West. The ticket price for this evening of fun is $25. For more information give the friendly staff at Fresh Market a call at 850-664-7787.

Cobia Fishing in Destin

While the weather in Destin over the last several days has been a bit cooler, the water has been beautiful. It is crystal clear and calm - great for cobia fishing. You feel like you can almost see them from the balconies of some of our beachfront condos and homes.
During March and April, local fishermen as well as visitors to Destin and surrounding areas like Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton enjoy this favorite pastime. For a current peek at the standings and events of the Destin Cobia Tournament, visit their site: http://www.cobiatournament.com/.

Ride the WAVE

When you visit Destin or Fort Walton Beach this spring and summer, try the new trolley that just made its inaugural ride on Friday, April 6, at the Emerald Coast Conference Center. The trolley, funded by a grant, is one of two that will take riders to downtown Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. The county has several shuttles that run to major shopping areas and close to many of Southern Resorts vacation rentals. "When you use public transit, you help our community and the environment by easing traffic congestion and reducing harmful emissions," so give it a try and make your trip to Destin even more relaxing! For routes, maps, fares or additional information about Okaloosa County Transit, visit this site http://rideoct.org/ or call (850) 833-9168.

Things are Grande in Destin

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals is excited to announce our newest property at the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk in the heart of Destin, at the foot of the Destin bridge. This spectacular new property is the focal point in the much anticipated revitalization of the Harbor area. "HarborWalk Village is destined to be the most exciting retail and resort complex along the northern Gulf Coast." It will also boast incredible views of our Harbor and East Pass where fishing boats travel daily as well as world class amenities.

Seabreeze Jazz Festival April 12 - 15

Smooth Jazz returns to the area at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. The Seabreeze Jazz Festival showcases the top talent in smooth jazz & has gathered national attention as one of the nations top contemporary Jazz Festivals. This event was voted Best Event on the Emerald Coast by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine . This year marks the 9th year of the festival & the expansion of the festival to 3 days. Gulf Place Amphitheater is the location of the event this year, just east of Destin, Florida off of Scenic Highway 30-A.

Check out Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals for a great place to stay & SAVE 10% as well! Stay close to the festival in our Beaches of South Walton properties or stay in Destin & take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service from Silver Sands Factory Stores & Grand Boulevard on Highway 98.

Proceeds from the weekend will benefit Music in the schools, providing jazz band clinics and music scholarships for middle and high school students in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Southern Resorts Makes Southern Living Again

Southern Living writers appear to love Destin, Florida. Our beautiful beaches, accommodations, dining and shopping have once again caught the attention of this national magazine. In the April issue, they feature Destin. They even mention Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals as one of the top vacation management companies! See the article on-line here and scroll to see their picks for dining. I have mentioned before that Graffitis is one of my favorite places. They also mention long time local Harbor Docks. Stay with us and try some of these much loved spots.

Nature Walk at Topsail

Looking for out of the ordinary family fun on Friday night?
Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters will guide a free hour-long night walk for the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society at 7:15 p.m. this Friday, April 6 at Topsail State Park in Sandestin. The focus is on ages 4-10, although all are welcome.

Bring a flashlight and wear bug repellent. For more information or to register for this event call (850) 862-9588.

Topsail is east of Destin, Florida just past the new Grand Boulevard stores.

Sea Blaster in Destin

Joining our favorite partner list is the Destin Sea Blaster. This exciting speedboat offers more than blasting through the water as the name implies. While it can and does move swiftly for the adventurous, it also offers snorkeling and dolphin cruises, beach and dolphin cruises, and relaxing sunset dolphin cruises. Next time you vacation in Destin, Fort Walton Beach or the Beaches of South Walton, take a cruise on the Gulf's largest speed boat. It will be fun for the whole family! If you are looking for Destin vacation rentals, visit us for beach homes, cottages and condos.