Donna Burgess Watercolor Workshop

Local artist Donna Burgess will be holding a watercolor work shop this Thursday, Friday & Saturday (August 2-4) at the Market Shops of Sandestin. This would be a great opportunity to take a long weekend to the beach & brush up on a favorite hobby or develop a new talent. More details of the workshop are here. Pre-Registration for the workshop is required so don't delay!

Stay in one of Southern Resorts great vacation rentals during your trip to Destin, we have properties close by to the Market Shops that offer wonderful views of our area. Give us a call today at 1-800-737-2322 to reserve!!

Comedy Festival in Seaside

The fourth annual Gulf Coast Comedy Festival continues tonight and Saturday.
The Gulf Coast Comedy Festival returns with standup, sketch, and improv from across the country. The comedy group SPF7 has brought performers from San Francisco, New York, Louisville, Florida and Los Angeles together to make this year's festival an unforgettable weekend of laughs and more that you must not miss! Check out the the festival lineup for detailed schedule of performances.

As a part of the Seaside Repertory Theatre's summer theatre season, all GCCF shows will take place in the Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre at 214 Quincy Circle which is located behind Modica Market, one of the country’s leading gourmet markets serving the finest in food and wine.

Sealoft available in Destin

There is still time to escape to the beach for Summer fun. Southern Resorts in Destin has a new property on the vacation rental program. Enjoy incredible views and charming accommodations at the Sealoft #204 in popular Crystal Beach in Destin. This three bedroom, three bath vacation rental sleeps up to nine guests and features private screened decks overlooking the Gulf. SAVE 15% on your next vacation at Sealoft #204 in Destin!

High Octane to perform at the Village of Baytowne Wharf

High Octane is a dynamic trio of guitar, bass and drums that brings together a sound comparable to bands twice their size. While focusing on rockabilly, they draw heavily from blues, country and swing to create their own unique sound. High Octane generates enthusiasm everywhere from the House of Blues in Orlando to Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach. High Octane is also a popular group in Destin, this is their 3rd show this month. Listen to some of their audio clips here.

They will be performing from 7-9pm this evening July 25th at the Events Plaza at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Tommy Bahama Opens in Destin

Last night was the Ribbon Cutting for the opening of the 10th Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café & Emporium. Located in Grand Boulevard, Destin and the Beaches of South Walton's newest upscale shopping development, the Tommy Bahama Tropical Café is part of a unique compound concept that features a full service upscale restaurant along with a Tommy Bahama’s retail emporium, featuring the complete collection of men’s & women’s sportswear, swimwear, accessories and home accessory items. With beautiful beaches, great vacation accommodations, trendy dining and incredible shopping options, Destin and surrounding areas are positioned as a top vacation destination! If looking for a place to stay try Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

The Green Dinner at Zampieri's

Zampieri's Harbor Grill of Destin will be hosting a Green Dinner this Thursday Evening July 26th. Four local chefs have joined together for this dinner that will concentrate on fresh ingredients from local farms with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. This event will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail and champagne reception on the Harbor side deck with organic wines from Southern Wine and Spirits.

This five course meal will be created by the following local chefs:

Chef Jim Richard of Harbor Grille and Stinky’s Fish Camp
Chef Lee Lucier of eat!, eat!@home, nosh, and chefs at Marcus Pointe
Chef Dennes Webber of Harbor Grille
Chef Todd Meisner of Blue Mountain Catering

For more information or to make reservations call (850) 650-3900.
Seating is limited for this great evening.

Fishin Chix Rodeo

Ladies, get your poles ready for this fun event August 4th at the HarborWalk in Destin. The 2007 Pink Rubber Boots Ladies Fishing Rodeos are a chance to hit the water and see who comes back with the biggest fish. The top three in each of seven categories will win great prizes and the overall champion from each event will get an even bigger prize pack. Have fun in the sun and catch some fish while giving back to Covenant Hospice. For more information, visit http://www.fishinchix.com/ . Stay with Southern Resorts in Destin Pointe Magnolia House, the perfect retreat close by, or try any one of Southern Resorts vacation rentals in Destin.

Alligators: Dragons in Paradise

Throughout the summer, ending August 29th, enjoy this new exhibit at the Indian Temple Mound Museum, featuring the alligator and its influence on Florida culture throughout history. Special exhibit programs will be scheduled; call 850.833.9595 for more information. For another fun up close and personal look at the alligator visit Gator Beach at Fudpucker's in Destin. Look to Southern Resorts' Events Calendar for upcoming events in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, the Beaches of South Walton and Port St. Joe, Florida.

Festa Italiana

For many years the Sons of Italy have hosted this wonderful festival celebrating the Italian heritage and incredible food. As a young lady, I attended at various places like the Fort Walton Square, which is now known as Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach. This year, it will take place at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island from 11am to 8pm on July 28th. Enjoy live entertainment and authentic Italian food, arts & crafts, silent auction. Sons of Italy cookbooks will be available for purchase. 850.609.3800. Whether you are a visitor staying on Okaloosa Island or in Destin, only a couple of miles away or a local, this is a wonderful afternoon and evening to experience.

Lunch and Learn

Gerards Cookery & Cajun Market in the Village of Baytowne Wharf offers cooking classes every Thursday at noon as well as Friday & Saturday evenings. On the menu for tomorrow July 19th is Carnival Salad & Molten Lava cake. This sounds like it would be fun. I will have to persuade one of my non-cooking friends to try out one of the Friday or Saturday evening classes. During one of your stays with Southern Resorts in Destin or the Beaches of South Walton area, you should check these classes out. For more information on the classes give Gerards a call at 850-351-1999.

Great Value on Bella Riva Vacation

New to Southern Resorts' vacation rental program, this stunning Bella Riva #504 four bedroom accommodation is still available the last two weeks in July. The reviews on the Bella Riva property have been incredible. Guests applaud the views, furnishings and top of the line kitchens. If you have some time coming up, take advantage of the reduced weekly rates in this new condominium in Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island, just six miles from Destin. It will be worth every minute! Visit Southern Resorts' website to see virtual tours, images and more on this property as well as many other wonderful beach homes, cottages and condos in Destin, the Beaches of South Walton, Fort Walton Beach and Port St. Joe.

Shelter House Restaurant Tour

Ok, here's a good excuse to go out and eat. The Shelter House Restaurant Tour began a few days ago and will continue throughout the month of July. It's a good way to support Shelter House as well as enjoy some of the great restaurants surrounding Destin. Each participating restaurant will donate part of their proceeds from that day to support Shelter House. For a list of participating restaurants click here.. I already have plans to enjoy one of these great restaurants next week. I'll let you know after I secure a reservation!

Fishing in Destin

A great day on the water off the Destin coast. My 15 year old nephew caught this beautiful sailfish this past Saturday on spinning tackle. Fish jumped several times and was released after this photo was taken. We also caught two Mahi Mahi and our share of red snapper.

West Indies Market at Rosemary Beach

For interesting works of art & great finds you should go to Rosemary Beach this weekend. Take Scenic 30-A and check out the spectacular views along the way. If you prefer to take the quicker route, take Highway 98 East through Destin towards Panama City. The West Indies Market at Rosemary Beach features more than 50 local, regional and national artists exhibiting, demonstrating and selling art in a wide variety of media including handcrafted furniture and jewelry, pottery, sculpture and stained glass. After your day of shopping you shop stop by Wild Olives for a tasty light dinner & to relax with friends.

The West Indies Market will be held on Saturday & Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

Beach Conditions in Destin

July is the busiest month for visitors to Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton, Florida. As temperatures heat up, travelers seek relief at the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. This summer has brought incredible weather and water conditions. For a live view of the beach, peek at Southern Resorts vacation rentals Beach Cam. For a look at current surf conditions, click here. Or, if fishing is your interest, Destin is known as the Luckiest Fishing Village. Click here to see a weekly fishing report.

Celebrate Bastille Day at Rutherfords 465

Tomorrow July 12th is Bastille Day. Celebrate at Rutherfords 465 at their Wine Walkabout event. Enjoy French food and of course the wines that complement them.
It sounds like a great evening & a chance to sample different varieties of french food that you might not have experienced before. This event will be held from 7-9pm.

Rutherfords 465 is located at Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club in Destin and overlooks tranquil Lake Regatta.

Check out their menu here.

Boomin Tuesdays & Thursdays

With 4th of July last week, it seems that we cannot get enough fireworks! My family is heading over to the Village of Baytowne in Sandestin, east Destin, tonight for Boomin Tuesdays. The Village hosts a fireworks show taking place over the lagoon in the Village's Events Plaza. Bring your blankets and chairs and view this explosive event. Go early to shop and for a casual but great dinner try Jim N Nicks BBQ, one of Southern Resorts favorite partners. Or, if Thursdays are better, the Destin Harbor showcases their own display at 8:30pm during the Summer.

The REAL Uncut Scallop Report

Well the Shoults family’s annual Fourth of July scalloping trip is in the book. We had a great time on St. Joe Bay. Weather was a factor the first three days and made finding the mollusks a challenge. We experienced overcast skies Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and a down right scary summer storm on Tuesday but sunny skies prevailed on Thursday.

Monday we started our day at our 2006 honey hole and due to the very overcast sky were only able to harvest about three gallons. We took these up to Dockside Café that evening along with some Destin snapper and scamp we had caught on Friday and let them cook our catch. It was a great day.

Tuesday we wanted to try some new areas and worked the east bank of the bay along Presnell’s. We were finding some pretty good stock but before we knew it a summer storm caught us. It was pretty hairy for a while. Seas in the bay rose to 3-4 feet. We initially tried to head back north to the marina but could not make it because the rain was so hard it took the visibility down to about twenty feet. So our only option was to turn and head south towards Black’s island. This allowed us to tie up on the west side of the island and ride out the storm. After the rain subsided we went back around the island and were able to pick up another three gallons or so in very difficult conditions.

Wednesday we went back to our honey hole area and after moving around three times finally located the mother lode. We picked up eight gallons in about forty five minutes. The key was to look in deeper holes. The best production was in water depths of 3-6 feet which put some free diving in place. Man is that good exercise. Skies were still overcast but we were picking them up 3-8 at a time. This allowed us to stock pile some meat for later dining this week. Dinner consisted of sautéed scallops in pasta with a cream, butter sauce.

Thursday was our best day. Skies were sunny which allows you to see them without the free diving. Again we went back into the same area as before but concentrated on deeper water and were able to get our ten gallons in about an hour. The tide started going out which forced us to ease back into deeper water with the motor trimmed way up. We took our bounty down to the state park and anchored up on a sand bar to begin the cleaning. We had my brother in law’s, Mike Hardiman’s family with us and while we cleaned the scallops, Hannah and Grace found about thirty sea urchins and were chasing down the small fish that surrounded the boat looking for an easy meal. That night we ate fried and grilled scallops to our hearts content. Another great day.

The Barefoot Cottages proved to be a great place to stay as we enjoyed the pool and hot tub at the end of each day.

Funny, we never had to deal with any traffic.

My son David was able to go flounder gigging one night at Windmark Beach and stuck three, one of which was about a three pounder. We only fished a couple of hours and were not very successful due to the boat traffic in all our favorite trout spots.

Keeping the boat at the marina proved very convenient as were able to hose it down with fresh water and tie just tie it up instead of putting it in and out of the water every day.

We are considering another trip over the first week in August.

Scallop Report for Port St.Joe

Scallop season is officially a week underway in Port St. Joe, Florida. The season runs July 1st - August. We travelled over on Thursday to the new Barefoot Cottages for a day trip, spending one night at the new development. Launching the boat only a mile away at the Port St. Joe Marina allowed us to spend the entire day on the water in search of the delectable treats. It proved to be a very successful mission where we all found our share. I must admit that my 15 year old nephew found most of them. That evening we enjoyed both grilled and fried batches. It was the perfect way to spend time with those you love. We had all ages from 8 to 49 and we all had fun. At times, the 8 & 9 year olds did seem more interested in finding little starfish and sea urchins that they, thankfully, let go. So, bring your boat and snorkels and make your way to St Joseph's Bay and Southern Resorts' Barefoot Cottages. If you do not have a boat, it is real easy to rent one for the day or go with Seahorse Water Safaris.

Hawaiian Celebration at Destin Commons

Destin Commons will catch the Aloha spirit this evening. This Hawaiian Celebration will include an authentic Aloha Polynesian Review that will share the muli-cultural heritage with authentic dancing and music to reveal ancient and modern Hawaiian, Samoan and Tahitian traditions. The Aloha Polynesian Review dancers will be in full native costumes with performances at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Highlights will include face painting by Ms. Jennifer, Zachary the balloon sculpting stilt walker and other fun activities for kids. Lawn Chairs & blankets are welcome.

The Hawaiian Celebration will be held from 6 – 10 p.m.

Happy Fourth of July!!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe 4th of July & that you are able to view one of the great fireworks displays in the Destin or Ft. Walton Beach area.

For some good CLEAN fun tomorrow join the The South Walton Independence Day Beach Cleanup.

Meet at the beach at one of the Regional Beach accesses at 8:00 AM Thursday, July 5th:
• Miramar
• Dune Allen
• Blue Mountain Beach
• Grayton Beach
• Santa Clara in Seagrove Beach
• Eastern Lake
• SeaCrest
• Rosemary Beach

Trash bags, gloves and bottled water will be provided.

This event is sponsored by the South Walton Community Council.
If you have questions please contact Mary Lou Springstead at 850-267-1746.

Vacation Rentals in Fort Walton Beach

This Saturday I had the opportunity to tour firsthand some of our vacation rentals in Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island, just minutes from Destin. I inspected some old favorites like El Matador as well as the newest addition to the Island, Bella Riva. The area is looking better than ever and enjoys a more laid back pace than neighboring Destin. I love that pace coupled with the fact that Fort Walton remains a longtime destination for those who love the eclectic mix of old and new with the perfect fit for every lifestyle and budget. If you have not been to the Island lately, it is worth a trip. For available vacation rentals in Fort Walton Beach, Destin and the Beaches of South Walton, visit http://www.southernresorts.com/.

4th Of July Fireworks Shows Around Destin

July 4th
City of Destin
Fireworks display can be viewed from the Destin Bridge, Destin West Harbor, East Jetties and Norriego Point. The 20 minute show will be synchronized to patriotic music from Mix 103.1 and Wave 102. For more information, call 850.650.1241.
Destin Commons
Families can enjoy a spectacular fireworks show and patriotic music in the Destin Commons Center Plaza while children play in the pop fountain. 8:30pm.
Fort Walton Beach
Held at Fort Walton Beach Landing. Live music, entertainment, children's activities followed by a fireworks display at 8:30pm. For more information call 850.833.9510.
Rosemary Beach
A day-long celebration for the entire family including an old-fashioned bike parade (right after the decorating party & breakfast!), family field day, a BBQ, live music and the largest fireworks display on Hwy 30-A! Admission required for BBQ only. For more information call 850.278.2081.

Jeremy's Surf Camp

Destin's Gulf Coast provides the perfect little waves to learn how to surf. At times, the waves can be quite large and exciting for seasoned surfers, but the summer is the perfect time to catch a smaller wave. In Crystal Beach on the east side of Destin, stop by and learn from Jeremy or one of his local surf teachers like Dylan. Kids love to be in the water and this is a great way to gain a safe appreciation of the sport. Walk down the beach from many Southern Resorts vacation rentals and let the fun begin. Look for signs for Jeremy's Surf Camp.