Osprey Aerie

The Osprey is one of the most commonly seen bird of prey in our area. Usually observed flying, their white belly with dark brown wings is easy to see. It is also common to see them with a fish in their talons as I did this weekend. I went to the bay side beach on Okaloosa Island to enjoy watching the water sports. While watching the windsurfers, kayakers, and water skiers this majestic bird dropped out of the sky and into the water emerging a few moments later with a large fish in his talons. I watched as he brought the fish up to the top of a tall pine tree to eat it.

Osprey are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a species of special concern. They are not threatened or endangered but their population, while still recovering from DDT poisoning, has worked hard to overcome the obstacles of pollution and habitat loss. Fish notoriously build up toxins in their bodies that are in the environment and pass it on to the creatures that eat them so pollution quickly affects an entire Osprey population or breeding season because they feed exclusively on fish. Luckily, rules regarding their protection and man made nesting aeries have brought them back strong and hopefully we can continue to enjoy their presence without fear of their extinction anymore.

Captain Anderson's in Panama City

While I read further into the Southern Living Readers' Choice Awards, I saw that Captain Anderson's Restaurant & Waterfront Market was voted the #2 Seafood Restaurant. With all the incredible seafood restaurants we have in the South, that is an tremendous compliment. Living in Destin, I have not tried the restaurant, but would love to hear comments by those who have. This landmark waterfront restaurant is celebrating its 41st anniversary this January 2008 and has been a favorite among locals and visitor who love to dine on the best seafood while watching the fishing fleets unload their catch. Within 5-11 miles of Southern Resorts' Panama City Beach properties at Splash Resorts, Emerald Beach and Sterling Reef Resorts & Spas, this is a "must do" for guests. As a matter of fact, next time I am over that way, I will make a point to get by there.

Southern Living Readers' Choice Awards

It is that time of year, again; in the January 2008 issue of Southern Living Magazine, the Readers' Choice Awards are published. For the 13th year in a row, Destin, Florida (including adjacent beach community Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island) has been voted the #1 Beach Town / Resort. For the complete article, click here.
Destin was also voted, yet again, as the #3 Family Vacation Spot. So, while we may boast of our beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear Gulf water, trendy dining and great shopping, you do not just have to take our word for it. Southern Living is a huge publication featuring some of the best destinations in the world. Take their word for it and visit Destin in 2008. For wonderful accommodations, stay with us at Southern Resorts. Also mentioned through the years as a favorite among Southern Living writers, our beautiful beach home, cottages and condos, partnered with unbeatable service, are sure to make us a favorite of your, too. Visit our site to begin planning your stay at the #1 Beach Town!

Florida Beach Weddings

Get engaged over Christmas? Looking for an enchanting place to have the ceremony and/or reception? Southern Resorts has the perfect place, with vacation rentals in many beach communities along the Emerald Coast including Ft Walton Beach, Destin, Beaches of South Walton, Panama City Beach and Port St. Joe. Get married on the beautiful white sand beaches of our area and have a small reception at our Lupine Home overlooking the Gulf. Or, visit the new Green at Barefoot Cottages for a romantic garden setting with beach access. It can accommodate a small or large party of 200-300 in its 13,200 SqFt of lawn. Southern Resorts also have an incredible assortment of vacation beach homes, cottages and condos for guest accommodations!

Sarah Ks Gourmet

Southern Resorts' Christmas party was fun as usual. It was great relaxing with co-workers and enjoying wonderful company, gifts and, of course, food. We were especially fortunate this year to have local Destin favorite Sarah K's Gourmet cater the event. If you have not tried her World Famous Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, you have no idea what you are missing. I think I even blogged about them last year. Sara Ks has been voted Best of the Emerald Coast 2 years in a row. You can enjoy a chef-crafted meal in the comfort of your home without having to fight traffic or wait in long Destin restaurant lines. Everything cooks in the containers in which it comes - when you're done you throw it out - making clean-up a breeze! Did I mention that the desserts were wonderful, too?

Southern Resorts in Panama City Beach

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals has gained more beach condos in Panama City Beach. We welcome Emerald Beach and Sterling Reef Resort & Spa. These beach front resorts offer wonderful accommodations, incredible Gulf views and fantastic amenities to vacationing families, couples and business travelers. Visit Southern Resorts' site for comprehensive descriptions, video tours, images, rates and on-line reservations.

Christmas Cardinals

While visiting Villa Royal, I stopped to take a look at the wonderful view. I was marvelling at how brilliantly white the sand is while thinking that it still just isn't cold enough to feel like Christmas is tomorrow. Then I noticed several Northern Cardinals hopping and fluttering around below the deck in the natural dune area between me and the beach. They were finding all sorts of seeds and berries and singing all the while. Who needs snow when you can be serenaded at the beach by Christmas Cardinals? We live in such a beautiful, wonderful place.

Happy Holidays!

Destin Commons at Christmas

With only two days of shopping before Christmas, the Destin Commons was filled with shoppers. The music, the lights and all the decorations were wonderful. We went both last evening and tonight to finish up our shopping. Last night we even hung around for some great pizza at Tony's. The atmosphere and food were wonderful! Since Destin Commons like many of the newer shopping centers is outdoors, we walked in the cold night air. The drop in temperature was a welcome change to the moderate temperatures we saw all week. We could finally bundle up and look the part. The Destin Commons is open again tomorrow from 11am-3pm for the last minute Santa. You'll have to shop without me, however, because I am done and will be relaxing at the beach with my wool sweater and scarf. Man, I love winter at the beach!

Yoga on the Beach

Enjoying the wonderful goodies during the Holiday season? Don't feel guilty. Get out to the beach and do some yoga. Participate in Yoga at the Beach at James Lee Park in Destin. This is the public park adjacent to the Crab Trap restaurant. The weather has been in the 60s and is beautiful right now. They are even having special classes on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Yoga ~ Pilates by the Sea ~ is Destin' s first and only Yoga and Pilates connection and the originator of the very popular Yogalattés, Power Yoga Flow, Core Power, and the Beach Yoga classes. For the Holiday schedule visit YogaDestin.com or call 850.897.3788.

Opus One to perform this evening

Enjoy the continuation of the Wednesday Night Concert Series with a holiday twist, as Opus One brings their Christmas spirit to Baytowne Wharf. Opus One is the premiere vocal music ensemble at Niceville High School, where many Destin teens attend. The 15-member group is composed of juniors and seniors who sing a variety of music ranging in style from Renaissance motets and madrigals to jazz classics. They will share their holiday program with the people of the Emerald Coast nearly thirty times during the season. Every member of Opus One has sung as a part of the Florida All-State Chorus. Opus One toured the People’s Republic of China in 2006 and will be a part of a performance tour of Northern Italy this June with the Niceville Singers. I have been told that Opus One has an awesome presence that must be experienced first hand. The concert will begin at 6pm at the Event Center at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Destin Shopping

As Christmas draws near, Destin locals and visitors are lucky to have new shops opening at the Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. J. Crew At-The-Beach is the quintessential beach boutique and just opened there, offering a fresh approach to weekend beach dressing. Apparently there are only a few stores like it in the world. Leave it to J.Crew!
Another newly opened and rare shop is Southern Waters Outfitters. This Orange Beach, Alabama-based company started out in 2001 as a small fly fishing shop, carrying quality gear, outdoor clothing and sportswear including The North Face, Kavu, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, and Luminox. So if you are visiting Destin's beautiful beaches and need an extra gift for someone or yourself, stop by the Grand Boulevard to these new shops and some already favorites like Billabong! Destin has so much to offer. Our little fishing village is becoming a mecca for great shopping and dining, complementing the world's most beautiful beaches!
If you need a place to stay while you shop and play, check out Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Another winter guest has arrived in Destin, FL! While viewing our new vacation rental Harbor Landing, I spotted an American White Pelican fishing for a snack. Moments later, several others landed in the same area. Aside from their striking color difference, American White Pelicans differ from our year-round resident, The Brown Pelican in several ways. While Brown Pelicans fly above the water and then dive down for their food, American White Pelicans practice cooperative fishing and swim together to hunt their fish. White Pelicans also have a much smaller population than the Brown Pelican. Both birds have taken a hit on their population due to environmental hardships but the American White Pelican has also had to deal with poaching and encroachment on their nesting sites - in most cases, human disturbance in a nesting area will cause the entire colony to be abandoned. So, take a moment to greet the cousins of our local pelicans - they've come a long way!

Holiday Shopping & Dining Serenade

Seaside, FL is holding a Holiday Shopping and Dining Serenade at the Amphitheatre in Seaside for the next two Saturdays. A DJ will be spinning Christmas music from Sundog Balcony to provide music for shoppers and diners. Seaside is a great place to go shopping & dine. You will find many interesting gifts in the shops that line the beach as well as the shops that surround the amphitheatre. You may view a map of shopping & dining here. It will be a relaxing way to start or finish your Christmas Shopping. The event will be held from 12-4. Seaside, Florida is located in an area known as the Beaches of South Walton. Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals has many great rentals in this area, check them out here.

Destin Gumbo Contest

As I researched the link to the Destin Fishing Museum in my blog about Captain Royal Melvin, I happened across another great bit of information. Save the date: January 5th. From 11am - 2 pm at the Destin Community Center, the Destin Fishing Museum is hosting a gumbo contest. They will have two categories - one for restaurants, the other for individuals. After judging, the gumbo will be sold to the public. Tickets are $10. This is a wonderful way to sample one of the true delicacies of our area! If you are visiting our area, the Destin Community Center is at the base of the Destin bridge on the north side, just across the street from Emerald Grande. See you there.

Harbor Park Named After Royal Melvin

Royal Melvin, a member of the Southern Resorts' family, has been honored with the naming of the Harbor park after him. Captain Royal Melvin's history in our wonderful Destin community is well known among locals. At 18, he became Destin's youngest charter boat captain and kept active in the community serving on councils, the Chamber and working with the Destin Fishing Rodeo until his death in 1995. Naming the Heritage Park on the harbor after him is not only a great way to recognize his contributions to our lucky little fishing village but also keep alive his memory and the spirit of our community. For more information on the history of Destin and its fishing industry, visit the Destin History and Fishing Museum.

Terrapin Terrace

This time of year, just when the water starts to get chilly, all the little turtles come out to bask in the sun. I went to check out our new vacation rental at the Seascape Condominiums and from the screened-in patio, I could see several different species of turtles in and around the lake that the condos overlook. I saw mostly Red-eared Sliders which are an invasive species to our area because, unfortunately, a lot of people purchase them as pets and souvenirs and then release them in our environment. But even with the extra competition that the Red-eared Slider gives, I was pleased to still see a healthy population of Florida Soft shell Turtles, Diamondback Terrapins, and even an Alligator Snapping Turtle! The Soft Shells are my favorite. They spend most of their time in the water and have pointy little noses that poke up like snorkels and make them look like Dr. Seuss characters. I was also excited at the pretty rare sight of the Diamondback Terrapin, they live mostly in brackish water so he must have been on a detour from the bay. It's always nice to have nature right outside your back door.

Destin's Annual Christmas Parade

What a wonderful day for the Destin Parade. We wore shorts and flip flops. It sure did not feel like December. Seeing the Parade helped me get into the Holiday Spirit. My daughter loved picking up the candy and this time she was not even afraid of Santa Claus. Yippee! The Parade gets better and better each year. It sure is a nice attraction for Destin and offers a great sense of community when our local businesses come out and share the Holiday Spirit and Joy with us.

Holidays in Destin

This weekend was full of wonderful Christmas activities. Saturday morning the 22nd Annual Destin Christmas Parade traveled through downtown Destin. Usually a charming event, this year was better than ever. Creative floats, lots of candy and great music filled Hwy 98. As people of all ages lined the street, the Fort Walton Beach High School Marching Band and the Destin Middle School Jazz Band performed terrifically! As the weather was warm and bright - about 75 degrees and sunny, Marble Slab ice cream handed out samples. You don't get that everywhere. Bringing up the end of the parade were the much anticipated Santa and Mrs Claus.
The festivities continue tonight with the Destin Boat Parade. A delightful assortment of lighted boats will fill the harbor, making it even more beautiful than normal. I can only imagine the incredible view from Southern Resorts Emerald Grande #423.

It's going to snow at Uptown Station on Saturday!

Holiday Events will kick off at Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach this Saturday, December 8th. The day will start with Pictures with Santa from 2-4 pm. It will snow from 4-6pm at the Central Park Christmas Village which is located in the fountain area for those familar with Uptown Station. The evening will wrap up with the showing of Santa Claus 3 "The Escape Claus" by the flagpole.

Uptown Station is West of Destin, Florida. For directions to this fun holiday event click here.

New Gulf Coast Choir performs this evening

The Wednesday night Holiday Concert at Baytowne Wharf presents the New Gulf Coast choir. Founded by Michael and Mechelle Grady in 1997, this non-profit organization was established to assist young people with today’s challenges. The choir’s emphasis on “at risk” youth combined with an “open-door” membership policy allows for easy access for all youth in the surrounding area. The choir has performed for the Florida State Department of Justice, Florida State Arts Council, and the FSU-Panama City Campus Annual Awards Banquet, along with numerous other civic and community events. Performance highlights include such accolades as winning Pastor John P. Kee’s VIP Music Conference “New Artist Showcase” in Charlotte, NC and performing as the “Special Guest Choir” for Disney World’s High School Gospel Classic in Orlando, FL. The performance will begin at 6 pm at the Events Plaza which is always one of Destin's prettiest holiday spots.

Lengthy Layover

We are fortunate to live in an area that has an abundant array of wildlife. Not only do we have a year-round population of wonderful creatures, but we also get a seasonal mix of migratory birds that need a place to rest before continuing their long journey across the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. This is the best time of year to be on the lookout for new faces (or feathers) and I find that the best place to see these temporary residents is the bay side of Okaloosa Island. In the wooded area that meets the beach you can see Pine Warblers, Summer Tanagers, or Painted Buntings. If you walk back into the woods a little, you can see marsh birds like Purple Gallinules, American Bitterns and Rails. Or, you just just relax on the beach and watch the Grebes, Gannets, Cormorants, and Loons dive while the Herons, Avocets and Sandpipers wade for a snack. My favorite time to go is about an hour before sunset. With a little bit of patience and good spirits, you'll get to see just about all of our current residents at their feeding time and it's a nice, romantic segue to our amazing sunset.

Santa Claus has come to Silver Sands in Destin Florida

Saturday me and my 3 year old daughter, Lexi, welcomed Santa Claus. He arrived by helicopter to Silver Sands Outlet Mall (one of my favorite places to shop and now even to eat with their new additions of restaurants). It was very well planned even though my little one was a little bit overwhelmed and scared. After playing in the playground for a while she was comfortable enough to come and sit by Santa. She was too scared to sit on his lap but at least I got a picture with her and me (?!) next to Santa. It was a great and fun event with beautiful weather. We sure live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Marie Babin

Destin Skies Fill with World War II Planes

We heard some rumbling outside around mid morning and again this afternoon in Destin. We hurried out to see the assortment of vintage airplanes formation flying in the clear blue Destin sky. It was quite a treat. Growing up on and around air force bases, I have a real appreciation and love of planes. Last weekend at the beach, I got to see two old planes flying low over the water putting on a show for beach goers in the beautiful November weather. Perhaps they were preparing for today as pilots from several states flew into the Destin Airport to show off their planes. They are on display at the Destin Airport today from 8:30am - 4:00pm.

I found this pic on the Northwest Florida Daily News site. Visit here more pics and information on these planes.