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.

Shopping at the Beach

According to Travel Industry studies, shopping is still one of the number one things that visitors like to do when on vacation. That suits us just fine. Even though the Beach is the number one draw to our area of Florida's Northwest Gulf Coast, we are so fortunate to also have the best shopping options. Destin favorites have been the Silver Sands Factory Stores and Destin Commons, but the Grand Boulevard is definitely growing as the newest kid on the block. While located in Destin, these retailers attract shoppers from surrounding beach communities like Fort Walton Beach and the Beaches of South Walton.
I’ve also mentioned Pier Park in Panama City before. It is growing leaps and bounds. Joining the existing anchors including Margaritaville, Ron Jon Surf Shop and The Grand 16 Theatres, is Borders. With approximately 35 new specialty shops opened, the 900,000-square-foot retail and entertainment lifestyle center will soon be home to a mix of nearly 90 retailers and restaurants.
The beauty of all this shopping is that there is not a lot of overlap. Each center offers a unique experience and days worth of shopping.
So when you visit one of Destin or Panama City Beach rentals, or any beach community, rest assured that if the sun is hidden for a while behind some rain clouds or after witnessing a beautiful sunset at the beach, there is still plenty to do and see.

I could not resist adding this photo. It was taken at the playground at the Destin Commons. That is another beauty of all these establishments, there is something for every age shopper, even a playground for this one!

Exciting News For The Destin Commons!

Destin's largest shopping center is about to get bigger! The Destin Commons just received approval to add 160,000 square feet of shops, a hotel, a new parking garage, and four restaurants. There will be a total of three new buildings that connect by a walkway to the parking garage with shops on the ground floor of all of them. Then new addition will be constructed in the southwest corner of the Commons where a parking lot currently exists. Construction is expected to start in mid to late summer and be completed by the fall of 2009. With all the activities and entertainment that the Destin Commons already provides to our community, this welcome news assures that there will be much more to come! Take a peek at the Destin Commons expansion here.

Pier Park Grand Opening in Panama City Beach

Last week the newest shopping addition to Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast opened in Panama City Beach. Pier Park officially opened 20 stores to the public on Valentine’s Day with strong sales and heavy foot-traffic. Even more retailers opened this past weekend. With a great mix of solid anchor stores, eclectic shops and wonderful dining options, this is a much-needed establishment in the Panama City area. The growing emphasis on families and more responsible travelers is reinforced by this new development.
Southern Resorts is excited as a business in the area. With properties nearby at Splash, Emerald Beach, Grandview, Sterling Reef and Ocean Villa, our guests will have the best of all vacation experiences with our beautiful beach and now, incredible shopping experience. For more on Pier Park, including photos, click here.

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!