Good news from the weather channel as Hurricane Ida has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm as of 8:56 central time.  The top wind speed has decreased to 70 mph hour and the experts say further weakening will happen before landfall. 

A Tropical Storm warning is in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana east to the Aucilla River in Florida.  Ida is expected to roll into the Northern Gulf Coast Tuesday morning.  Waves are expected to be around 10 to 15 feet.  Although a Tropical Storm is not considered a “big deal” to locals, it’s still important to take proper safety precautions.  Non-perishable foods and a supply of water are necessities to store. 

Ida should be extremely uneventful for everyone along the coast and the beautiful weather is forecasted to be back with the sun shining on Thursday.  If you’re staying in a Southern Resorts Vacation Rental, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Come check out our Destin condos and book a holiday stay at our white sand winter wonderland.  Stay up to date with all of the news, happenings and events along the coast by friending us on facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts.  Vacation with us and experience real southern hospitality with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Come enjoy the 2009 Northwest Florida Fair in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  The events began on November 3rd and will heat up the cool air through this weekend with local live entertainment, a circus, animal exhibits, traditional rides and much more.  The fair grounds are located at 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547. 

Have you made holiday plans to visit our gorgeous beaches?  Are you in the mood for some premier Christmas shopping?  Take a look at the Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals available through Southern Resorts.  You’ll definitely love spending time at our white sand Winter wonderland. 

Stay updated on all of the latest events, specials and more by friending us at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts, following our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts or e-mail me, Mark Owens at mowens@southernresorts.com.  Come experience real southern hospitality with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

What are you doing this weekend?  For almost all of us, the very thought of a triathlon is exhausting.  The physical ability displayed and physical punishment these athletes go through is amazing.  It’s also a worthwhile experience for any spectator.

On Saturday November 7, head to Panama City Beach for the Ironman Triathlon.  Racers will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.  The event will be preceded by days of check ins, registration, shops and more.  However, come 4:30am on Saturday morning, body marking will begin.  The actual race will have a pro-start at 6:50am.  For more information check out the Iron Man Florida website.   The race begins on South Thomas Drive in front of the Boardwalk Beach Resort.

For fabulous Panama City Beach condos and vacation rentals visit Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.  Keep yourself current with the tides, specials and events along our coast by friending us at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts, following our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts or e-mail me, Mark Owens at mowens@southernresorts.com.

When you’re enjoying a getaway to a Destin vacation rental, there’s always so much to do between the beach, shopping and entertainment.  All of the fun can sometimes make us a little too tired for cooking dinner. 

Tonight, let Papa John’s pizza be your chef.  They always have delicious specials like their large six meat or six cheese pizza for only $10.99.  Plus, as an added special today (Nov. 4), if you’re employed in the hospitality industry you’ll receive 50% off regular menu prices.  All you have to do is show your recent pay stub.  So, grab some Papa John’s for dinner after your amazing day at the Silver Sands Factory Stores, Destin Commons and the beach. 

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals invites you to the Emerald Coast for a gorgeous holiday getaway to our white sand wonderland.  Keep yourself close to the shore by keeping up with our events, specials and happenings along the coast by friending us at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts, following us at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts or e-mail me, Mark Owens at mowens@southernresorts.com.  Experience real southern hospitality with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Enjoy a Taste of the Beach with various events running from November 5 – November 8 as part of  “Wine.  Dine.  Donate.”  Wine enthusiasts, gourmet food lovers and philanthropists will enjoy each of these events at celebrated locations of the Emerald Coast.   

On November 5th at 5pm, visit Destin and the Emerald Grande for a Taste of the Harbor.  Where tasty wines and delicious culinary works will be prepped by the area’s best chefs.  Educational cooking demonstrations will further inspire you.  Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals is offering a Beach Vacation Special for this marvelous event.

November 6th at 5:30pm, visit Panama City Beach’s Pier Park for a Taste of the Bay Wine and Food Experience.  You’ll be able to sip savory wines as you enjoy shopping at the premier stores this outdoor town center has to offer.  Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals is also offering a special at nearby Gulf front Splash where you are sure to have an amazing stay at the beach.   

Then, on November 7th at 1:00pm, head over to the Seaside Amphitheater and enjoy a picnic style festival through the streets of Seaside.

The last event, is the Taste of the Beach Charity and Auction held at the Hilton in the Sandestin Beach Resort on November 8th at 3pm.  The event concludes with a silent auction benefiting 11 different children’s charities including Sacred Heart Foundation, Children in Crisis and Ronald McDonald House.  Guests will be able to bid on prizes donated from local businesses while enjoying appetizers and cocktails. 

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals has many properties in Destin, Beaches of South Walton and Panama City Beach for you to have an unforgettable vacation to the Beaches of Northwest Florida.  Stay up to date on all of the latest news, events and specials along the coast by friending us at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts, follow our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts, or e-mail me (Mark Owens) at mowens@southernresorts.com.  Getaway to the beach with some real southern hospitality with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

What did you do for Halloween?  I had a great time at Harborwalk Village.  Judging by the large crowd for the kids events during the day and all of the festivities at night, many of you were there as well.  Live music was blasting through the harbor and I met up with a few friends staying at Emerald Grande, a premier Destin vacation rental spot on the same property as Harborwalk Village. 

We found our favorite spot of the night at Jester’s Mardi Gras Daiquiris.  Where delicious daiquiri drinks, great service and fantastic prices paved the way for a fun night along the Destin Harbor.  Delicious pizza by the slice, calzones, and sausage rolls also helped to keep me looking trim in my tight Spider Man costume.  Well, maybe not, but the food was awesome and the drinks were amazing.

Come out to Jester’s this Friday Night as Beach TV will be filming and fantastic specials will be available including $2 off daiquiris and $1 off pizza slices.

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals has many properties available in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Beaches of South Walton, Panama City Beach, Pensacola Beach and the Forgotten Coast for your beach vacation to the white sands of this winter wonderland. 

For all of the latest news, events and happenings along the Emerald Coast friend us on facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts, follow our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts or e-mail me, Mark Owens, at mowens@southernresorts.com.  Experience real southern hospitality at Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Take a break from your beautiful Forgotten Coast condo and come to downtown Port St. Joe on Halloween from 6:00-8:00pm for costume contests (beginning at 6:00), ghost stories, trick or treating and even more to enjoy.   The event will be held at City Commons Park, next to City Hall.   

The Headless Horseman will provide a fun and scary experience for the kids while Pat Nease will tell amazing ghost stories.  Just Boo It this Halloween in Port St. Joe. 

Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals has many Forgotten Coast vacation rentals available in Mexico Beach, WindMark Beach and St. Joe Beach.  Stay close to the beach by keeping up with all of our specials, events and news by friending us on facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts or follow our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts.  If you have more questions about the Emerald Coast e-mail me, Mark Owens at mowens@southernresorts.com.  Come experience real southern hospitality with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

The Pensacola Interstate Fair is in full effect as it began on Oct. 22 and will be wrapping up on November 1st after an exciting Halloween weekend.  Tonight, Stephen Cochran is set to perform beginning at 7 pm.  Tomorrow night, Lady Antebellum will take stage at 8pm and on Saturday night, Joe Nichols will perform at 8pm. 

This is the 75th year of the Pensacola Interstate Fair.  The history of fun it has brought to generations before us has set a precedent for this can’t miss yearly event.  Make your plans to stay in a Pensacola condo with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.   

Admission is $10 for everyone 12 years or older and $5 for children 4 through 11.  Children 3 and under are always free.  Parking is $5 or you can purchase a Family Fun Pack that will discount all of the prices.  The fair is held at the Pensacola Fair Grounds at 6655 W. Mobile Hwy Pensacola, FL 32526.

You’ll have a great time vacationing to Portofino in Pensacola Beach.  This premier luxury resort is loaded with countless amenities that will keep you entertained once your time at the Pensacola Fair is done. 

Stay in tune with the coast by adding us as a friend at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts or follow our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts.  Come experience real south hospitality with a vacation to Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Still not sure about your plans this halloween weekend?  Make your plans to enjoy Thriller, a Michael Jackson tribute band, at the Rock the Docks event on Friday and Saturday from 7-9 pm.  On Saturday bring the kids out for a Halloween bash including a pumpkin patch, kids’ costume contest, celebrity chef pumpkin carving contest, haunted pub crawl through Harbor Walk Village and even more. 

Give Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals a call to book your Destin condo at Emerald Grande, part of the Harbor Walk Village.  You are sure to have an amazing vacation to the beach and a fun filled halloween for the kids.  Last minute getaways for a holiday weekend end up being some of the most unforgettable moments of our lives.  Perhaps the excitement and spontaneity seems to make it stand out from the rest.  Be your own hero this Halloween and book a last minute getaway to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast at Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Keep yourself up to date on all of the latest events and specials along our shores by becoming our friend at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts or follow our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts.  Come experience real southern hospitality with a  perfect Halloween weekend at Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.

Have you ever made plans with a large group of friends for an event or party?  Sure you have.  You probably also discovered how hard it is to keep everyone together when you’re dealing with multiple vehicles and designated drivers.  Enter the Beach Party Bus.

The Beach Party Bus is ready to shuttle your group to the most fun parties and events along the Emerald Coast.  From kids to party animals, your safety is their priority as they transport you to and from events such as birthdays, weddings, proms, homecomings, sporting events, family reunions and more. 

More than just an average bus, this vehicle has gone through a massive makeover now including blue vinyl bench seats with open seating, seat belts, fresh carpet, limo lighting, two air conditioning units, a top of the line stereo system, and disco ball topped off with two dance poles. 

Reasonably priced and comparable to a limousine, the Beach Party Bus holds at least twice as many people as a limo.  The Beach Party Bus travels to Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Beaches of South Walton, County Road 30A and Panama City Beach.  Service and safety are the focal points of their staff to make sure you have a fantastic party throughout the evening.

So, the next time you are vacationing down to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals, be sure to check out the Beach Party Bus for those fun events when keeping the group together will make it so much more fun. 

Be sure to stay up to date on all of the latest news, events and specials along the coast by following our Beach Tweets at www.twitter.com/SouthernResorts or e-mail me, Mark Owens at mowens@southernresorts.com.  You may also friend us on facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernResorts.  Come and experience true southern hospitality with an unforgettable stay at Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals.