When you vacation on the Forgotten Coast of Florida in a Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach vacation rental with us, you get not on, but two great New Year’s Eve celebrations! Head for the Gulf Coast this holiday season and enjoy a party so nice, we throw it twice!

Port St. Joe, Florida is located in the eastern time zone, meaning they will be ringing in the New Year an hour ahead of the rest of us along the beaches of Northwest Florida, including nearby Mexico Beach. Party 2011 away at any of the terrific parties going on in Port St. Joe, including those at the Lookout Lounge, Gracie’s and the St. Joe Bar and ring in 2012 in style!

Then, jump on the FREE beach shuttle running to Mexico Beach. Take the 5 minute ride across the time zone lines, locate your next celebration, be it at Mango Marley’s, Toucan’s or any number of locations, and ring in 2012 all over again! Reserve your Southern stay and enjoy two festive celebrations in just one evening.

The aptly titled Destin Memories beach home is located directly on the beaches of Destin, Florida and is, well, the perfect place to make vacation memories. 

This four bedroom, four bath vacation home is large enough for the whole family to enjoy, while having plenty of space for fun, and includes many of the amenities you would find in a condo! The abundant balconies available at this three story home ensure you will never miss the perfect beach sunrise or sunset. The back of the home looks out over the pristine white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, while the front of the home overlooks beautiful Holiday Isle and the Destin Pointe community. As a part of this community, you will also have access to their community pool, hot tub and tennis courts during your stay.

Within the home you will find plenty of luxurious amenities including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and whirlpool tub in the master bath. Plug your iPod into one of the docking stations and rock out as you cook on your private grill with the family. Or, head out to any of the local restaurants located nearby, along with plenty of shopping and dining. Would you like to make your own memories in this Gulf front beach home? Call us to reserve Destin Memories, or any of our Northwest Florida vacation rentals, for your Christmas 2011 or 2012 getaway today!

If you’re packing up your car and preparing to vacation in Pensacola Beach, Florida with us for the holidays, you’re in luck! There are plenty of events leading up to Christmas and New Year’s, ensuring you not only get to spend an abundant amount of quality time with your family, but have endless fun doing so!

On Christmas Eve, join us at Casion Beach for Candlelight and Carols with the Pensacola Beach Community Church choir. Spend a lovely candelit evening under the stars and join in the carols to get yourself in the Christmas spirit. And, be sure to stay with us in your vacation condo or beach home through the new year! You don’t want to miss the array of parties happening at various restaurants and establishments along the beach. Be sure to step outside at midnight to watch as the sky lights up with fireworks shot from the Gulf Pier.

On New Year’s Day, refresh yourself for 2012 during the Polar Beach Plunge at Paradise Bar & Grill! Race to the shore from the chilly waters of Santa Rosa Sound before helping yourself to luck-filled bowl of steaming black-eyed peas! No matter what you decide to do during your holiday getaway to, we hope you have a happy holiday and enjoy your stay in our Pensacola Beach condos and beach homes!

Christmas is a wonderful time, perfect for spending quality time with loved ones. If you’ll be staying with us in a vacation rental in Panama City Beach, don’t miss a moment of that time by being stuck in the kitchen!

It may be hard to think of not cooking all your favorites on Christmas Day, especially when your condo or beach home offers a fully-quipped kitchen, but how can you pass up a buffet with a beach view like this? This unbelievable beach view is available form every table at The Breakers restaurant in Panama City Beach and they’ll be serving up their famous Christmas buffet from 11AM-7PM. Enjoy roast turkey, bake ham, traditional southern sides such as dressing and sweet potato casserola and even a little Gulf Coast shrimp!

The buffet  is just $24.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids to enjoy their fill, including an array of desserts such as pecan and pumpkin pie! If a break from cooking and cleaning sounds like the perfect Christmas gift this year, call 850.234.6060 to make reservations and enjoy a delicious holiday meal at the beach during your Northwest Florida vacation.

Welcome to Escapade in beautiful Pensacola Beach, Florida, our home of the week! This large beachfront home is perfect for family reunions and even beach weddings.

Escapade is a five bedroom beach home and can sleep up to twenty-two people making it ideal for families vacationing together or large groups, such as a business retreat. Spanning over 3,000 square feet, which includes two living areas, everyone is sure to have ample space to spread out and have fun!

Relax on either of two decks, listening to the waves and taking in the breathtaking water views. Walk from your back porch directly onto the white sand for a day of fun with your family on the beach. Bicycles are provided with the home and are ideal for cruising the bike paths that run along the island. When you aren’t sampling the wonderful local dining located nearby, utilize your private grill and host a cookout on your deck. No matter what your plans are during your gulf Coast getaway, be it business, a beach wedding or just plain fun under the sun, this Pensacola Beach vacation rental is sure to be a perfect fit!

If you follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook, you may have heard that we’ve launched brand new websites for South Walton, Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola Beach.

For those of you who love these areas and know it’s where you will stay on your sweet Southern vacation to the Gulf Coast, we’ve made it even easier to plan your stay! Why sort through our 800 Northwest Florida condos and beach homes when you know you want to stay in a South Walton vacation rental? Just visit that areas dedicated site when, say, planning to go to Panama City Beach or vacation in Fort Walton Beach instead! You will find our full offering of beach homes and vacation condos for the area in addition to great guides and the Southern Perks for that area, as well as additional helpful information like our events calendars.

So, for instance, if you’re planning a vacation in Pensacola Beach, visit our newest site to determine where you’ll stay, what you’ll do, what events to attend, where to eat and more – all in one convenient, dedicated website! We hope you find these sites beneficial when planning your getaway to the Gulf Coast with us. Be sure to stop by our Southern Resorts Facebook page and let us know what you think!

Experience a truly Gulf Coast holiday celebration when you join us in Big Lagoon State Park for their annual Holidays in the Park. Experience the natural beauty of the area as well as all your favorite holiday activities.

If you will be joining us in a Pensacola Beach vacation rental or Perdido Key condo the weekend of December 17, 2011, we encourage you to make the short drive to this event. Dress warm and enjoy a lighted walk through the paths of the park as you spot wildlife and listen to the waves crash. The vibrant light displays and Walk of Lights will take your breath away as you enjoy them under the stars at this quiet, peaceful slice of beach. The children will especially enjoy crafts designed just for them along with a visit to Mr. & Mrs. Claus.

Don’t miss this free event at Big Lagoon State Park during your sweet Southern holiday vacation!

Panama City Beach is generally known for it’s towering, luxurious condo complexes, but beach homes abound along the powder white shore, as well. Welcome to Sunny Side Up, just one of our beach homes in Panama City Beach, Florida and our home of the week!

Sunny Side Up is a three bedroom duplex located on the west end of Panama City Beach. This home is spacious and sleeps 11 so there is plenty of room to bring the entire family along on your Gulf Coast vacation. Located just across the street from the beach, you will enjoy private beach access as well as a private beachfront pool during your stay.

Sunny Side Up is also located near many of the area’s best restaurants and attractions in addition to be just a short drive from Pier Park, a great shopping center perfect for finding entertainment. Plan your beach escape to Panama City Beach, Florida today and opt for our lovely beach home, sunny Side Up during your next trip!

If you love to run, reserve your vacation rental in South Walton and don’t miss the inaugural Luminaria Run through Baytowne Wharf on December 10, 2011. Not only will it be a spectacular event but will raise funds and awareness for victims of domestic violence.

The Luminaria Run is comprised of a 5K and 9K path beginning at the Baytowne Marina and will benefit The Shelter House, a local organization. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, lit by more than 2,000 luminaria, as you wind your way through the community. Runners electing to participate in the 9K race will split from the main track to run through the dark before rejoining the lighted path to end the run, symbolizing the darkness domestic violence victims experience before finding their way again. Walkers are also encouraged to join us for this extremely moving event in South Walton.

Cost for the event is minimal and proceeds go directly to The Shelter House. The 5K course is $25 per runner and $40 for the 9K course, with discounted rates available for children who would like to take part in the event. You may also register online at a special discounted price. If you would like to donate but will not be able to run in the event, luminaria may be purchased for $10.

Let Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo brighten up your holiday season during your Gulf Coast vacation this Christmas! Located between our Navarre Beach condos and Pensacola Beach vacation rentals, you’re just moments from a roaring good time at the zoo.

The Gulf Breeze Zoo is a favorite area attraction when staying in the Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach areas of Northwest Florida. At Christmas, however, you get to experience a different side of zoo life. While most of the animals are asleep, you can still catch glimpses of them and most of the petting zoo animals are still up and ready to play. Also, the grounds are breathtaking at night, especially as you stroll through lighted displays and enjoy a train ride through the acres. This year you can also take in their expansion including 5,000 extra feet of rope lights and 10 new large displays.

Admission to this wonderful event is only $8 and the Zoo Lights will take place Friday-Sunday each weekend from 5PM-10PM. Join us at the Gulf Breeze Zoo near Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach during your holiday beach vacation this December!