Gulf Coast Blog

Fun for the Holidays!

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Fun for the HolidaysStay with us in a Panama City Beach vacation rental and don’t miss all the Fun for the Holidays! This wonderful holiday event will be taking place November 18-December 23, 2011 each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 6PM and is sure to be a blast.

Fun for the Holidays will take place in mulitple locations along Front Beach Road and will transform Panama City Beach into a holiday wonderland! Head to the Bay County Pier, adorned with countless lights, to witness Christmas Under the Sea. At the intersection of Coleman Ave, stop by for a true Christmas treat – ice skating at the Christmas Tree Forest! And, don’t forget to visit with Santa at his beach house. Shipwreck Island, normally a summer haven in Panama City Beach, will be transformed into Santa’s Beach House Village where you can visit with Mr. & Mrs Claus and their friends of the sea!

Make your way to Panama City Beach for a sweet Southern holiday getaway this season and be sure to catch all the Christmas fun!

Home of the Week: The Holliday House

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

The Holliday House, an amazing Forgotten Coast vacation rental, is our beach home of the week! If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore Port St. Joe or Mexico Beach, Florida, we highly recommend it. The natural setting and beautiful beaches of the area seem to have been specifically created for outdoor fun and relaxation.

The Holliday House is a two story beach home situated in the Port St. Joe community of Windmark Beach. The home sleeps 11 so don’t be shy about bring the entire family for a stay with us here. Everyone is sure to enjoy the luxurious amenities of the home, as well as evening cookouts on your private grill as you enjoy the breezes on your screened in patio.

When you can bring yourself to leave The Holliday House, venture out to explore the Windmark Beach Town Center where you will have access to the community pool and fitness center as well as find charming shops, dining and rentals. Hop on a bicycle or kayak to explore the area or head out on a charter for a day of scalloping, a treasured  and delicious activity in the area. Vacation in quaint luxury with us at The Holliday House or any of our Forgotten Coast vacation rentals today!

Christmas Comes to the Forgotten Coast

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Hometown ChristmasBe sure to reserve your Forgotten Coast vacation rental and be with us as we welcome Christmas to Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach, Florida on December 3, 2011. Beautiful scenary and a full day of events will be sure to have you full of holiday cheer during your Gulf Coast vacation!

Start your Saturday off with a pancake breakfast from the local Kiwanis club at the delicious Pepper restaurant from7:30AM-10AM before strolling through the local farmer’s market, which will be featuring a special holiday selection at City Commons Park from 9AM-5PM. Once you’ve found your fill of produce, shop the wares of the local beach merchants! During Shop, Dine and Unwind, the local merchants of Port St. Joe will throw their doors wide open and welcome you in with specials guaranteed to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list this year.

Top your day off by returning to City Commons Park for the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30PM, followed by the lighted Christmas Parade and the arrival of Santa Claus! Join us for our Hometown Christmas and watch the Forgotten Coast come to life for the holiday season!

House of the Week: Bit O’ Heaven

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Tucked into the charming South Walton beach community of Seaside, Florida, Bit O’ Heaven, a delightful cottage, is our Southern Home of the Week! This lovely abode, which exemplifies the feel of this master-planned community, is the perfect spot for relaxation and is conveniently located to fun!

Seaside is situated between Grayton Beach and Watercolor along Scenic Highway 30A which runs through all 14 beach communities of South Walton. Here you can enjoy laidback, yet somehow upscale, surroundings that combine to bring to life a dream vacation destination. In Seaside you can enjoy the best in shopping, dining and entertainment and never change out of your flip flops!

The Bit O’ Heaven beach home boasts a main floor along with two lofts. The master bedroom is on the ground floor, with the second bedroom in an upstairs loft. If you’re traveling with children, they will love the play area in the second loft! The beach is just a short walk away, as are the Merchants of Seaside shops and endless dining options. Rent bicycles in town, the customary transportation in Seaside, to explore the town before heading back to your cottage for a nap in your hammock as you enjoy the sea breezes! Reserve your stay at Seaside’s Bit O’Heaven, or in any of our South Walton vacation rentals, to begin your Gulf Coast beach adventure today!

Thanksgiving on the Gulf Coast

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

We’re just days away from another wonderful Thanksgiving and we hope you’ll spend it with us on our balmy beaches. We know it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey and some scrumpticous pumpkin pie and each of our Northwest Florida vacation rentals is fully equipped for your cooking needs!

We understand you’re on vacation so cooking a big meal may not be in your plans, but we also understand you don’t want to miss out on all that great food! Finding an open restaurant on Thanksgiving in an unfamiliar city can be taxing, however, so our Southern staff has compiled a list to help you out.

You will find many restaurants and resorts hosting traditional Thanksgiving dinner, with some even throwing in a great Gulf Coast spin – seafood! Browse our Thanksgiving restaurant list to find a terrific holiday meal in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, South Walton, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and Panama City Beach, Florida.

Champagne Tasting & Food Walkabout

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Marlin GrilleOn Thursday, November 17, 2011, join us at the Village of Baytowne Wharf as Marlin Grille host their Champagne Tasting and Food Walkabout! Known for their steaks, seafood and spirits, this is certainly an event you don’t want to miss if you’ll be staying with us in a Destin vacation rental or South Walton vacation accommodation.

Marlin Grille is a delicious upscale dining establishment in Baytowne Wharf, perfect for that parents night out while here with us. On Thursday from 5PM-9PM, however, come enjoy the festive atmosphere as well as scrumptious food and drinks. For only $40 per person, sip on delectable champagne as you make your way around the restaurant enjoying the perfectly paired foods available. An added bonus of attending this great event is the opportunity to be one of the first to gaze upon the holiday decor of Marlin Grille, which is both magnificent and award winning!

Would you like to have dinner at Marlin Grille but won’t be able to attend this event? No problem! Take advantage of our Southern Perks program, FREE tickets and discounts to the area’s hottest attractions and activities. With Southern Perks, when you purchase two entrees at Marlin Grille, you receive a FREE bottle of wine!

The Nutcracker

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

The NutcrackerGet into the holiday spirit during your sweet Southern fall getaway with us and attend an event near and dear to the hearts of Destin and Fort Walton Beach – The Nutcracker. Presented and performed by our own Northwest Florida Ballet Academy, along with visiting stars of the Boston Ballet, these performances are brilliant and take place just one weekend a year.

The Nutcracker has been a favorite family ballet and Christmas tradition since 1892. If you’re not familiar with the story come watch as these unbelievable dancers present the tale of Clara and her journey to the Kingdom of Sweets, where dolls come to life. You won’t be able to deny your Christmas spirit as snowflakes, gingerbread, and dewdrops come to life to dance. And, of course, don’t forget the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy.

Performances will take place at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center located in nearby Niceville, Florida. Tickets can be purchased online and are $25 for adults and $12.50 for each child. If you’re staying with us in a Fort Walton Beach condo or Destin vacation rental, be sure to catch their limited performances the weekend of November 19, 2011!

Seville Quarter Wine Festival

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Wine FestivalWine lovers visiting with us in a Pensacola Beach vacation rental on November 13, 2011, rejoice! Seville Quarter, located just moment away from the beach in downtown Pensacola, is hosting their 2011 wine festival!

Seville Quarter is the historic dining and entertainment section located within old Pensacola and is delightful, charming area to visit any time you stay with us. On Sunday, November 13, 2011 from 2PM-5PM, however, you can also sample over 200 handpicked wines from around the world. You can also enjoy the Champagne and Oyster Bar, as well as cooking demos by several area restaurant chefs.

For those who are more beer lovers than wine, don’t worry, they’ve got you covered. Enjoy trying several microbrews that will be available, as well as cigar sampling from Grand Reserve. Live entertainment and delicious food round out this day of festival fun. Tickets are $35 when purchased in advance or $40 the day of the festival.

Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival

Monday, November 7th, 2011

The 27th Annual Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival kicks off on November 10, 2011 and you can enjoy the events all along the Gulf Coast from Pensacola Beach, Florida to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Get ready to enjoy the musical stylings of up and coming artist as well as Grammy award winning songwriter’s who have written for some of the biggest names in the business.

This 11 day festival, ending November 20, 2011, has reached performance capacity making it a great year to stay with us in a Pensacola Beach vacation rental or Perdido Key condo and catch all the action. Each act will perform at a variety of venues along the beaches, many being some of your favorite local haunts including the Flora-Bama Lounge and The Hangout. While the majority of the artists featured are known for their country music, you’ll hear a wide range of music and even a comedy act from Bill Whyte who has performed with favorites Jeff Dunham and Larry the Cable Guy. Plenty of returning favorites will be on hand, as well.

Make your reservations with us and don’t miss out on what has been named as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and a “not to be missed” Gulf Coast event!

Sweet Southern Layaway Program!

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

We’ve got one sweet announcement to make! For the entire month of November, when you book 7 or more nights in June, July, or August you now have the option to make payments toward your slice of paradise with our new Southern Layaway Program!

That’s right, no matter if you want to stay in a Port St. Joe vacation rental, Perdido Key condo or anywhere in between, you can now make 4 easy payments and avoid the upfront expense of planning a beach getaway! Just ask about our layaway program this November and you’ll put only 8% of your reservation total down as a deposit. We know the holidays can be a stressful time all on their own so we won’t charge your credit card for your next deposit amount until January 15, 2012! The payments will be automatically charged to you, in the same amount as you paid at the time of booking, on the credit card provided to us on the 15th of January, February & March with the remaining deposit charged on April 15, 2012. The full balance of your entire reservation will be due 30 days prior to your arrival with us, per our normal booking policy.

View more about our layaway program and call us today to reserve your summer getaway to the beautiful Gulf Coast!