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Gulf Coast Blog
Bay Day on the Forgotten Coast
Don’t miss out on a fun-filled day along St. Joseph’s Bay in Port St. Joe, Florida during your vacation to the Forgotten Coast of Florida! Visit Simmons Bayou on February 4, 2012 for the annual Bay Day Shrimp Boil!
Shrimp boils are a southern tradition here along the Gulf Coast. Come experience the one-of-a-kind flavor of shrimp, corn, red potatoes and sausage boiled to perfection in, traditionally, Old Bay seasoning witha side of sweet tea! Don’t bother with the utensils, but grab plenty of napkins to enjoy this peel-&-eat event.
In addition to great food your donation of just $10.00, benefitting the St. Joseph’s Preserve, will also enable you to tour the beautiful homes of Indian Pass, enjoy boat tours of the area, listen to the live music and possibly even win prizes! Be sure to stop into te St. Joseph Bay Preserves Center from 11AM to 2PM on February 4, 2012 to dine for a great cause!
Run the Bayou, Bay & Back!
Get in a great run during your vacation in Fort Walton Beach or stay in a Destin vacation rental this January. Meet up with Biggest Loser winner Danny Cahill for a 5K, 10K and half-marathon run!
Destin’s Bayou, Bay & Back run/walk includes a 5K course, 10K run and half-marathon distance run and is open to everyone whether you’re a seasoned runner or just out for a beautiful walk. Meet up at Clement Taylor Park, off Calhoun Avenue in Destin, at 7:30AM rain or shine on January 28, 2012 and get ready to run one of the most gorgeous courses around! Your path may vary depending on the distance you choose to run. The new half-marathon course, however, will traverse Choctawhatchee Bay, the Destin Harbor, and East Pass as it leads it’s runners through Destin, along an undeveloped stretch of Okaloosa Island and back to the starting point over the Destin bridge.
Lace up those running shoes and make your plans for one of the best runs in Northwest Florida! All proceeds benefit the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and you can register for the run, at a discounted fee, at active.com.
Winter Resident Activities in Panama City Beach
Our winter residents staying with us in Panama City Beach vacation rentals don’t want to miss out on the fun festivities the area CVB has planned just for them. Head out and see why Panama City Beach took the top honors as the place to retire in 2012 from ’Where to Retire’ Magazine!
Our snowbirds staying with us in a Gulf Coast beach condo will certainly appreciate our fully-equipped kitchens when it comes time to compete in the 2012 Cooking Challenges. Whether you’re best recipe is for sweet treats, spicy chili or a steamy soup head to the Senior Center and show it off!
If you love to boogie, don’t miss out on the bi-weekly Winter Resident Dance at the Boardwalk Beach Resort. DJ Jim Lawson will be playing all your favorite tunes and refreshments, including drink specials, will be available. Grab your friends and practice your best moves before the main event, the Senior Prom! Don’t miss this beach-themed event on February 10, 2012 at Edgewater Beach Resort. You could win a weekend trip down for your family and $500 spending cash! No matter what you decide to do, we hope our Panama City Beach Snowbirds have a blast along the beaches of Northwest Florida in 2012.
Great American Chili Cook-off!
Join us during your stay in a Pensacola Beach vacation rental this weekend, January 21, 2012 for the Great American Chili Cook-off in nearby downtown Pensacola. You don’t want to miss this tasty event where the number one rule in competition is to have fun!
The Great American Chili Cook-off is now in it’s 18th year and is a favorite local event in the historic district of town, located just a few moments drive in from the Gulf Coast beaches. Cooking will begin at noon. Watch as each team slices and dices on-site as they prepare at least five gallons of homecooked chili for the afternoon tasting. Come hungry as the chili will be spooned up at 4PM and you’ll want to try them all!
And if you think this competition is all about the food, well, it is but it’s also about showmanship. Look out for wild decorations, costumes, presentations and theme as each team works toward the ultimate title of first place and people’s choice! Enjoy your day strolling the beaches of Northwest Florida and Pensacola Beach before heading into town and enjoying a delicious evening at the Great American Chili Cook-off!
The Emerald Coast Bridal Faire
Join us during your vacation in Northwest Florida for the Emerald Coast Bridal Faire! This event will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2012 from 1PM to 5PM and is a must-attend for all those neew brides-to-be!
Whether you’re planning a destination wedding along the Gulf Coast or simply looking for great ideas, the Emerald Coast Bridal Faire is worth the afternoon away from the beaches and attractions of Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Admission is only $10 and you’ll not only see the latest trends in everything from invitations to floral arrangements but also view a tremendous fashion show where you may just spot ‘the dress’!
Perhaps you are interested in a Gulf Coast wedding, however. It may be more affordable and ideal for you than you could have ever imagined. Visit the Southern Team during the event to hear about our lovely wedding venues including the Destin Bay House, the Il Paradiso beach home and more, not to mention condo deals for your out of town guests. We hope to see all the 2012 brides at this weekends bridal faire at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach!
30A Songwriter’s Festival
Choose to take your last minute vacation to South Walton this weekend as one of the most anticipated events of the year kicks off on Friday, January 13, 2012 – the 30A Songwriter’s Festival!
This three day festival takes place along Scenic Highway 30A at some of your favorite venues including Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach, Bud & Alley’s Restaurant in Seaside and Shorty’s in Grayton Beach. The 30A Songwriter’s Festival officially kicks off at 4PM on Friday and continues all day long Saturday and Sunday. Get your tickets and check the schedule to catch your favorite performers including The Bangles, Joan Osbourne, John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band and Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, to name just a very few.
Enjoy a fabulous vacation in a South Walton rental along with a tremendous musical festival on the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches this weekend and see 30A in its true, electic element!
Pensacola Beach Run
Are you an avid runner? Test your skills this weekend during your vacation in Pensacola Beach! Join us for the Pensacola Beach run on January 14, 2012 at 7:30AM.
The Pensacola Beach run is a pick-your-distance run so all are encouraged to come out and give it their all. There will be a half-marathon course in addition to a 10K and 5K option; simply decide which turn and distance is right for you. After you register, packet pick up will be from 4PM-8PM at the EXPO at The Grand Marlin, an event serious runners don’t want to miss. Can’t make it Friday, pick up your race packet at 7:30AM near the course start at Casino Beach.
Hang out after the race at The Sandshaker. The post-race party will include awards as well as a mini-expo for those looking to commemorate their race experience. Pack your running shoes and we’ll see you along one of the most beautiful courses you’ll find anywhere, the beaches of Northwest Florida!
Winter Guest Fest
Our Southern snowbirds should make plans now to attend the 2012 Winter Guest Fest, formerly the Snowbird Expo, on January 13, 2012. This event is the only and largest area tradeshow geered specifically to our winter guest staying here on the Gulf Coast in our vacation rentals.
The event will take place at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Whether you’re staying in a Fort Walton Beach condo, Destin vacation rental or even further out along our Northwest Florida beaches, this event is well worth the drive in. Admission is only $1 and the tradeshow will take place from 8AM to 12PM. Enjoy fun, food and entertainment as you walk around to each area vendor. Collect free goodies and learn about all the exciting attractions, discounts and area dining available to you, our winter guests, while you’re staying with us here in Florida.
Be sure to stop by and meet the Southern team, as well! We’ll be out with free goodies to give away and are eager to meet each of our past, current and, hopefully, future winter guests. See you at the Winter Guest Fest!
Candlelight Tours in Pensacola Beach
Are you a history buff? If so, you don’t want to miss out on a visit to Fort Barrancas during your next vacation in Pensacola Beach or stay in a Perdido Key condo!
Fort Barrancas was established in 1787. In addition to playing a key role during the Civil War, it was also the site of the Battle of Pensacola which took place during the War of 1812. Pensacola Beach is such a historic area, making it the perfect place to not only relax with your family but also a great way to mix in a little education during your Gulf Coast getaway!
This winter the fort is opening on select dates for candlelight tours. Groups of 30 will leave every 15 minutes, beginning at 5PM, to take a tour of select sites throughout the fort and hear stories of the Civil War from costumed interpreters. While the tour is by candlelight, flashlights are welcome. Reservations are recommended, please call 850.455.5167 for additional details.
Welcome back, Snowbirds!
With the new year also comes a new season and we’re so thrilled to welcome many of our snowbirds back to the Gulf Coast this January! We hope you’ve had a wonderful trip down south, are settling into your Northwest Florida vacation condos well and are ready to enjoy the beach once again.
While we’re sure you plan to enjoy our great local seafood, plenty of time on the golf course and, naturally, walking along the beach, but don’t forget about the many area activities going on just for you! Beach communities such as Perdido Key, Fort Walton Beach, South Walton and Panama City Beach offer ‘Snowbird Clubs’. These clubs organize local events, such as cooking challenges and weekly dances, offer discounts to many of the town’s best attractions and offer trips and activities around town. Sign up to attend meetings, make new friends, and explore the Gulf Coast!
Southern also offers Snowbird socials at each of our offices during this time. Enjoy food and refreshments, and possibly prizes! Also, visit out official Snowbirds section of our website to see our latest deals just for you, such as golf at the Emerald Bay Club in Destin. Play 18 holes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for just $40.00 with your Southern confirmation! Keep checking our Snowbirds page and event calendar for the latest news and activities and we hope you enjoy your sweet Southern winter getaway.