As I personally grew up in the south (Georgia) my family went to Destin, Florida just about every summer for a week on the beach. With white beaches and clear blue water, Destin is a major destination (no pun intended…) for southerners as well as tourists from all over the world. The Emerald Coast as it’s known as offers the vacationing visitor all of the activities that one can expect when going to the beach.

During the whole month of October is the Destin Fishing Rodeo where anyone can sign-up, go out on a registered boat (private or charter), fish and get their catch weighed for free at a local seafood establishment. There are over 30,000 anglers who compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Just about every kind of gamefish can be caught in the waters off of Destin, Florida. From Mackerel to the mighty Marlin, all fish are recognized for the tournament. There are many choices when it comes to lodging in Destin. One can stay in a luxury vacation rental, hotel, all-inclusive resort, motel and even “rough it” by going camping. Whether you are right on the beach or close by, everything is convenient to the strip of Destin.If you are looking for some fun on the water, like parasailing, check out the many options Destin has to offer. Destin is the place for family activities as well. Kids can enjoy riding in go-karts, bumper boats, playing mini-golf, and playing video games in the arcade.

Destin has their own “Seaworld”, you might say, called “Gulfarium” which is a marine show aquarium where one can have a “meet and greet” with dolphins as well as participate in educational camps to learn about marine life.

Whether you are looking to just hang out on the beach or get out there on the ocean, Destin has everything to offer its’ visitors. Come and see for yourselves why they call Destin the “Emerald Coast” of Florida.

Fishing in Destin by genetew

Destin Beach by joojanta

Parasailing in Destin by gobucks2

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Are you tired of the crowds and high rise developments along the beach? Do you long for a quiet stretch of white sand where you can relax in solitude? Then, travel to The Forgotten Coast of Florida for the beach vacation of your dreams.

The Forgotten Coast is the area in the crook of the Florida panhandle (also know as the Big Bend) that spans the pristine coastline from St Marks Lighthouse on the east to Mexico Beach on the west. Along the way are Port St Joe, Cape San Blas, Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, St George Island, Lanark Village and other obscure small towns and barrier islands.

This region is famous (but not too famous!) for its fresh seafood. The Annual Florida Seafood Festival is held in Apalachicola at the beginning of each November. Other yearly feasts include the Apalachicola Downtown Oyster Roast, the Oyster Spat Festival on St George Island, a Low Country Shrimp Boil near Simmons Bayou, the Stone Crab Festival in St Marks and the Mighty Mullet Maritime Festival in Panacea. In addition, nearly every local festival offers plenty of fresh seafood options to attendees.

These downhome celebrations are absolutely the best way to enjoy the local harvest from the sea. Along with regional favorites, you’ll get to try recipes rarely found in restaurants and talk to the people who catch and prepare fish and shellfish as part of their daily routine.

Flounder, grouper, mackerel and snapper and many other delicious species are abundant in the brackish estuaries, the protected waters of Apalachicola Bay and the expansive Gulf of Mexico. Booking a day on a local charter fishing boat makes it easy to catch your own “mess of fish” for dinner.

So, if just plain relaxing and dining on prime seafood top your list of things to do on a Florida beach vacation, take off your shoes, put on your bib and go directly to the Forgotten Coast.

I’m not a huge golfer, I haven’t ever understood the lure of chasing that little white ball around the lawn - but there are those in my family that are addicts.  Every time we talk vacation we have to talk golf courses.  I don’t really whine much about it because I know that’s prime beach and shopping time for me. 

We were researching a vacation to Florida last year - and I wrote some on shelling in the Marco Island areaand ran across the information on golf on the Paradise Coast.  For those of you who dont know, the Paradise coast encompasses Naples, Marco Island and part of the Everglades along the southwestern coast.

The golf information wasnt hard to find.  I found a good site called “Marco Island Golf” that outlined all of the courses on Marco Island and in nearby Naples, FL.  This little stretch of coast is home to no less than SEVENTEEN public and private courses:

•  Hideaway Beach Golf Course (Marco Island)
•  Island Country Club (Marco Island)
•  Cedar Hammock Golf &Country Club (Naples)
•  Eagle Creek Golf Club (Naples)
•  Eagle Lakes Golf Club (Naples)
•  Flamingo Island Golf Course ( Naples)
•  Forest Glen (Naples)
•  Hibiscus Golf Club (Naples)
•  High Point Country Club (Naples)
•  Lely Resort, Mustang Course ( Naples)
•  Links of Naples (Naples)
•  Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (Naples)
•  Quality Inn & Golf Resort (Naples)
•  Riviera Golf Club Naples (Naples)
•  Royal Woods (Naples)
•  The Rookery Golf Club, (Naples)
•  Valencia Golf and Country Club (Naples)

That’s a phenomenal amount of golf - which translates into a ton of shopping and beach-combing for me! Some of these courses are private, or semi-private - so visit the links provided to find out more about your options.

egret photo courtesy dobak
golf photo courtesy shayan

Fishing in the Keys incorporates just about every type and style of fishing ever imagined.  From deep-sea fishing with heavy tackle to fly and light tackle fishing and even spear-fishing on the reef, the Keys offer excitement to every angler.  The fish that are usually caught are tarpon, bonefish, barracuda, shark, dolphin, sailfish, marlin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna just to name a few. 

One can book a charter trip for a half day, full day, 10 hours worth and even a night fishing adventure.

From early March until late July one can catch tarpon day and/or night.  Locally known as “Silver Kings”, tarpon arrive in the Key West area in the early summer to spawn.  One of the most exciting ways to catch tarpon is on a flat boat with a fly rod in the clear, blue salt flats.  This kind of fishing is called “sight fishing” and the angler must be able to cast accurately in order to attract the fish.  The salt flats are very shallow (one to two feet deep) so you can imagine the exhilaration when there is a “fish on”. 

From Key West or “The Conch Republic” deep-sea or off-shore fishing takes the angler out far where one is most likely to catch larger fish but not necessarily.  Backcountry fishing takes place along the edges of the flats where the water is slightly warmer and therefore home to big tarpon as well as shark and barracuda.  Guides will typically also offer reef and wreck fishingwhich produces amberjack, cobia, snapper, grouper and large shark.   Guides will advise you to “catch and release” but you can keep your catch if you want to have it prepared by a local restaurant and serve it up to your friends and family.

The greatest reward for an angler is to have his or her catch be served up on a platter at the local restaurant.  What better way to enjoy your hard day’s work (fishing) than to savor the fresh taste of the fish that has been prepared by a professional.  It has been said that there are over 365 places to eat in Key West – that’s one for every day of the year!

So if you like to fish or just eat them, come down to Key West, Florida and enjoy both or either past-times.

Other than being the southernmost point of the United States, Key West, Florida has many other labels attached to its’ name.  Many know that Earnest Hemingway called Key West home for a number of years during the 1930’s and also wrote several novels.  Prior inhabitants of Key West were several Indian tribes and of course the founder, Ponce De Leon of Spain way back in 1513. 

Key West is home to the Regatta Key West, Conch Republic Days, Lobster mini-season and the Poker Run just to name a few.  Everything mentioned after Regatta Key West probably raises some eyebrows as well as mine.  The Conch Republic Days are in April and the locals have a conch shell blowing contest, a bed race down Duval Street and a reenactment of the battle for independence of the Conch Republic.  The lobster mini-season is only two days and it takes place in July.  It’s where local divers get to take the lobster bounty for themselves.  Lodging is at full capacity during this time.  The Poker Run is charitable event where thousands upon thousands of motorcyclists ride from the mainland to Key West and pick up poker cards along the way at five designated points.  Whoever has the best hand at the end of the ride wins a new bike or $5,000.  This event brings a lot of support to the town and to the charities.

Along with the history and southern coastal charm of Key West come great and quaint places to stay.  There are historic inns from the 19^th century that have been made available for the visiting guest(s).  Most of the lodging is in “Old Town” and is walking distance to everything.  The island architecture of Key West’s homes makes for a warm and relaxing stay - perfect for the romantic couple and also great for the single visitor that just wants to get away.         

With being right on the water, activities include boating, fishing, diving, snorkeling and sunning.  Reefs are close by and just a short boat ride away to start your dive or snorkel trip.  Sailing is great past-time in Key West and one can easily charter a sailboat or catamaran to take a trip around the island. 

For dining, Key West has over 200 restaurants to serve even the most distinguished of visitors.  One can find cuisine catering to Cuban, Jamaican and even European fare.  Fresh seafood is obviously a staple in Key West and is found and served in a multitude of ways.  You can always find an oyster bar and a frosty beverage to help make those warm days just slightly warm.  Nightlife is quite healthy in Key West and there are plenty of watering holes to enjoy oneself after the sun goes down.

 Come and visit Key West, Florida!  It’s like being in another country – well it is known as “The Conch Republic”.