By Lincoln McElwee
Summer has officially arrived! And what better way to celebrate than to book a seamless summer getaway for your family; but don’t just celebrate the summer with any destination – book the ultimate family “Destin-nation” in Destin, Florida today!
Destin has the honor of being named one of the top 25 destinations in the United States by Trip Advisor, as well as receiving the Travers’ Choice Award in 2011! With accolades like these, it’s no wonder that families are frantic to experience the tranquility and beauty of Destin, Florida.
Your ultimate family vacation should ultimately begin with resort-style accommodations at the Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village! The resort does offer airport shuttle service from both Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) and Destin Airport as well, but be sure to contact the resort at least 48 hours in advance to arrange the pickup!
The Emerald Grande’s harbor-front setting, and the fact that this Wyndham Vacation Resort is ideally situated at the foot of Marler Bridge, just four short miles west of the Mid-Bay Bridge in Destin, will ensure that your family experiences the very best of coastal Florida at this Emerald Coast location! Additionally, the exceptional fact that all of the rooms at the Emerald Grande have spacious balconies and panoramic views will indeed place you and your family right in the heart of the Emerald Coast!
One of the features that situates the Emerald Grande in a category all its own is the resort’s dedication to families of all sizes. The resort welcomes family-friendly vacationing by providing multiple-style accommodations, offering four different resort residence categories to ensure optimal space and luxury. All luxury condos include: large, plush beds, gourmet kitchen, free Wi-Fi, in room safes, flat screen TV’s, private balconies, and spacious floor plans. You can view sample room photos and take a virtual tour of all rooms on the hotel’s website: http://www.emeraldgrande.com/accommodations.aspx
The resort’s amenities include a full service European spa and fitness center, indoor and outdoor heated pools – the outdoor pool is actually a beach entry pool and the indoor pool is both heated and cooled – and a family-oriented water playground, all of which happen to overlook the stunning Gulf of Mexico from 4 stories high!
The Emerald Grande Spa, located on the second floor of the resort, also has views which look out onto the Gulf of Mexico! The spa offers everything from complete spa packages to spa parties, wraps, facials, massages, and body treatments. Services are also available for both men and women. If you would like to include services before you stay, you can book, for instance, the ‘Ahh to the Spa’ package and receive two 30 minute massages and a take-home spa gift with your stay. You can call 1-850-337-8150 to speak with a spa representative!
The hotel also offers the East Pass Fitness or Extension, which allows guests the opportunity to both work out in the hotel’s specialized fitness center and make use of group fitness options. There is also a smoothie and juice bar onsite.
In addition to spa packages, the Emerald Grande also offers a variety of packages for couples and families, such as golfing, deep sea fishing and honeymoon packages! For reservations or information, call (800) 676-0091 or (850) 337-8100.
There is also the use of the seasonal – and supervised – kid’s club and a soft toy play area for little kids. The Emerald Grande even provides an arcade for teens. For beach fun, the resort offers a complimentary shuttle boat that takes guests to a secluded beach for hours of fun in the sun!
The Emerald Grande also offers full-time concierge service, garage parking and 24-hour security. Child care is also available, so if you’d like to have a romantic afternoon and make use of the resort’s in-room dining, you can! Otherwise, the Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village offers a variety of restaurants to choose from.
The resort ensures optimal enjoyment for the family with its ideal location at Harborwalk Village, where all sorts of fun, and at all levels, can be found around the clock!
Harborwalk Village itself offers multi-level shopping right on the waterfront. If you’re looking for a unique gift, be sure to stop by Hove’ Parfumeur, located on 34 Harbor Blvd at Suite 150. The owner, Amy van Calsem Wendel, has created a wholly expressive statement of beauty and refinement by offering perfumes, colognes, massage oils, and body oils that are available for both men and women. The fragrances have been produced with the finest of essential oils and ingredients from all over the world and are sold from the Harborwalk Destin location and one other shop in New Orleans! With Hove’ Parfumeur, you know that you’re buying a truly unique and expressive gift, one that a friend or loved one, or even yourself, will truly cherish! http://www.hoveparfumeur.com/
Harborwalk Village also provides a variety of aqua adventures, such as boat, Jet Ski and pontoon rentals, fishing, and the Harborwalk Village’s celebrated dolphin cruises! There are also weekly fireworks and live entertainment.
The dolphin cruises, run by Olin Marler Charter Boats, will provide your family with enough memories to last a lifetime! Booking a fishing charter with Olin Marler Charters means that your family is in the capable hands of the oldest and longest running recreational fishing fleet in Destin, with over 45 years in the business of charter fishing! The Destin Dolphin Cruises are popular for both the recreational and educational aspect of the cruises. Your family will embark on a daily dolphin watching tour and learn about the history of Destin itself! This family friendly approach to dolphin cruises and charter fishing is what has made Olin Marler Charter’s Destin’s favorite charter service since 1967! www.olinmarlercharterboats.com
Another cruise that will have everyone in the family laughing and joining in the fun is the interactive Buccaneer Pirate Cruise. The Buccaneer Pirate Ship departs from the Harborwalk Village Marina, where visitors will sail the high seas of the beautiful Emerald Coast. Passengers will be entertained with sword fights, storytelling, water gun battles, singing, dancing, and treasure hunts! The great thing about the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise is that parents can participate in the fun with their children or simply sit back and relax while watching their children have the time of their lives. As well as providing the Scurvy Dogs’ Club cruises for adults, the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise also offers birthday cruises for children, which include a private area on the quarter deck, decorations, a complimentary group photo, flag raising ceremony, and a souvenir flag! The birthday child even gets to steer the ship! www.destinpirateship.com
As far as dining is concerned, the nearby area truly has you covered! Be sure to check out Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., where waitress AmberLynn will greet you with a smile and an impressive menu of seafood. The restaurant is located just a short walk from Destin Beach itself, and should you need a place to walk off that seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is also located mere seconds away from the Henderson Beach State Park. The menu serves up some mouthwatering favorites, with such appetizers as Mama Gump’s Garlic Bread Basket and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. For the main course, try the Dixie Style Baby Back Ribs or the Shrimper’s Heaven, voted the #1 guest favorite! It includes chilly shrimp, hand breaded coconut shrimp, fried shrimp, tempura shrimp and fries. The kids menu allows children to select from chicken strips, burgers, pepperoni pizza, and popcorn shrimp, among other items. All kid’s items also include French fries, fruit and a special treat. http://www.bubbagump.com/locations/destin/
Harry T’s Lighthouse – located right under Destin’s iconic lighthouse on Destin Harbor –is a true Destin dining legend that every visitor should try and visit. With its amazing waterfront views, you’ll be sure to see the East Pass, Crab Island and Norriega Pointe while either listening to live music or waiting until sunset for the “Canon Blast” and bell ringing from passing boats. Enjoy the Diablo Fish Tacos or a sandwich made with the local catch of the day! If you’d like a vacation in a glass, try Harry T’s Jetty Juice, which is the restaurant’s take on a blue margarita. They also offer both domestic and premium beers, as well as wine and fountain drinks for the children. Harry T’s Lighthouse is also known for its support of local musicians with its local musician live entertainment on weekends! http://www.harryts.com/
One of the intriguing things about Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill is that there are only two locations in the entire world, one of which is at Harborwalk Village! Be sure to at least visit the Destin location, as front house manager Christine Rodriguez will be sure to take good care of you! Why not try their Chargrilled Chicken a la Fud or the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp! For the kids, Fudpucker’s offers a Junior Fudburger, Fuducini Alfredo, Grilled Cheese, and Corn Puppies, among other menu items. They even have Kiddie Cocktails, such as a Florida Sunset (orange juice with grenadine), Shirley Temple, Hawaiian Sunset (pineapple juice and grenadine), and a Roy Rogers. So whether it’s the live alligator shows, teen night or their famous t-shirts, Fudpucker’s has something for everyone! And to ensure that there definitely is something for the entire family, Fudpucker’s has added two new ventures: FudPuckeroni’s, a family friendly sports bar offering pizza and wings, and FudShucker’s, their family friendly Steam Shack and Raw Bar. http://www.fudpucker.com/
In addition to the purely unique dining experience at Fudpucker’s, there is also the entertainment aspect of the restaurant. To this end, Fudpucker’s has also created Fudpucker’s Water Sports, where visitors can rent jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks, and pontoon boats. You can also go parasailing on the “Pucker Up.” http://www.fudpucker.com/fudpucker-watersports
Fudpucker’s has also created Gator Island, where visitors can take photos holding a live gator, as well as viewing smaller gators in tanks that are set out front. There are also plenty of gator related toys and souvenirs: http://www.fudpucker.com/gator-island
If you need to wet your whistle or relax from all the adventures at Harborwalk Village, the Crab Island Cantina is the place to stop for a breather! Crab Island Cantina offers Latin inspired Mexican cuisine, fresh Gulf seafood and Black Angus steaks all in a warm and casual environment offering the best view of Destin Harbor. This is what waterfront dining is all about! The Chile Poblano Crab Enchiladas are out of this world, and the cantina’s Mexican Street Tacos will have you singing! The owner, Judy, will make sure that your experience at Crab Island Cantina is top notch, just like the libations, as Crab Island Cantina has the largest selection of tequilas, margaritas, and imported Latin beer. And of course, all of your favorite tropical drinks are available at the cantina as well! http://crabislandcantina.com/index.html
Your visit to Destin, Florida will not be complete unless you make plans to visit the Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club. This stunning golf course, designed by the lead architect for Arnold Palmer, has been named one of Golf Digest’s “Top Places to Play in North America!” It offers on-course circulating beverage carts, a state-of-the-art Parview GPS system on its golf carts, a clubhouse with a golf shop, chilled apples on the 1st and 10th tees, and mango-scented iced towels. There are also a variety of specials and packages, so be sure to inquire before you go! Another wonderful amenity that general manager, Dan Shelton, offers to players at the Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club is a full-service restaurant! Overlooking Lake Regatta, the Regatta Bay Clubhouse offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a daily happy hour with 2-for-1 drinks. Brad, the restaurant manager, will ensure that your dining experience at the multi-level facility will be on par with all the amazing experiences Destin, Florida will provide for you and your family during your wonderful “Destin-nation” vacation! www.regattabay.com
