Gently sailing along the ocean as the waves push you toward the private island where you jump into the water for a little snorkeling and shelling. Heading out into the deeper waters early one morning in search of red snapper for your lunch.
A trip to Florida isn’t complete without at least one boating adventure. On a recent long weekend trip to the Emerald Coast of Florida, I fit in one morning of sailing and another morning of deep sea fishing.
The Emerald Coast of Florida, which includes Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, got its name because of the deep blue green waters that change colors as the sun hits it. Florida’s Emerald Coast is also known for its 24 miles of sugar-white sand.
Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” for a reason. Our group of eight included many first-timers and we had no problem getting our maximum of two red snappers each in just a few hours.
As the shoreline gets farther and farther away, the fishing gets better. Our group started reeling in huge red snapper in no time at all. Deep sea fishing is actually much harder than I thought. You have to be pretty strong to pull in those big fish but you will feel so satisfied with your catch.
Destin has 186 charter boats and you will have no problem finding one for your deep sea adventure. We chose “No Doubt” and had a wonderful morning. First mate, John, was very helpful. He had tips on fishing and handled the cleaning of the fish.
Fresh seafood at the area restaurants is wonderful but it is even better when you eat your catch. We took our fresh red snapper to the Lucky Snapper, located near the harbor, and the cook prepared our catch. We had plenty of fish for everyone and it was fried, baked and blackened. I think I liked blackened the best but they were all great.
The Lucky Snapper offers a “hook and cook” meal for $10 each. They prepare your fish, and you get a salad and two side dishes. It was a fun lunch and we enjoyed it even more because we caught the snapper ourselves.
For more information on a deep sea fishing adventure, go to ww.harborwalkfishing.com.
For a different boating adventure, take one of the many sailing tours offered. We headed out on the Nathaniel Bowditch with Capt. Rex and first mate, Tony, for a relaxing morning. As soon as you take off your shoes and go aboard, the adventure begins. After sailing over to a private island, some in the group jumped in the ocean, while others enjoyed soaking up some sun from the boat.
Those who chose swimming, tried snorkeling and shelling before heading back onto the boat for another hour of sailing. I stayed onboard and enjoyed stretching out and sunning as the gentle waves rocked the boat.
We took our lunch and enjoyed sandwiches and other treats as we sailed along. An ice cream boat came up alongside us during the trip and for a few dollars, we got a cool treat. It’s a new twist on the ice cream trucks from days gone by.
For more information, call 1-850-650-8787 or go to www.BowditchSailing.com.
SLICE OF OLD FLORIDA
For a look of Old Florida at its best, go to the Gulfarium, which has been a favorite of visitors to the Emerald Coast for more than 50 years. Kids and adults alike with love the dolphin and sea lion shows. Visitors will also be able to see penguins, sharks, alligators, tortoises, river otter, string ray and other ocean creatures. A full tour, along with three live shows, takes a little over two hours. The Gulfarium is located on the ocean front, which adds to the atmosphere. For more information, call 1-850-244-5169 or go to www.gulfarium.com.
For other stops during your visit to the Emerald Coast, be sure and check out:
•Golfing at Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club. I took a golf cart tour of Regatta Bay one evening and it’s a beautiful course. The 18-hole course is the area’s only Audubon registered course. It is surrounded by heavily wooded interiors, marshes and rolling and flat terrain.
•Big Kahuna’s, located on 25 acres in the heart of Destin, has more than 40 water attractions, including slides, lazy rivers, twisters and an adventure park with mini golf.
•The Track, a recreation center with go-carts and bumper cars.
•Shopping at Destin Commons, which has Bass Pro Shop, Hard Rock Café and numerous unique shops and restaurants. The center also has train rides, dancing fountains, a playground and other special attractions for children. For some great bargains, also go to Silver Sands Shopping Center, where Dooney & Bourke and Coach are among the outlet stores to be found.
WHERE TO STAY
For a luxurious yet affordable beach stay, check out the Emerald Grande at Harbor Walk Village. The elegant, roomy condos are located in the heart of Destin but still give its guests plenty of seclusion, including a private beach.
Emerald Grande was built like a turn of the century yacht club which fits in with the theme of fishing. The nautical theme is evident throughout the resort from the elegant lobby to the bathrooms to the condos. The Emerald Grande recently won an award for having the nicest interior of any resort in the United States.
A $15 daily resort fee covers beach chairs, use of the business center, wireless Internet and one free round of golf or fishing trip. One to three bedroom units are offered and the rates range from $199 to $499 per night. Special rates of 30 percent are also offered now, and more details on these packages can be found at the website.
While Emerald Grande offers condos, it is more like a full service hotel. Room service is offered, as well as daily maid service.
For more information, go to www.emeraldgrande.com
For those staying at Emerald Grande, you will be in the perfect location to enjoy the Harbor Summer Festival, which is being held along the Destin Harbor through Aug. 23. The festival takes place on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and features live entertainment, fabulous dining, art and fireworks. For more information, go to www.destinharbor.org.
WHERE TO EAT
•Harbor Docks has a wide selection of seafood but it is also known for its wonderful sushi, which is a favorite of John Travolta. I loved the backdown roll, which has crunchy shrimp, cream cheese with tuna and avocado with crab salad on top of it. Another great choice is spicy tuna roll. If you prefer fresh seafood, the sautéed catch of the day with artichoke hearts was a favorite with several in our group. For a great appetizer, try fried crab claws.
•If you want a full breakfast to get your day off to the right start, be sure and try Another Broken Egg. I loved the bacado omelet, which has baked crisp bacon and avocado slices with melted Monterey Jack cheese with a side of salsa. It’s huge and will definitely give you plenty of energy for a day of boating.
•Crab Trap offers wonderful seafood in a fun setting. Located along the ocean, guests can dine outdoors or indoors. We headed outdoors and enjoyed the scenery and fresh seafood. Since I’m a shrimp lover, I went with Shrimpers Feast, six fried, five grilled and six broiled.
•The Grande Vista at the Emerald Grande offers a variety of seafood dishes, soups and salads. The grilled tuna sandwich made a light and filling lunch during a day at the pool, located just outside the restaurant. The cheddar cheese hushpuppies are a unique treat, which made a great snack or appetizer.
•At BluePoint, the grilled fish is a delightful choice. Mahi Mahi or salmon are both offered and they are prepared in chipotle lime butter, steamed broccoli and lemon.
For more information on visiting the Emerald Coast, go to www.destin-fwb.com or call 1-800-322-3319.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
