Relaxing on your ocean-front balcony with the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the shore as you watch the seagulls fly overhead and smell the fresh air. All your senses come alive during a get-away to the Emerald Coast of Florida.
Relaxing at our condo at The Breakers in Fort Walton Beach, enjoying the sea oats and scenic views at Oskaloosa Island and dining on southern favorites, including seafood and barbecue, in Destin were among the highlights of our four-day visit to the Emerald Coast.
Famous for 24 miles of dazzling sugar white sands and brilliant blue green waters, the laid-back beach towns along the Emerald Coast offer fishing, golf, shopping and wonderful dining experiences.
The sand on beaches along the Emerald Coast is among the whitest, cleanest and softest in the world. The sand is comprised mainly of quartz washed down from the mountains by the Apalachicola River, 130 miles east of Ft. Walton Beach.
The crystal clear emerald green ocean, snow white, sun kissed sand, golden sun, gorgeous sunsets make the Emerald Coast a paradise vacation spot. The beach just goes on, and on, and on.
At The Breakers in Fort Walton Beach, our one-bedroom unit had a large living room and kitchen area facing the balcony. Curling up on the couch, you are facing the ocean. The balcony has two lounge chairs perfect for relaxing and watching the sunrise or sunset each day.
Umbrella and chair rentals are offered along the beach and this is a great place to spend some time relaxing and reflecting on the natural beauty around you. While there are plenty of activities and options available, it’s nice to spend some time relaxing and doing as little as possible.
Two large pools are located on the grounds facing the ocean for those who prefer the pool over the beach.
The Breakers is located at 381 Santa Rosa Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach. For more information, call 850-244-9127 or check out the website at www.breakersfwb.com.
In Oskaloosa Island, visitors will enjoy the scenic views looking over a gentle rise of sand dunes and sparsely scattered sea oats. There are numerous seaside parks with pavilions, gazebos and wooden dune overwalks.
Hundreds of restaurants are located along the Emerald Coast with seafood and barbecue among the options. The Lucky Snapper is a fun spot to have dinner and watch the sunset over the boats. Both indoor and outdoor dining is offered. We enjoyed sitting on the back deck and watching the boats go by as the sun set. A cool breeze was blowing and fun island music was playing. It was a perfect setting for the meal to come.
Start your meal at the Lucky Snapper with some of the wonderful smoked tuna dip that is a specialty of the Emerald Coast. The Lucky Snapper’s tuna dip is the best we had on our trip. It’s spicy enough without being overpowering and is great on crackers.
For the entrée, the grilled pepper crusted tuna with seasoned rice is a tasty choice. The pepper works well with the fresh tuna. Another great option is the fresh Gulf shrimp lightly battered and fried. The batter is not heavy as some fried shrimp tends to be but is light and tasty.
For dessert, the kokoma pie, made fresh with cream cheese and oreos, is a great choice to end an amazing meal.
The Lucky Snapper is located at 76 Harbor Blvd. For more information, go to www.luckysnapper.com
The next night we had some amazing barbecue at Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. A good sign that we were in for a wonderful meal was the barbecue smell that greeted us as we walked in the restaurant. We weren’t disappointed. The barbecue is among the best I’ve ever had. They do things the authentic way with hickory wood, low heat and slow smoke. Everything is made from scratch.
We started off with spinach and artichoke dip. It was smooth and creamy and had lots of spinach and artichokes in it.
The pulled pork and ribs were a delight. The pork was moist and the barbecue sauce was great. As for the ribs, the succulent meat fell off the bones. If you don’t want pork, the turkey is also a great choice. It was very tender and was great with the barbecue sauce.
For those who like shopping, be sure to stop 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 chil¬dren. For some bargains from high end retailers, go to Silver Sands Shopping Center, where Dooney & Bourke and Coach are among the outlet stores to be found.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Other suggestions for your stay along the Emerald Coast include the following:
•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, alliga¬tors, 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.gul¬farium.com.
•The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center consists of the Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, the Garnier Post Office Museum and the Fort Walton Temple Mound. Together these three museums and National Historic Landmark form a cultural center which presents the history of the Fort Walton Beach area from prehistoric times, some 12,000 years ago, the first school in 1912, and through the close of the post office in the 1950s. For more information, go to www.fwb.org.
•Harbor Walk Village in Destin, where you can take fishing and boating tours, shop and dine. Special events are also held in the village, including the recent Sham-Rock Festival on St. Patrick’s Day.
•The Emerald Coast Science Center is located in a waterfront park directly on the sound in Fort Walton Beach. Children will love the exhibits, including the electricity and wind tunnel display and the critters and bubble room. For more information, go to www.ecscience.org.
For information on visiting the Emerald Coast, check out www.emeraldcoastfl.com.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
