Community Spotlight: Destin

Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its emerald waters, white sandy beaches, and deep sea fishing. Affectionately called, " The World's Luckiest Fishing Village," Destin boasts the largest fishing fleet in the state of Florida and one of the largest in the nation. 

The city of Destin is essentially a peninsula, surrounded by both the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay.  With approximately 13,000 full-time residents, Destin's population explodes during the Summer months to close to 75,000 with second home owners, vacationers, and more.  The area attracts over 4.5 million visitors annually each year.

Destin has been voted "Best Beach of the South" and "Top Family Destination" numerous times by Southern Living Magazine and "Best Beach in America" by USA Today readers. It has also been named as a "Best Beach" by the Travel Channel and was named as one of Good Morning America's "Most Beautiful Places in America".With an average annual temperature of 75 degrees and close to 340 days of sunshine per year, it's easy to see why this is such a popular destination. 

With something to do for everyone of all ages, Destin has become a one-stop destination for golf enthusiasts, shoppers, foodies, beach-goers, fishermen, and more. 

Community Spotlight: Okaloosa Island

The barrier island that connects Fort Walton Beach and Destin is famous for its white sand beaches, emerald waters and many family attractions. This island offers a little bit for everyone with both condominiums, homes, and townhomes available for both full-time living and vacations. Most of the beachfront condominiums are used as vacation residences and second homes which means the Summer season is the busiest time to venture to Okaloosa Island. You will have plenty to do whether you live or just play on this small stretch of sand.

Enjoy relaxing on the beach or gather some friends for a friendly game of volleyball behind The Boardwalk. Get up close and personal with sea creatures and animals at The Gulfarium. Grab your fishing gear and catch the big one from the 1,200 foot plus Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. Spend the day cooling off inside Wild Willy's Adventure Zone or compete against your family in a friendly game of putt-putt.

And don't forget about the food. For breakfast, Asiago's Skillet is the place to be. They are open from Midnight to Noon and offer something for everyone. If you are wanting seafood then try the seafood skillet. For those famished, give the King of the Biscuits a try...you will not leave hungry. For dinner, be sure to check out Old Bay Steamer located right next door to the Okaloosa Island Fire Station. They are known for their steamer buckets so be sure to order one for yourself or to share. And for all of those times in between, check out Helenback for their world-famous pizza and laid back nightlife and atmosphere.