Winter Visitors Flock to the Emerald Coast

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Emerald Coast Beaches

Photo Credit: Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Okaloosa Island off the Emerald Coast of Florida.

Photo Credit: Emerald Coast CVB

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Lounge chairs for relaxing on the beaches of the Emerald Coast.

Photo Credit: Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Destin Commons

Photo Credit: Destin Commons

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Try out a boogie board on the Emerald Coast

Photo Credit: Emerald Coast CVB

Sunlight splashes across clear emerald-green waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Gentle waves brush 24 miles of powdery, sugar-white sand beaches. No traffic jams. No crowds or endless theme park lines.

More good news: Save over 50 percent on value-added winter stays. No wonder vacationers seeking escape from Old Man Winter flock to Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Okaloosa Island on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast.

Nature’s Simple Pleasures

Winter gulf-side stays are filled with simple pleasures. Most days are sunny and seasonal temperatures hover around 60-65°F.

Early risers enjoy serene sunrises. Later, relax under a beach umbrella entertained by dolphins cavorting in the surf, or stroll along the pristine white-sand beaches while saucy seagulls sail overhead and elegant herons stalk the tide line.

Watch the sun paint its daily masterpiece of red, gold and plum across the sea and sky as it slips below the horizon. Gaze at the velvety starlit sky away from the noise and glare of big city lights.

More Ways to Fill the Days

Off the beach, there are more ways to have fun.

Most days are sunny and seasonal temperatures hover around 60-65°F.

• Emerald Coast golf courses designed by pros like Arnold Palmer and Fred Couples rank among the top championship greens in the U.S. Take advantage of the lowest fees of the year at popular courses like Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club, Kelly Plantation Golf Club, Shalimar Pointe Golf and Country Club and Indian Bayou.
• Book a fishing charter with Destin Charter Boat Association and find out first-hand why Destin is internationally known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” Cast a line from the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier that extends almost a quarter-mile into the Gulf.
• Step back in time at the Air Force Armament Museum, Destin History & Fishing Museum and Heritage Park & Cultural Center.
• Take advantage of seasonal sales at Destin Commons, Uptown Station and nearby Silver Sands Factory Outlet. Go treasure hunting at dozens of area flea markets.

Create and Celebrate

There is always something going on along the coast.

• Attend a national touring company performance or gallery exhibit at Mattie Kelly Arts Center.
• Check out special events at Emerald Coast Convention Center.
• Get a share of lagniappe (something extra) at the Mardi Gras Festival on Okaloosa Island.
• Make new friends at the Destin and Fort Walton Beach Snowbird Clubs.
• Learn something new. Sip new vintages from around the world at wine tastings at Wine World in Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Mellow out at Dragonfly Yoga classes. Create a pottery keepsake at Fired Up. 

Value-added Winter White Savings

Discount airfares to Northwest Florida Regional Airport, served by five major airlines, make getting to the Emerald Coast a bargain. On-site car rentals are among the lowest in Florida.

Lodging for any taste and budget includes well-known brand hotels, cozy cottages, spacious condominiums and vacation rental homes. Start the search for the best winter-white specials at Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECCVB). Stop by the ECCVB on Okaloosa Island and stock up on discount coupons for dining, shopping and activities.

Dining deals range from seafood shacks to steakhouses and lively sports bars and often feature Buy One Get One Free, Snowbird or early dining specials.

This article is brought to you by the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. To plan your trip, visit www.emeraldcoastfl.com.