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Destin, FL
Travel Article
08/11/2004
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Part 2
Recently we have read quite a bit about
Destin, FL being a top ranked beach destination. Some reservations
services have it listed as one of their top ten rental
 destinations in
the USA. Southern Living and Coastal Living have both listed Destin in
their top lists. So we just had to travel to Destin and check this
out. Destin is about an 8 1/2 hour drive from Beaufort, SC. You
travel I-95 south and take a right turn at Jacksonville onto route 10W
for about 5 hours to Destin. We had never been in the Panhandle area of
Florida and were looking forward to it. Destin is located in the area
called the Emerald Coast, with shallow Gulf water the color of emeralds
and beaches as white as snow. Route 98, a six-lane highway, offers
outlets, strip malls, attraction malls, mini-golf, a Water Park, and
many, many restaurants.
We stayed at a Fairfield Resort, The Majestic Sun on old route 98. It
was right across the road from the beach (as most hotels appear to be)
and offered a gorgeous view from almost any floor. We checked in on a
Friday about 7 o'clock and found
 Fairfield's typically large rooms,
full kitchen, Jacuzzi tub and Washer/Dryer. We were tired and already
had collected a lot of research so decided to take our local newspapers
and head up the beach to the Whale's Tail for dinner. We walked to the
west with the sun beginning to set ahead of us and found a weathered
wooden restaurant offering a porch and deck right on the beach. It was
seat your self at picnic tables and we were thrilled with the breeze
and view. We ordered margaritas and decided on shrimp po-boy
sandwiches for our meal. All the tension from the ride eased out of our
bodies as we enjoyed our dinner watching the sun set on the Emerald
Coast.
The next day we rose early with two main goals: find an Internet Café
and a great breakfast. We headed to the front desk and got some
excellent advice from a couple young men working that morning. A
beautiful short walk down the beach, west again, would bring us to The
Bad Ass Coffee Café and just a little ways beyond we would find the
Brain Freeze Ice Cream Shop and Internet Café. Okay, simple and fun.
As we headed toward the door one of the young men added that they don't
open until 7 AM.
 No problem we said it is almost 7. Well, here's a
note about Destin: It is Central Standard Time and we were still
running on Eastern Standard Time. OOPS! It seems we got up and ready
about 5. No wonder it was so quiet. We slowly walked up to the café's
noticing cracked and broken sea turtle eggs along the path. Sea Gulls
must have found the nest and dropped the eggs as they flew. Too sad!
At 7 AM, at the Bad Ass (Just love that name (they have the cutest
T-shirts, mugs, etc) we made our WIFI Internet connection with a cup of
great coffee. While walking to the Bad Ass we had noticed a scooter
rental shop and just to the left a wine shop offering Florida wine
tasting daily. That of course went right into the notebook, as
incredibly somehow I had missed the winery while doing my research!
How strange!! We then found the Brain Freeze and our first mission was
accomplished.
Being quite hungry now we decided to walk back to the Whale's Tail for a
substantial breakfast and that is exactly what we got. For under $7 I
received a huge western and sausage omelet with home fries and toast.
My husband got his usual 2 eggs, pork fat, home fries and toast for a
little less. It was fabulous, inexpensive and set us up for our full
day of exploring. The first day is always the most interesting. We
headed back to our condo, with half of my breakfast in a take out box
for tomorrow, and changed for
 the beach. We found the white sand soft
and the green water cool. Families were lugging all kinds of beach
gear down from their condos. We sunbathed and read more area research
for a while and then headed for the water. We noticed that the beaches
had some kind of a flag system, but it's meaning was not easily
apparent. It was a yellow flag day that meant medium hazard. Green
flag was favorable surf and red was high hazard. Red over Red means
danger-water closed and purple indicated marine pests like jellyfish.
I started for the water and noticed there were drops and holes left
from sandcastles and beach digging. I was the first in the water and
quickly realized the current was swift and I was not going to be able
to go where I wanted. In fact the tide was tumbling me west and it was
strong. My husband finally caught up with me 20 yards down stream and
we decided the surf that day was too strong for me. My husband had a
wonderful time body surfing while I sat in a shallow pool of water
totally enjoying the beach.
Mid-afternoon we decided to rent scooters from Fanta Sea Scooter Rentals
and Beach Supplies. The two men in the shop were so friendly and
helpful. They rent Harleys, electric cars, scootcars, scooters, and
all kinds of beach and fishing equipment. They have a really unique
little shop and also offer pizza and subs. Ask for Steve or Donna and
tell them we sent you. They were good guides with information on
places to visit during our 2 hour tour, so off we went. First we
checked out the oceanfront
 restaurants along our road. We rode to
Pompano Joes, Capt Dave's on the Beach and the Crab Trap. At each
place we picked up menus to look at later. We then traveled to the end
of the road and found quite by accident, a beautiful bed and
breakfast. The Henderson Park Inn, a beachside bed and breakfast
located on a cul de sac adjacent to Henderson State Park. It was a New
England style storm-weathered shingled building with a wrap around
porch and turrets. It reminded me so much of Rhode Island and Maine.
It turns out that the owner was from Maine and his sons built it for
him as a reminder of home. We went into the lobby collecting menus and
rate sheets and the front desk clerk told us to walk around and check
out the back porch and the Veranda restaurant. The waitress was
resetting the tables for dinner using gorgeous white and gold embossed
plates. It was incredibly elegant yet warm and inviting. We decided to
follow one of our travel guide hints and come back one day for lunch as
the food and service is just as good but the prices are more
affordable.
Our next stop was a place Steve at the Scooter Shop told us about called
Destin Commons. He said it was a brand new mall (and by now you know
we don't do malls) but he said it was interesting and they just opened
a new Hard Rock Café. Well, we
 always do Hard Rocks so we headed off up
the beach road to an intersection that would take us across route 98.
Scooters are not allowed on the six-lane highway but Steve told us how
to cross at just the right intersection so as to avoid any highway
travel. We arrived at Destin Commons, which resembled the new kind of
mall we have found in the south with shops, streets and children's
attractions with a Disney flare. There were water fountains coming up
out of the common ground with wet and wild children running and
laughing through them. We had a two-hour time limit on the rental bike
so after looking around and taking pictures we headed to the Hard Rock
for a drink. We still weren't hungry after that huge breakfast so we
just wanted to check it out and buy our son a T-Shirt. He collects
Hard Rock T-shirts from everywhere we go. They had a new one out
designed by Eric Clapton and we knew he would love it. He had to stay
home this time to work and care for our pets. After a leisurely and
enjoyable ride we headed back to return the scooter and wander back to
our condo for a short rest.
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