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Published: August 21st 2005
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We're back in beautiful Destin! This was taken at 6:10am this morning from our balcony. Hello all!
Not too much to write about right now (it is 8:30 am central time), but let me just say --- WE ARE IN DESTIN, FL!!! Beautiful, breathtaking, DESTIN, FLORIDA! April and I left Orlando around 1:00pm Sunday and arrived Destin around 6:30pm. It was storming out by the time we arrived and was rather dark....but that didn't stop us from driving around to access the damage from hurricane Ivan last summer -- and to our surprise and shock -- we didn't notice any! Anything major, at least! Everything looked PERFECT! Sure there were some damaged signs (very, very few) and lots of shrubs missing (but it just gives you a better view of the gorgeous ocean). All our favorite spots, including POMPANO JOE'S, was still standing and as beautiful as ever!! We were SOOO happy. Even through the rain and lightning, Destin was perfect.
We checked into our condo at Pelican Beach Resort and couldn't believe how HUGE our unit was!!! We are on the 17th floor. The unit has a HUGE living room and kitchen, a bedroom, two bunk beds, 2 full bathrooms and a private balcony overlooking the ocean. All this for $453 per person
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The beautiful waves of Destin. -- for 7 nights mind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The unit is amazing. There is a flat screen tv with dvd player, a tv & vcr in the bedroom, all the utensils and electronics you could possible need in the kitchen, a very comfortable coach and chair, dining table, serving bar and 4 lounge chairs on the balcony. 4 adults could easily stay here. It is also great for families.
We went to bed around midnight and I awoke at 6:10am....I couldn't wait to look outside and see the gorgeous ocean! Well, it did not disappoint! I grabbed my camera and ran out onto the balcony in my pj's and my mouth dropped open! WOW, what a view! The waves were crashing, the sand snow white, that emerald green glow was starting to show thanks to the rising sun, and the smell of sea salt was in the air!! I was (and am) in heaven!!
I can't say enough about Destin and all of the panhandle for that matter. The beaches here, known as the Emerald Coast, are some of the best -- IN THE WORLD!! The water is indescribable by words. It is SO CLEAN and CLEAR and the most
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View from Balcony of beautiful beach. beautiful shade of blue/green. The sand is snow white and soft as baby powder. There is no seaweed, no shells, no rocks -- nothing gross! LOL! Just clean water and soft sand. Destin keeps growing and growing. I would say within the next 5-10 years it is going to be a MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION, more so than it is now. There is so much to do here. They have one of the country's largest outlet centers, Silver Sands Outlet Factory (or Silver Shells Outlet Factory) -- It has every cool brand you can think of -- Guess, Tommy Hilfigar, Hugo Boss, Gap, J. Crew, Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers, Fossil -- everything! It is like the Wrentham outlet center in Massachusetts multiplied by 100! They also have an area called Destin Commons. This new, adorable area is made to look like a quaint village/old town. It is filled with lots of great stores, restaurants (including a Hard Rock Cafe), movie theatre, nightclubs and more. It is like Universal CityWalk, only less nightclubs and neon. Another great section is Sandestin, about 5 miles up the road from Destin. This resort area has a wonderful village with lots of great nightclubs, acoustic music,
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Destin sunrise. shops, restaurants, cafes, water sports and more. You really can't get bored here. I mean, just the beaches alone are worth a trip here. They have every water sport known to man! LOL! Jet-skis, patoon boat rentals, fishing boats, boogy boards, surf lessons -- everything. Ape and I are going to rent a patoon boat for 1/2 a day to take to Crab Island -- a beautiful inlet off Destin Harbor.
Destin also has INCREDIBLE restaurants. There are TOO many to chose from. Many located directly ON THE BEACH. Some of our favorites include: Pompano Joe's (our all time favorite), AJ's, The Lucky Snapper, McGuire's Irish Pub, Fudpucker's, Hog's Breath Saloon, Tim-N-Nick's BBQ, Copper Grill, Hard Rock Cafe, Floyd's and many more. We love them for --- THEIR ATMOSPHERE! These restaurants either offer amazing views of the ocean or funky decor/themes. Ask me about the food and I couldn't really say anything except, yes, it's good --- but the DECOR and AMBIANCE is out of this world!
The way I sum up Destin is this: When Jimmy Buffett sings Margaritaville, well......this is mine and April's Margaritaville. It is a tropical paradise here in the United States. Like being
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Naked Sally Strutters Torso Doll and Stained Sock Puppet this morning. in the Caribbean or Tahiti without leaving U.S. soil. That sums it up!
On that note, I am going to shower and get ready for the day. That water is calling our name!!! :-)
Happy Travels!
Des & Ape
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