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The pull of the Emerald Coast has a hook for people from all walks of life. The variety of activities for residents and visitors to choose from seems endless.
From the beaches to the golf courses, the fishing to the excellent schools, there’s no shortage of reasons anyone would want to live along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.
After all, what’s not to like about sunny days, sugar-white beaches, emerald-green waters and friendly people? How could you top an area that has deep forests, beautiful lakes, quiet streams and the incredible Gulf of Mexico?
The mild climate of Northwest Florida provides an impetus most days to be outdoors. People can enjoy golf nearly year-round, quiet walks or raucous fun on the beaches, and fishing on the quiet backwaters or deep in the Gulf, all without the pollution of factories and the packed sidewalks of the city.
The area has become a haven for families to spend their vacations and it has become a hot spot for students around the country to visit during spring break.
“I love it down here,” said Western Kentucky University student Seth Wilson as he walked onto the beach during spring break. “I’m excited. It’s beautiful. If you want something to do, just step outside your hotel door.”
The natural scenery is beautiful and can’t be matched on any other coast in the country. The area is teeming with wildlife and has been developed with many nature trails for bird-watchers and others seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.
More and more young families are moving to the area to raise their youngsters in a safe and friendly small-town environment that offers many extracurricular activities for youngsters. Parents who look into the school systems before they come will find the area is tops in the state educationally, with public schools and private schools. Many residents first came to serve at one of the military installations in the area, and they are active in the school systems, demanding and getting the best for the area’s youngsters.
Teens wanting to continue their education after high school have options available to them as well. Students can receive a two-year degree and some newly offered four-year degrees from Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville and there are nearby branches of fouryear universities such as Troy State and the University of West Florida.
Most libraries in the area are now integrated into countrywide systems, and computers are available at the libraries. Destin’s new library is quite popular.
“No matter what you do in politics, you’re not going to make everyone happy,” Destin Mayor Craig Barker said, “(but) we might have found the only item done since I was on the board that has pleased everyone ... Never once has anyone contacted me to say, ‘You should have built a bigger library’ or ‘You should have built a smaller library.’”
There are also museums dedicated to the history of the area that offer residents and visitors a glimpse into the past, and many of them have special programs available for people of all ages.
The Emerald Coast is not a cultural desert either. The Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College and the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola bring Broadway shows, opera and ballet to the area, and the Northwest Florida Ballet in Fort Walton Beach presents several shows each year. Along those lines are the many area galleries, fine arts festivals and plays, musicals and symphonies performed each year.
There are also numerous movie theaters along the Gulf Coast, including the new Rave Motion Pictures at the Destin Commons shopping center.
The area is also good for people who would like to try and see some of the favorite stars in person, rather than at the theater or on television. With its beautiful sand beaches and emerald green waters, many celebrities have been attracted to the area. Pop princess Britney Spears, “Friends” star Courtney Cox Arquette and husband David Arquette, World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Mick Foley, best-selling authors Tom Clancy and Anne Rice, and Grammy winning singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow are just a few of the stars who have called the Gulf Coast home away from home. And the list is getting longer.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous here,” rapper DMC said during a visit to Destin for a celebrity fund-raiser.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, where better to play golf than on one of the many championship courses in the area. Maintenance crews work yearround making sure the courses stay in near-tournament condition at all times.
In addition to the links, there are several lighted tennis courts in the area. It goes without saying that all kinds of water sports are available. Beach volleyball is popular and people can always be seen taking advantage of the bike trail and special bicycle lanes in South Walton.
Destin was built as a fishing village and remains one of the most popular destinations in the country for anglers hoping to bring in the big yellowfin tuna or the popular red snapper. Destin has the largest fleet of charter and party boats in the state for anyone wanting to go bay fishing, inshore trolling or deep-sea fishing.
It is said that if you dined out every day for a year, you wouldn’t get to the end of the list of restaurants around the Gulf Coast. And there is something here for everybody. If you’re looking for fine dining, complete with wine and quiet music, the area has a variety of restaurants ready to accommodate you. If you want something fun for the entire family, where the parents can have a drink and the children are entertained, there are many places available. Italian, Cajun, Oriental, Creole, Thai, haute cuisine or down-home Southern cooking, it’s all here.
Food for the soul is available at several area churches with almost every religious denomination represented. All the churches are welcoming and regularly post their meeting places and times.
Health care is also an important issue along the Gulf Coast, and there are hospitals in South Walton, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Niceville.
Just like the celebrities wanting to come to the area to spend their down time, some of the finest doctors in the country choose to live where their time off can be spent on the water or golf course. Doctors for all specialties are available and area hospitals can perform most any procedure.
The dress code for many people who live here appears to be business casual, if not something closer to outdoor casual.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to put on the dog. There are many occasions throughout the year where the ladies can indulge in evening finery and diamonds and gentlemen can sport tuxedos with their Emerald Coast suntans. And believe it or not, there are restaurants of the finest kind where shorts and flip-flops are not allowed.
Ask anyone who already lives here.
There’s no reason not to move to the area. Whether it’s to raise your family or to relax in retirement, there’s no shortage of things to do along the Emerald Coast.
Destin Log
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