Destin, Emerald Coast, Okaloosa Newsroom

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Press Kit: Activities

Beaching

Miles and miles of a pure, parched playground of Appalachian Quartz sand for sun bronzing, sandcastle building, soul searching and surrendering to sun-drenched solitude.

Sun worshippers are amused by sandpipers, snowy egrets, playful dolphins, fishing fleets dotting the horizon and daily dogfights (air shows compliments of Eglin).

Diving & Snorkeling

Rarity -- No Boat Necessary
Exceptional exploring close inshore as the 100 Fathom curve draws closer to Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than to any other spot on the Gulf. Brilliant green finger and four-foot (120cm) basket sponges flourish. Also prevalent are aqua and purple sea whips, and reef clusters of white star and ivory tree coral. Deep water close inshore attracts one of the widest arrays of marine species in Florida, from vibrant yellow angelfish and playful dolphins to six-foot (180cm) manta rays and 350-pound (158kg) loggerhead sea turtles. Lucky divers are often "submerged" amidst schools of migrating mackerel, amberjack and cigar minnows. Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest brimming with lobsters, sponges and sea squirts, offers unique explorations, as do sunken luxury liners, ships, barges, railroad box cars -- even airplanes. Nine dive shops offer theme excursions: spear fishing, deep sea, shell and lobster with certification classes and half-day "resort classes."

Boating

65-foot (20m), gaff-rigged Tops'1 schooners to simple sunfish are sailboats available for sunset wine cruises, moonlight rendezvous, snorkeling trips, barrier island hopping and dolphin or manatee expeditions.

Water Sports

Pontoon boating, parasailing, waterskiing, windsurfing and additional adventures in the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay.

Saltwater Fishing

World's Luckiest Fishing Village

Famous fruitful waters are internationally recognized. The offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot (30m) depths within 10 miles (16km) -- the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf.

Widest Variety of Catches in Florida Gulf

Up to four times more than most destinations, 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs.

Largest Charter Boat Fleet in Florida

Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters. All offer deep sea, inshore and bottom fishing for as little as $35 a half-day. Free fish cleaning for the day's catch provided by many charters.

Offshore

Billfish Capital of the Gulf
More billfish are caught each year off the coast of Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than all other Gulf ports combined. Offshore trolling begins only 27 miles (43km) out. Prime months run April-October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo.

Bottom

Year-round concentrations lure red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish.

Inshore

The elusive cobia begins running in March. Lasting through November, subsequent runs include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna.

Water's Edge

1,200-foot (360m) Okaloosa Pier is lighted for night fishing and known to shelter 100-pound (45kg) tarpons. Casting from finger jetties, sandy shores and the 3,000-foot (900m) Destin Bridge Catwalk hooks speckled trout, white snapper and redfish.

Bay and Bayou

Catch sheepshead, white trout, channel bass, croaker, sailcat, bluefish and buckets of blue crab all year.

Freshwater Fishing

Some of the best fishing is found in Blackwater, Shoal and Yellow rivers -- teeming with bass, bream and catfish.

An array of stocked ponds, such as the 350-acre (140ha) Hurricane Lake in Blackwater River State Park, are filled with channel catfish, large-mouth bass, bluegill and shellcracker.

Golf

Total of 1,080 Holes

Links designed by world-renowned architects like Fazio, Dye and Cupp capitalize on woods and wetlands, bays and bayous for scenic, yet challenging play at reasonable prices.

Regatta Bay Golf Club
18 holes

Emerald Bay
18 holes
Top 50 Distinctive Development Course by Golfweek

Kelly Plantation Golf Course
18 holes

Shalimar Pointe Country Club
18 holes
Two of the Hardest Emerald Coast Holes by Links

Indian Bayou Country Club
27 Holes

Shoal River Country Club
18 holes

Fort Walton Beach Municipal
36 holes

Island Golf Center
Nine par-3s and nine holes of pitch-and-putt Lighted for night play

Courses Available with Government I.D.

Eagle
Eglin Air Force Base 18 holes

Falcon
Eglin Air Force Base 18 holes

Gator Lakes
Hurlburt Field 18 holes

Tennis

104 Smashing Courts

Other Outdoor Adventures

Camping, canoeing, tubing, hunting and hiking at two pristine preservations:

EGLIN RESERVATION
BLACKWATER RIVER STATE PARK

Florida's Gulfarium

Florida's oldest marine park (1955) hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, tropical black-foot penguins, loggerhead sea turtles, harbor and gray seals, American alligators, nurse and lemon sharks, tropical fish aquariums and more in 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Dolphin stars delight with feats from comedic soccer games to 18-foot (540 cm) leaps toward the clouds.

The Track

For fun in the fast lane, the recreation center lets families race around in go-carts, enjoy bumper rides, and Kids Country is perfect for the younger kids.

Big Kahuna's

Located in the heart of Destin and encompassing 25 acres of fun filled space, Big Kahuna's offers more than 40 water attractions, including slides, lazy rivers and twisters and an Adventure Park with mini golf, a Vertical Accelerator and raceway.

Shopping

Seaside souvenirs prevail at "character" boutiques from The Zoo and the Spunky Monkey to Banana Bart's. Several mini-centers offer collections of specialty shops, antique stores, art galleries discount malls and popular chain stores.

DESTIN COMMONS On the corner of Highway 98 and Mid Bay Bridge, this shopping center hosts numerous unique and upscale stores, fine dining and casual eateries, a 14 screen Rave Motion Picture Theatre, child's play area, Hard Rock Cafe and a Bass Pro Shops.

Visitor Center

EMERALD COAST CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
P.O. Box 609
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32549-0609
(800) 322-3319 or (850) 651-7131
www.destin-fwb.com.

Year 2009
For More Media Information
Michelle Kelly / Kerry Anne Watson
The Zimmerman Agency
(850) 668-2222
media@destin-fwb.com


Press Kit General Overview Accommodations Meetings Activities Attractions Acclaims Dining Environmental Fast Facts Golf Weddings Special Events Trivia Spring Break Resources Image Library Archives News @lerts Search Contact Consumer site	Press Kit: Activities Beaching Miles and miles of a pure, parched playground of Appalachian Quartz sand for sun bronzing, sandcastle building, soul searching and surrendering to sun-drenched solitude. Sun worshippers are amused by sandpipers, snowy egrets, playful dolphins, fishing fleets dotting the horizon and daily dogfights (air shows compliments of Eglin). Diving & Snorkeling Rarity -- No Boat Necessary Exceptional exploring close inshore as the 100 Fathom curve draws closer to Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than to any other spot on the Gulf. Brilliant green finger and four-foot (120cm) basket sponges flourish. Also prevalent are aqua and purple sea whips, and reef clusters of white star and ivory tree coral. Deep water close inshore attracts one of the widest arrays of marine species in Florida, from vibrant yellow angelfish and playful dolphins to six-foot (180cm) manta rays and 350-pound (158kg) loggerhead sea turtles. Lucky divers are often "submerged" amidst schools of migrating mackerel, amberjack and cigar minnows. Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest brimming with lobsters, sponges and sea squirts, offers unique explorations, as do sunken luxury liners, ships, barges, railroad box cars -- even airplanes. Nine dive shops offer theme excursions: spear fishing, deep sea, shell and lobster with certification classes and half-day "resort classes." Boating 65-foot (20m), gaff-rigged Tops'1 schooners to simple sunfish are sailboats available for sunset wine cruises, moonlight rendezvous, snorkeling trips, barrier island hopping and dolphin or manatee expeditions. Water Sports Pontoon boating, parasailing, waterskiing, windsurfing and additional adventures in the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay. Saltwater Fishing World's Luckiest Fishing Village Famous fruitful waters are internationally recognized. The offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot (30m) depths within 10 miles (16km) -- the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf. Widest Variety of Catches in Florida Gulf Up to four times more than most destinations, 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs. Largest Charter Boat Fleet in Florida Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters. All offer deep sea, inshore and bottom fishing for as little as $35 a half-day. Free fish cleaning for the day's catch provided by many charters. Offshore Billfish Capital of the Gulf More billfish are caught each year off the coast of Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than all other Gulf ports combined. Offshore trolling begins only 27 miles (43km) out. Prime months run April-October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo. Bottom Year-round concentrations lure red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish. Inshore The elusive cobia begins running in March. Lasting through November, subsequent runs include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna. Water's Edge 1,200-foot (360m) Okaloosa Pier is lighted for night fishing and known to shelter 100-pound (45kg) tarpons. Casting from finger jetties, sandy shores and the 3,000-foot (900m) Destin Bridge Catwalk hooks speckled trout, white snapper and redfish. Bay and Bayou Catch sheepshead, white trout, channel bass, croaker, sailcat, bluefish and buckets of blue crab all year. Freshwater Fishing Some of the best fishing is found in Blackwater, Shoal and Yellow rivers -- teeming with bass, bream and catfish. An array of stocked ponds, such as the 350-acre (140ha) Hurricane Lake in Blackwater River State Park, are filled with channel catfish, large-mouth bass, bluegill and shellcracker. Golf Total of 1,080 Holes Links designed by world-renowned architects like Fazio, Dye and Cupp capitalize on woods and wetlands, bays and bayous for scenic, yet challenging play at reasonable prices. Regatta Bay Golf Club 18 holes Emerald Bay 18 holes Top 50 Distinctive Development Course by Golfweek Kelly Plantation Golf Course 18 holes Shalimar Pointe Country Club 18 holes Two of the Hardest Emerald Coast Holes by Links Indian Bayou Country Club 27 Holes Shoal River Country Club 18 holes Fort Walton Beach Municipal 36 holes Island Golf Center Nine par-3s and nine holes of pitch-and-putt Lighted for night play Courses Available with Government I.D. Eagle Eglin Air Force Base 18 holes Falcon Eglin Air Force Base 18 holes Gator Lakes Hurlburt Field 18 holes Tennis 104 Smashing Courts Other Outdoor Adventures Camping, canoeing, tubing, hunting and hiking at two pristine preservations: EGLIN RESERVATION BLACKWATER RIVER STATE PARK Florida's Gulfarium Florida's oldest marine park (1955) hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, tropical black-foot penguins, loggerhead sea turtles, harbor and gray seals, American alligators, nurse and lemon sharks, tropical fish aquariums and more in 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Dolphin stars delight with feats from comedic soccer games to 18-foot (540 cm) leaps toward the clouds. The Track For fun in the fast lane, the recreation center lets families race around in go-carts, enjoy bumper rides, and Kids Country is perfect for the younger kids. Big Kahuna's Located in the heart of Destin and encompassing 25 acres of fun filled space, Big Kahuna's offers more than 40 water attractions, including slides, lazy rivers and twisters and an Adventure Park with mini golf, a Vertical Accelerator and raceway. Shopping Seaside souvenirs prevail at "character" boutiques from The Zoo and the Spunky Monkey to Banana Bart's. Several mini-centers offer collections of specialty shops, antique stores, art galleries discount malls and popular chain stores. DESTIN COMMONS On the corner of Highway 98 and Mid Bay Bridge, this shopping center hosts numerous unique and upscale stores, fine dining and casual eateries, a 14 screen Rave Motion Picture Theatre, child's play area, Hard Rock Cafe and a Bass Pro Shops. Visitor Center EMERALD COAST CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU P.O. Box 609 Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32549-0609 (800) 322-3319 or (850) 651-7131 www.destin-fwb.com.
	Year 2009 For More Media Information Michelle Kelly / Kerry Anne Watson The Zimmerman Agency (850) 668-2222 media@destin-fwb.com