Rock the Beach Free Concerts on Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach - See Lynyrd Skynyrd on August 15!

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

As everyone knows, tourism along the entire Gulf Coast has been hit really hard as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The outpouring of support has been amazing and much appreciated. One of the best known supporters was Jimmy Buffett who gave a free concert on July 11 in Gulf Shores. As a lover of music, I attended this great concert on the beach and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The concert brought attention to the areas hit by the crisis, and attendees were happy to contribute something positive. It was lots of fun to join 35,000 people singing along to all the songs. Jimmy Buffett was not the only philanthropist willing to lend a hand; Kenny Loggins and the Doobie Brothers also rocked the beach on Okaloosa Island earlier this month. There’s nothing like a concert right on the Gulf of Mexico, sitting on a gorgeous beach with good tunes!

Come join us for the next Rock the Beach concert, August 15 on Okaloosa Island, headlined by none other than southern rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Florida natives, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, are most famous for their songs “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.” Drift back to the 70s and enjoy classic southern rock, blending rock, country and blues all into one fantastic sound! The opening act is country newcomer Josh Thompson, who you may know by his hit song “Way Out Here.”

What better way to support the Gulf Coast than rockin’ out to the tunes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Josh Thompson, and maybe even the Charlie Daniels Band? Come on down to Okaloosa Island and enjoy this terrific Gulf Coast benefit concert. I’ll be saving a spot for you!

ResortQuest goes Kayaking in Alabama

by Vickie Warner, ResortQuest Director of Marketing

As a lover of all water activities, I was excited to locate a company in Gulf Shores that rented kayaks. BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals is located on a clear, white sandy bottom canal just a few feet off the spring fed Bon Secour River. A couple of friends joined me and we set off on a delightful adventure in our rented Old Town Cricket Kayaks. We immediately found ourselves surrounded by overhanging trees and floating on crystal clear 67 degree water, feeling like we were a million miles from civilization.  Around one bend, we discovered a great rope swing that enticed us to test our coordination levels.

The river offered peaceful and diverse scenery from very natural uninhabited areas to manicured southern homes.  As we ventured onward we encountered wildlife that entertained us from multi-colored ducks to turtles of many sizes, and to our pleasure we watched the prettiest little canary like birds that nestled in the tree branches directly over our heads as we paddled toward the spring.

Halfway through our trip we stopped at a cheerful restaurant called Captain’s Galley.  Here we feasted on local cuisine that was a treat to our taste buds and pockets. Draft beer was only $1.75, which was delicious with the dozen golden fried shrimp for less than $10.00.  My only disappointment was not saving room for the bread pudding that was described on the menu as “French baked bread in a sweet cinnamon vanilla raisin custard topped with a whiskey sauce” for only $4.50. 

This was a great trip, and the best part of all was meeting Jerry and Shelly Shelton, owners of BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals, who gave us free-range eggs from their own chicken which we enjoyed the next morning. This is a trip the whole family will enjoy.

ResortQuest Gives Away $64,000 in Vacation Stays, with Nearly $30,000 in Beach Trips Still to Be Won

The Vacation Treasure Hunt contest gives participants the opportunity to win a 5-night stay in one of ResortQuest's luxurious beach vacation rental properties. The company has awarded $64,000 worth of vacation rental stays so far in 2010 and plans to give away another $30,000 in vacation stays throughout the rest of the summer.



Fort Walton Beach, FL, July 2, 2010 — School is out, Memorial Day barbecues have come and gone, and the summer travel season is shifting into high gear. Spurred on by sunny weather and warm temperatures, savvy vacationers are out hunting for the best travel deals, and many have set their sights on ResortQuest's Vacation Treasure Hunt contest.
 

Offered by leading vacation rental management company, ResortQuest, the Vacation Treasure Hunt is a weekly online contest that gives participants the opportunity to win a five-night stay in one of ResortQuest's luxurious beach vacation rental properties—a condo, villa or vacation home in Hilton Head, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island or Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Bethany Beach, Del.; Ocean City, Md.; Orange Beach, Gulf Shores or Fort Morgan, Ala.; or along the Florida Panhandle—for just $1 per day. A new contest starts each Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT, with the promotion continuing weekly through September 28.

Between its earlier ski-oriented version and the current beach-themed contest, the company already has awarded $64,000 worth of vacation rental stays so far in 2010. With the average weekly value of its beach prizes nearing $2,000 each, ResortQuest aims to give away another $30,000 in vacation stays throughout the rest of the summer.

The largest Vacation Treasure Hunt prize to date was a stay at a private beachfront home in Hilton Head valued at $4,300, won by Laurie A. of New Albany, Ind. When asked about her experience with the contest, Laurie says, "I can't tell you how absolutely thrilled—elated—I am." In fact, she was so stunned by her win that she often goes back to check the Web page that lists her name as a winner "to look and see if it's real." Laurie plans to spend her vacation in the professionally decorated, six-bedroom home with her husband, celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary.

James S. of Gilroy, Calif., won one of the most recent weekly contests, in which the prize was a five-night stay in a luxury villa overlooking the George Fazio golf course at the prestigious Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island. This week, Dan L. of Rockville, Md. won a vacation stay in a million-dollar oceanfront condo at Ocean Blue Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C.—a prize worth more than $2,500.

Kenneth M. of Southborough, Mass., won a vacation valued at $2,800—a five-night stay at a platinum-rated villa with full ocean views at Mariner's Watch on Kiawah Island, S.C. When Kenneth realized he was close to winning the contest, the technology consultant excused himself from a business call. "I had to ask if I could call them back," he says. Now, he's looking forward to getting away from the computers to relax with his wife and four-year-old son on the beach.

A winner from Madison, Ala., Jennifer H., will travel up the east coast to Delaware for her prize vacation. Valued at $2,500, Jennifer's prize is a stay in a platinum-rated condo overlooking a half-mile of private guarded beach at Sea Colony Resort, hailed as "The Premier Family Beach and Tennis Resort Community."

"Part of what has made the Vacation Treasure Hunt such a successful promotion is the quality and high value of the vacation rental prizes we're awarding," says Cheryl Spezia, vice president of marketing for ResortQuest. "Combine that with the fun and challenging puzzles we release each week, and it's no wonder the contest is a hit."

To participate in the contest, treasure hunters navigate through ResortQuest's beach-destination Web sites, solving clues and searching for a hidden treasure map icon. The treasure map reveals a toll-free number and promotion code needed to call and claim the prize.

To learn more about the contest rules and how to participate in ResortQuest's Vacation Treasure Hunt, visit VacationTreasureHunt.com.

For more information about ResortQuest, contact Cheryl Spezia at 850-362-4008 or toll-free at 800-862-4853.


Headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., ResortQuest is the largest marketer and management company of vacation condominiums and home rentals in the nation, with a portfolio of nearly 10,000 U.S. vacation rental properties. With partner affiliates in North America and Europe, ResortQuest offers more than 100,000 vacation rental options in over 140 destinations worldwide.