ResortQuest Goes Fishing with Bill Ando of Southern Boating Magazine

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Recently, ResortQuest had the pleasure of hosting Bill Ando, Senior Editor of Southern Boating Magazine, at the beautiful Silver Shells Beach Resort in Destin. One of the many activities that he wanted to partake in while visiting the area was to go deep sea fishing, and what better place to do that than in Destin, the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village!”

We hosted Bill on a charter with Captain Tommy Browning, a local fishing legend, aboard the Finest Kind which is docked at the Harborwalk Marina. No experience needed, as the Finest Kind’s capable crew will teach you all you need to know. Waking up early for our 6-hour trip was hard, but the experience was well worth it!

We were lucky enough to go out on the last day of Red Snapper season, and brought in an abundance of Red Snapper, catching our limit! We played tug-of-war with the dolphins for some of our catch, which added to the excitement. We also caught quite a few Triggerfish, my personal favorite.

Even though Red Snapper season is closed until next summer, don’t fret, because no matter what time of year you go fishing in Florida, there’s always something in season that not only tastes great, but is exciting to catch! Some of the fish without a regulated season are Amberjack, Black and White Snapper, Trigger, Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna, and Wahoo.

Whether you’re fishing for sport or for dinner, you’ll never be disappointed with your catch from the alluring Gulf of Mexico. Book a charter on one of the many vessels in the Destin area, or just grab a pole and head down to a fishing pier. Cook up your fresh catch in your ResortQuest vacation rental, and you’ll dine like a king!

Emerald Coast Winter Activities, Part II – Pensacola & Perdido Key Area

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

In my last installment of cold weather activities along the Emerald Coast, I talked about the Destin area. This week we’ll be traveling west to Pensacola, which is within easy reach of both our Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach vacation rentals.

A night out at the movies is always good fun, but this year, bring your family to a different kind of theater. Pensacola has two wonderful live theatres to choose from:

· Saenger Theatre, 118 South Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 595-3880 – The Saenger is offering some amazing performances during this winter season, including two concerts by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, a musical based on The Color Purple, and an operatic adaptation of Little Women.

· Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 432-2042 – This “Little” theater is featuring two plays, The Lamentable and True Tragedie of M. Arden, and Clarence Darrow. The musical review, Side by Side by Sondheim, will be presented in late January and early February.

Pensacola was the site of one of the first European-inhabited settlements in what would later become the United States of America, so naturally the area is rich in history. As a result, there are many intriguing museums providing fascinating experiences:

· Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Boulevard, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508, (850) 452-3604 – This museum is located within the Naval Air Station Pensacola and has a multitude of aircraft on display, many military exhibits, and an IMAX theater with various movies available. Admission to the museum is FREE.

· T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 595-5990 – The museum is part of Historic Pensacola Village which brings to life the historic homes and buildings within downtown Pensacola, featuring guided tours and a hands-on children’s exhibit.

· Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 South Jefferson Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, (850) 432-6247 – Enjoy fine art as you browse the museum’s collections and exhibits including artists such as Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Pablo Picasso, and many, many more.

In addition to live theatre and museums, there are many other activities in Perdido Key and Pensacola to keep one entertained during the winter months. Come visit and experience the “cool” side of Northwest Florida!

Destin 50 Beach Ultra Marathon Scheduled for February 19th

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

For all of you runners out there, I have just learned about one of the most exciting races in Northwest Florida – a 50 mile race that takes place on our beautiful white sand beaches. That’s right, a race in the SAND. The Destin 50 Beach Ultra was scheduled on February 19th, 2011 over President’s Day weekend. Because the race takes places in the soft sand, this is the perfect opportunity for barefoot runners!

In addition to the 50 mile individual race, there is a 50 mile relay for teams of 2-4 people. The race will start at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort, run east along the water to Seagrove Beach, turn around and head back through TOPS’L, run west to Destin Pass, and a final turn back to the finish line at TOPS’L. Start time for individuals is 5 am, relay teams start at 7 am, and the cut off time is 7 pm. Following the race, the Funky Blues Shack in Baytowne Wharf will host a celebratory after party featuring live entertainment, drink specials and hors d’oeuvres.

The Destin 50 Beach Ultra is donating ALL of the proceeds from this event to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The Foundation is a charity that pays for the full college expense of children of Special Operations members in all branches of military service who have lost their lives in combat. The charity also provides immediate financial assistance to special operations personnel severely wounded in the global war on terror. Once notified of a Special Operations soldier, airman, sailor or Marine hospitalized with a severe injury, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation immediately provides funds for family and loved ones to travel to his or her bedside. To date, the Foundation has provided over $1,000,000 to wounded Special Operations personnel. With such large military presence in the surrounding area, including Special Operations forces, I am very proud that the race is featuring such a heartwarming charity that hits so close to home.

TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort is offering special rates starting as low as $85 per night – call 800-380-4808 and mention Group Code #A1083. If you want to stay somewhere other than TOPS’L, no worries, because we have great rates at all of our Northwest Florida locations. Come run for a great cause, while enjoying a long weekend on the most beautiful beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast.