Monday, January 31, 2011

Alabama Lifestyles Expo

Looking for places to see and things to do while vacationing in Alabama?  Look no further: The 18th Annual Alabama Lifestyles Expo is coming to Caribe Resort (28103 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561) on February 10th from 9am to 2pm.  The event is presented by the Alabama Advantage for Relocation, the Caribe Resort, and the Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, promoting healthy living and quality of life for people age 50+ and their families.

This FREE event will feature informative sponsors and vendors for activities such as tours, day trips, parks and recreation, golfing, concerts, and various other entertainment.  Check out area restaurants and places to shop, as well as gather some information about healthy living.  There will be FREE health screenings, eye exams, and wide arrange of other medical, dental, and personal services.  There will also be a plethora of information on financial planning, asset protection, real estate, and much, much more. 

If you are not already one of our beloved winter guests, we still have plenty of availability for this event.  Check out our units in Alabama or Perdido Key online, or call (888) 909-6807 to book your reservation.  You don’t want to miss this spectacular event!

Friday, January 21, 2011

ResortQuest Welcomes Vision Airlines to the Emerald Coast

ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is proud to welcome Vision Airlines to the Emerald Coast. Vision Airlines recently announced the expansion of its service to 17 new destinations from Northwest Florida Regional Airport. Vision Airlines will provide service from the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach airport to cities such as Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Little Rock and Atlanta. Low fare, non-stop service will provide the opportunity for customers to visit Florida’s Emerald Coast in a more timely fashion and allow for a longer stay. 

Lino Maldonado, Vice President of Operations for ResortQuest, said, “We are very excited about the potential Vision Airlines brings to the table. This area has been in need of a low-cost air carrier for a very long time. Additionally, it is my understanding that 5,800 seats per week will be delivered into our area as a result of Vision’s presence. This is not only an addition to the industry but a wonderful boost to the community.”
 
Vision Airlines is based in Suwannee, Georgia and is providing service from smaller cities to popular tourist destinations such as those along the Emerald Coast. Currently, rates as low as $49 each way are available through the carrier. Cities served by Vision Airlines include Asheville, NC, Atlanta, GA, Baton Rouge, LA, Birmingham, AL, Chattanooga, TN Columbia, SC, Destin, FL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Ft. Myers, FL, Greenville, SC, Gulfport, MS, Houston, TX, Huntsville, AL, Knoxville, TN, Little Rock, AR, Louisville, KY, Macon, GA, Miami, FL, Niagara Falls, NY, Orlando, FL, Savannah, GA, Shreveport, LA, St. Petersburg, FL
 
“ResortQuest and Vision Airlines make for the perfect guest experience. The non-stop service to the area will give vacationers an opportunity to get away to ResortQuest properties for an extended stay or even a weekend getaway. It’s a wonderful way to stretch the tourism dollars and the Northwest Florida experience,” Maldonado added.
 
ResortQuest offers vacation rental properties in the Northwest Florida area from Panama City Beach to the Gulf Shores, Alabama area. ResortQuest joined the Wyndham Exchange & Rentals program in 2010, to form the largest full-service vacation rental business in the world with a diverse portfolio of more than 85,000 vacation properties in over 100 countries.

Pensacola Double Bridge Run
February 5th

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida
 

Get ready for a fun run with some of the most amazing views in Northwest Florida.  Pensacola’s Double Bridge Run will take place on February 5th.  There are two events for the run: a 15K beginning at 7:00am and a 5K at 8:00am.  Join over 3,000 participants as you cross over the Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound.
 

The 15K will start downtown in front of Plaza de Luna (900 S. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL), deep in the historic district of Pensacola, at 7:00am.  The race route takes you north on Palafox Street, east on Garden Street, south on Alcaniz Street through downtown, then east on Bayfront Parkway, across Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, and a final turn to Bob Sikes Bridge taking you into Pensacola Beach.  The 9.3 mile USATF certified course does have a minimum pace requirement; you are required to keep within a 14-minute mile, which keeps a fierce competition.  A fresh addition to the 2011 run is that the 15K will have a corral start. There is a cap of 2,500 runners for this category.  The 5K run/walk begins in Gulf Breeze at the Gulf Breeze Schools (649 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL) onto Bob Sikes Bridge, entering Pensacola Beach.  There is a max of 1,200 runners and 300 walkers in this event.
 

In the 15K division, there are awards for the first three overall finishers for men and women: $1,250 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place.  There will also be awards for the top three masters, grand masters, and senior grand masters.  Prizes for the 5K go five deep to men and women in 0-39 or 40+ age divisions. 

You can register for the Double Bridge Run online at www.active.com until February 1st with a registration fee of $35.  If you miss this deadline, they are holding a Race Expo at the Pensacola Beach Hilton on February 3rd and 4th.  There will be no race-day registration, so be sure to register now!  If you are looking for accommodations for the event, check out our beautiful properties in Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach.           

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Treasure Chest Found Along Northwest Florida Gulf Coast

Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and gold have been found on Northwest Florida and Alabama’s gulf coast shore. Northwest Florida and Southeastern Alabama boast sapphire and emerald green waters, ruby red sunsets, sand as sparkling white as tiny diamonds, and golden opportunities for spectacular vacation accommodations. ResortQuest Vacation Rentals offers beach-front condominiums, villas, townhomes, patio homes and even private homes along the treasure-laden shore.
 

TOPS’L is one of the ResortQuest jewels.  Whether you’re on a quest for a top-rated tennis facility…or a top-shelf beach resort …or top-of-the-line views from spacious balconies ….there’s only one answer. TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort.  TOPS’L, managed by ResortQuest, offers a resort within a resort. Courtside villas, private townhomes and patio homes, and hi-rise condominiums that overlook the beach are nestled among 52-acres of beauty that has made Destin famous.
 

Also nearby are top-flight golf courses, incredible fishing, watersports, hiking and biking trails, dolphin watching, nature preserves, historic forts, museums, wave pools, amusement parks, all levels of dining, upscale and bargain shopping, and so much more.
 

For more information about ResortQuest on Florida and Alabama’s beautiful gulf shores, please visit www.resortquestnwfl.com or call 800-336-GULF (4853).

Monday, January 17, 2011

Bayou, Bay & Back 5K/10K Walk/Run
Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011


By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Gear up for the first Bayou, Bay & Back 5K/10K Walk/Run, taking place in the heart of Destin.  ResortQuest is proud to be the official Accommodations Sponsor!

Presented by the Destin Area Sports Commission, the race begins at Clement Taylor Park on Calhoun Avenue on January 29th at 8am, rain or shine.  The park sits on Choctawhatchee Bay, and the race route will take you along Choctawhatchee Bay along Calhoun Avenue, down to Beach Drive following Joe’s Bayou, through side streets to Benning Drive, and back to Calhoun Avenue for the 10K route.  For the 5K route, the turnaround point is Joe’s Bayou at Beach Drive.

There are categories for runners and walkers, male and female.  Awards will be given to both male and female First Place Overall and First Place Master, and First, Second, and Third in each age division. 

To register for the run/walk, you can complete the registration form prior to January 27th on http://www.active.com/running/destin-fl/destins-bayou-bay-and-back-5k10k-runwalk-sponsored-by-shoreline-2011?int=29-6, or by contacting the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce at (850) 837-6241.  Prior to January 28th, the race registration fee is $25, and the fee changes to $30 if you register the day of the race from 6:30-7:30am.  Complimentary race T-shirts will be guaranteed to the first 400 participants.

So come on out and join us for the first  Destin Bayou, Bay & Back 5K/10K Walk/Run!  Check out our website for great deals over the race weekend.  See you there!