2010 Florida State HOG RallyOctober 20-23, 2010 - Destin/Ft. Walton Beach

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Hop on your Harley and get ready for the 2010 Florida State HOG Rally!  The rally begins Wednesday, October 20th and runs through Saturday, October 23rd at the Emerald Grande in Destin.  This is the host resort and location for all registration and on-site activities.  If you did not pre-register, the registration fee is $35 and must be completed at the Emerald Grande. ResortQuest is proud to be a sponsor of this revved-up event!

Bikers will enjoy eight self-guided rides and two guided rides during the rally.  Also, there will be not one, not two, but THREE Poker Runs!  The first two Poker Runs will be on Wednesday and Thursday, and will begin at Heritage Cycles Harley Davidson in Fort Walton Beach.  Ten members will each win $250, for a total payout of $2500!  The five stops are at McGuire’s Irish Pub, AJ’s, Hard Rock Café, Hog’s Breath, and the final stop at Helen Back Café.  On Friday there will be a walking Poker Run at the Destin Commons, also featuring a payout of $250 to ten winners.  The stops include Dave’s Dogs, Sunset Shoes, Bark Avenue, Bass Pro Shop and Belk.

Other events include the FREE pizza night at Helen Back Café on Thursday from 7-10 p.m.  There will be bike games on Friday, and Saturday will feature a bike show, more bike games, and the Parade of Flags.  Also down at the Emerald Grande, enjoy live music from Confederate Railroad on Friday night and The Guess Who on Saturday night, followed by a fireworks display at Harbor Walk Village to close the event. 

ResortQuest would like to welcome you to the beautiful Emerald Coast with a special H.O.G. Rally offer on stays of 2 nights or more between October 18 – October 25, 2010 at some of our most popular resorts near the main event site at Harborwalk Village. Visit http://www.resortquestnwfl.com/hog-rally/ for more details.

2010 Emerald Coast Fall Volleyball ClassicOkaloosa Island, October 6-10

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

The always exciting 2010 Emerald Coast Fall Volleyball Classic will be held October 6-10 at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island.  ResortQuest is proud to be the Founding Sponsor for this annual beach volleyball tournament.  There will be four different tournaments this year: Fudpucker 4 Player, Bring Your Own Partner, Best of the Beach, and Doubles Draw.  Divisions are shaping up, and more teams are welcome so register now!

This year, the raffle drawing will benefit Ranse Jones.  Jones is a well-known volleyball player from Florida who suffered a brain aneurysm at a tournament in Panama City this spring.  The grand prize for the raffle will be a 4-day vacation package from ResortQuest!

There are five different parties for players to enjoy:
10/6  –  Welcome Party at Howl at the Moon
10/7  –  Welcome Party at Fudpucker’s in Fort Walton Beach
10/8  –  Player’s Reception at Fudpucker’s in Destin
10/9  –  Player’s Party at The Swamp
10/10 –  Pool Party at Waterscape, managed by ResortQuest

Players can register for the Fudpucker 4 Player division now for $70 per player if their registration is postmarked before October 1st.  Afterwards it will be $75, including the day of the tournament.  Download a PDF registration form here.  Bring Your Own Partner, Best of the Beach and Doubles Draw can only be registered on-site the day of the tournament and is $20 per person.  For more information, call (850) 243-2555 or visit the website at www.emeraldcoastvolleyball.com.

If you are visiting the area during the tournament, save 20% off already low fall rates for stays of 3 nights or more with ResortQuest.  For full details about accommodations specials for the Emerald Coast Fall Classic, visit our website today!

Kid-Friendly Activities for the Younger Set, Part II - Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

In Part I, I told you about several hot spots in Gulf Shores that are welcoming to families with small children.  Gulf Shores is only one of many places along the Emerald Coast that are kid-friendly.  This week we’re going to head east to Destin and Fort Walton Beach to see what we can find there! 

• AJ’s Sea Blaster, 66 Harbor Blvd., Destin, FL – This is the Gulf’s largest speedboat, but don’t let that scare you away.  The 73’ boat offers an array of different dolphin cruises and adventures that you can enjoy at any speed.  Life jackets are provided upon request, and the best part – children 4 and under are FREE!  Kids of all ages will love this boating experience! For more information call (850) 654-6888 or visit www.seablasterdestin.com.

• Big Kahuna’s, 1007 Highway 98 E, Destin, FL – This amazing water park in downtown Destin features a kids-only play area featuring great slides such as the Pirahna, Blue Mamba, Tahiti Twister, and Hydro Max.  There are some areas where kids under 48” tall are required wear life jackets (you can grab these at the locker station).  Swim diapers are required for the younger kids.  Kids 2 and under are FREE! For more information call (850) 837-4061 or visit www.bigkahunas.com.

• The Gulfarium, 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway, Ft. Walton Beach, FL – Just over the bridge from Destin, on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, the Gulfarium offers a great experience with local sea life!  The kids will love the sea lion, dolphin, and other multi-species shows, and will be enthralled by the penguin and otter feedings.  All of the shows have covered seating, so you’ll have a great time, rain or shine!  Kids 2 and under are also FREE!  For more information call (850) 243-9046 or visit www.gulfarium.com.

Stay tuned for Part III for the final installment of Gulf Coast activities the whole family can enjoy!

ResortQuest of Fort Walton Beach Top Ten Restaurants

Located just 5 minutes from Destin, Fort Walton Beach offers some great dinning options. Options ranging from steak, seafood to Italian, there is a great variety to choose from. ResortQuest of Northwest Florida lists the top restaurants in Fort Walton Beach.

1. Ruth's Chris Steak House
2. Old Bay Steamer
3. Pandoras
4. Cafe Italia
5. Magnolia Grill
6. Fudpuckers
7. The Crab Trap
8. Pranzo
9. Big City Bistro
10. The Black Pearl

Condos For Kids: An Opportunity For Sharing Paradise

ResortQuest Northwest Florida has partnered with Condos for Kids to offer vacation home owners the chance to make a big difference for a child struggling with a life threatening illness.

Learn more about Condos for Kids and ResortQuest Homeowner participation. | digg story

This is a great story. The ResortQuest homeowners here in Northwest Florida have been very generous with their vacation rentals. ResortQuest of Northwest Florida offers vacation rentals along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Perdido Key, Navarre Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Beaches of South Walton and Panama City Beach.

Franklin County Making Splash Along THE Beach

A new marketing organization intent on selling coastal Northwest Florida as a single tourist attraction with unique communities, all tied together by the world's best beaches, has added Franklin County to the list of communities it represents. ResortQuest of Northwest Florida is proud to be a part of THE Beach with properties in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties.

read more | digg story

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

The ResortQuest Call Center is taking the initiative to become an eco-friendly business. Our goal is to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle all possible office materials as well as make eco-friendly choices when purchasing and disposing of supplies. ResortQuest has teamed up with Hurlburt Field, 16th Services Division, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to collect all recyclable paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, toner cartridges, cardboard, wood pallets, and out of date marketing materials on a weekly basis. Other materials such as used cell phones, rechargeable batteries, ink stamps, plastic bags and florescent lights are being recycled by various sources. A majority of the paper supplies purchased are made of at least 30% recycled materials and we’re in the process of switching to eco-friendly cleaning products and CFL lighting in our office.

ResortQuest employees are involved in the Reduce, Reuse & Recycle campaign too. We’ve asked employees to bring in reusable mugs for coffee to reduce the use of paper cups. Employees are making a conscience effort to place items in the recycle bins provided and reduce the amount of materials being used.