Sunset over Okaloosa Island, Fall 2009 Photo by Valeria Lento

I lived in Miami Beach for more than half of my life and – with the exception of my college years spent in Gainesville (oh, go Gators!) and a three-month stint in New York City – I haven’t had much experience living elsewhere in the good ol’ U.S. of A. This is probably why I was so shocked (make that, very pleasantly surprised) at what I found upon my arrival to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast three months ago. You see, it seems the farther I’ve traveled North, the farther South I’ve come…and blessedly so!

I find that people along THE Beach smile more often (then again, why would you frown when the beach serves as the backdrop to your daily life?) and display a gracious Southern charm that has been truly refreshing for a jaded Big City Gal like me. While there’s certainly much to be said for Miami’s beaches and for all of their allure, there’s an incomparable appeal to the white sand and blue-green water strewn from Perdido Key to Carrabelle. I frankly never thought this little piece of paradise could exist hundreds of miles north from what I once believed to be the best beach in the world. The charismatic Southern drawls, unspoiled countryside, gentler pace and old-fashioned hospitality make Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast quite a hidden gem.

With Frommer’s recent ranking of this region as one of the top 12 destinations for 2010, it seems the secret is quickly getting out! Additionally, with Southwest Airlines beginning service to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in May 2010, people from all over the country will get to experience what life is like here at THE Beach. I have a feeling they’re going to fall in love with it!

I’m enjoying getting to know this region better and feel so blessed to be able to call it my new home. On my downtime, I like to explore different beach towns (all with their own unique yet equally stunning splendor!), take a walk along the oh-so-many nature trails and snap pictures with my phone during almost every single sunset. Whenever I get a chance, I serve myself a tall glass of Sweet Tea and dig into the fresh catch of the day. In those moments I am reminded why this beach is THE Beach and why it has been said that this way of life will forever change yours. It has certainly changed mine.

How long have you lived here? For how many years have you been visiting? What makes this beach THE Beach? I look forward to hearing from y’all.

Fireworks light up the skies over the Destin harbor - photo by Jon Ervin, Cottage Rental Agency

The sun has set on another Taste of THE Beach – Wine.Dine.Donate extravaganza. Hopefully you were able to go to at least one of the nearly dozen events across the region last weekend. Restaurants from Destin to Panama City were cooking up their specialties and serving them with outstanding wines poured by Southern Wine and Spirits. Yum.

Besides the delicious food and wine, perhaps the greatest take away was the warm and fuzzy feeling patrons got from knowing they helped children’s’ charities along the coast. Nearly a dozen charities benefitted from the fun the rest of us had during an evening of eating and tasting fine wines.

On Friday night, I was able to enjoy some great food, wine and friendship during the Taste of the Destin Harbor. Great gumbo, crab cakes, kabobs, fresh shrimp … the food just seemed to keep coming. The view overlooking the Destin harbor was breath taking, especially as the sun was setting over the Gulf of Mexico. As the skies darkened, the fireworks began along with the ooohs and aaaahs, a fitting end to a fabulous evening.

Sunday was the final day and included the charity auction. 30A TV was there and offered this video postcard. http://www.30atelevision.com. Check under News at THE Beach on our home page for coverage of the Taste of Bay by pcbdaily.com. Now we have a whole year to wait until next year’s Taste of THE Beach. Hum. Think I’ll go down to the seafood market. I need some shrimp.

Next weeked (October 24 & 25) Destin will show off her artistic side with the 14th annual Destin Festival of the Arts at Henderson Beach State Park. Over 100 fine artists from all over the country will display and sell their original artworks. Festival hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3.

With the weather this cool and inviting, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy a festival, a picnic, a hike in the woods or a long walk on the beach. Fall weather always makes me want to go into the kitchen and bake things like pumpkin bread. Actually a pot of chili sounds good.

I’m going to need that long walk.

From grape vines come great wines

Autumn is my favorite season – it always has been. When I lived up “Nawth” I loved the change of colors (although not the grey skies and chilling cold that followed them). Fall gets me in the baking mood, so I know that when September arrives, pumpkin bread will soon be coming out of my oven.

At THE Beach as well, fall means food.  Over the next couple of months, food festivals will reign supreme with local seafood taking the crown. Check out the many Northwest Florida Fall Food Festivals and create your own culinary travel adventure.

As a matter of fact, you can kick things off tonight at the Taste of THE Beach preview event, Vines to Wine. Between 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Baithouse Restaurant at Watercolor, more that 240 mines will be poured from the Taste of THE Beach wine judging. The Best of Show white and red winners will be announced and there will be lots of delicious food to sample. Tickets are $50, but don’t worry if you haven’t bought yours yet. You can buy them at the door.

For more information call 850-267-0683 or visit the Taste of THE Beach website. Bon appetit!

Speaking of that, the September/October issue of  Tallahassee Magazine just hit the newsstands with an article listing Tallahassee residents’ votes for “best of.” Here’s one of their picks.

Best Weekend Getaway  |  Destin
Sugar-fine sand. Azure waters and towering dunes. Toasting glorious sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico with a fine glass of wine. Plenty of good eating mixed with fun things to do and a wide variety of places to stay. All this waits just a short drive from Tallahassee along the pristine shores of Destin. For romance or family time, it doesn’t get better than this.
• Honorable Mention – St. George Island

It’s always great to be recognized. Thanks Tallahassee. Y’all come on down for the weekend. We’re here.

How has Summer 2009 treated everyone? From the looks of busy restaurants, crowded shopping centers, full hotels and crawling traffic on 98, it seems that this summer has treated everyone quite well! As children prepare to return to school and our visitors slowly head home, we find ourselves preparing for a fabulous Fall. Coastal Vision 3000 will be embracing the idea of a Culinary Fall at THE Beach. Between September and November, THE Beach will play host to six major seafood and food festivals. October is also National Seafood Month, so we’ll surely take advantage of that. Don’t forget about the Second Annual Taste of THE Beach event, slated for November 5-8. Join us for fantastic food, world-renowned wines, and breath-taking views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Smiles and Sunshine,

Molly

This post officially kicks off the CV3 Members Only Blog! We will be using this as a forum to communicate with our partners. While the main THE Beach blog is primarily filled with consumer-friendly posts, this blog will be just for YOU! Check the blog regularly for information about the behind-the-scenes happenings at THE Beach. Feel free to post comments, also. We love your input!

Smiles and Sunshine,

Molly