There’s more than beach on the Emerald Coast

• By CHAD HEBERT
• Advocate Marketing Staff
• Published: Apr 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Endless shopping, fancy dining and even beachfront weddings await visitors this spring and summer along Florida’s Emerald Coast.

Encompassed by the communities of Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island and Destin, the Emerald Coast features something for everyone, whether it be on or away from the beach.

“We’ve always got something new and exciting,” said Darrel C. Jones, president and CEO of the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

New venues are opening up throughout the area, as are some new restaurants. One familiar sight new to the coast is a Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a popular spot among Baton Rouge-area residents.

Speaking of which, Jones said the coast is a popular destination for Louisiana tourists. The number of Louisiana residents visiting has dropped since Hurricane Katrina but is gradually increasing.

A hot spot in the heart of Destin for shopping is the massive Destin Commons. Open since 2003, Destin Commons features more than 75 well-known retail and dining establishments.

And the massive lifestyle center is welcoming new tenants, Jones said. The newest expansion features additional shopping space and a new hotel.

Tourists ready to hit the links can take advantage of the 1,040 holes of golf spread throughout the Emerald Coast. Included in this is the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, an award-winning course that plays host to an annual PGA Champions Tour stop.

Also, Jones said, the area features museums and more than 300 special events each year.

Then there are the beaches – 24 miles of sugar-white, to be exact.

Aside from the typical pitch-your-umbrella, sunbathe and swim-in-the-Gulf trip to the beach, there’s always other water sports like fishing, boating and parasailing to take part in.

Want to get married on the beach? You can by taking a drive to the Emerald Coast.

Destin and Fort Walton Beach offer ideal locations for waterfront nuptials. In fact, the bureau offers a “Beach Wedding Guide” that features all the information needed to make this dream come true. To get the guide, call (850) 651-7647.