Southern Breeze 2008 Spring Issue

F lay your head Destin has a plethora of places of stay, whether you’re looking for the quiet repose of a bed and breakfast or the immaculate luxuries of a waterfront palace. HENDERSON PARK INN The Emerald Coast’s most exquisite bed and breakfast inn is the perfect place to get in some well deserved relaxation. With sweeping Gulf views from private terraces and rustic furnishings, it’s the ideal place to call home for your stay. www.hendersonparkinn.com INN ON DESTIN HARBOR The views from your room will be enough to keep you coming back. This boutique waterfront hotel boasts a secluded harbor beach and private balconies, as well as direct access to Historic Destin Harbor. www.innondestinharbor.com COMPASS RESORTS Sometimes your vacation calls for a bit more opulence. Compass Resorts can help in that regard, with Gulfside manors in exclusive communities dotted along the Emerald Coast. www.compass-resorts.com or appetizers, Beth and I have Spicy Fried Oysters, the Tangy Honey Glazed Shrimp, and the delightful Tuna Tartare Tower, which is pretty much just what it sounds like, a tower of ahi-grade tuna, Gulf shrimp, avocado, and tomato. For entrees, we have the fresh Atlantic salmon, a very mild fish that is cooked on cedar planks to help it retain a smoky flavor. We also have the Grilled Beef Tenderloin, which is served with blue macaroni and cheese, something that is unexpected and intriguing. Both entrees are delicious, and Beth declares the tenderloin as the “best steak I’ve ever had.” “We like to make dining here an experience,” Ernie says. But you don’t go on vacation just to eat. There’s still much to do, so I head to The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin. Baytowne Wharf is the epitome of mixed-use space, a conglomeration of dining, shopping, and nightlife. “The big message that we want to get out is that we are open to the public,” says Baytowne Commercial Property Manager Faye Fontenot, referring to the fact that the village is located in a gated community of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort with a security guard at the entrance. “Sometimes people look at that gate and turn around.” What some people may be missing out on is a village that is at once quaint and exciting. The Eldon Beck-designed area resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter. It houses shops that are almost exclusively independently owned in order to keep the local flavor. There are shoe stores and clothiers and art galleries, and there’s even a store where you can buy something for your pampered pooch. Delectable Destin offerings include the Tuna Tartare Tower from Cuvee Beach Restaurant (above). Enjoy numerous one-of-a-kind eateries like the Graffiti Restaurant/Funky Blues Shack in the Village of Baytowne Wharf (below). 40 s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m http://www.hendersonparkinn.com http://www.innondestinharbor.com http://www.compass-resorts.com http://southernbreeze.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2008 Spring Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Seen & Heard Coastal Calendar Storefronts - Keepin' it Reel Sweet Dreams - Grand Hotel Art of Living - Marking Time Fixtures - A Fitting End Our Backyard - Reasonable Drought Make Yourself at Home - Light up Your Life The Southern Breeze Hot List Unexpected Destin-ation Visual Zydeco We're an American Band The Good Life From Halter Tops to Maternity Tops Reader Services Cheers - Lazy Libations Dish - Mississippi Yearning Chef's Table - Welcome to The Doll House Let's Eat - Sunrise Sensations Last Bite

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