Soggy Weekend Shopping

Rainy weekends are not generally in the pre-vacation planning agenda for any traveling family or couple; but they do happen and shopping is a great way to make the best of a day not suited for the beach!

Grand Boulevard is the newest addition to Destin Shopping experiences and is located in the prestigious Beaches of South Walton, due east of Sandestin. Grand Boulevard provides an upscale retail atmosphere without abandoning the relaxed luxury that makes our area a famous beach excursion destination.

Anchored by nine fabulous Destin restaurants:

• Having an urge to dine on a fabulous steak? Looking for a fine dining experience? Try Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Winebar. Discover 100 wines by the glass and the finest prime steak in a gracious, lively and elegant atmosphere. 850-269-0830 Reservations recommended but not required. Open 4:30PM daily.




• Guacamole connoisseur? You can't miss this fresh treat, prepared right at your table while dining at Cantina Laredo Gourmet Mexican Food Restaurant. Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticate, yet casual atmosphere. Margaritas are strong, but unbelievably smooth. More than two and you should walk home - they are tasty! 850-654-5649 Reservations not accepted. Open 11AM daily. Great brunch on Sundays too!
  

• P.F. Chang's cuisine is reflective of China's evolving culinary landscape. The menu features traditional Chinese offerings and innovative dishes that illustrate the emerging influence of Southeast Asia on modern Chinese cuisine. The Mongolian beef is addictive, the Won ton soup is light and refreshing - all meals are served family style, so make sure everyone orders little bit of everything. 850-269-1806 Reservations accepted but not required. Open 11AM daily

• Mitchell's Fish Market offers more than 80 items; the menus are printed twice daily to feature the freshest seafood available. The diverse offerings are sure to appeal to a wide variety of diners. The grape crush is a fabulous mixed drink, similar to mojito but made with freezing cold grapes - reminds me of a ice wine! I've tried several items, but I highly recommend taking a leap of faith and going with whatever is the daily special - I've never gone wrong. 850-650-2484 Reservations accepted but not required. Open 11AM daily.




• Tommy Bahama's Tropical Café serves up sumptuous and tropical inspired menu items with delectable entrees, snacks, desserts and island cocktails. The food is truly amazing from appetizers and soup to your entree, nothing on the menu has ever been disappointing. The martinis are memorable. 850-654-1743 Reservations accepted but not required. Open 11AM daily.
  

The four other restaurants offer quick meal options for those who do not want to interrupt their shopping groove! Johnny Rockets with fabulous burgers, hotdogs and milkshakes; Starbucks for a java stop; Moe's Southwest Grill for fabulous Tex-Mex treats and Quiznos Subs for a sandwich on the go without sacrificing fresh ingredients and premium meats.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, you'll find Grand Park. Grand Park is the designated green space for the downtown area which is also called the town center. The park offers a lovely space for sitting, people-watching, waiting, or enjoying a live performance. It includes a specially-designed water fountain, lush landscaping and lighting and places to sit and enjoy the view. Grand Park is also a great area for kids to play while waiting for dinner reservations.

So when the skies open up and the rain starts falling, turn off the TV. You're on vacation, CNN can wait. Grab the family and friends and head for Grand Boulevard.

Home on the Harbor

Sunday afternoon is my favorite time to sneak into AJ's for a few drinks and a snack (or two!). Fine weather, a cool breeze off the Gulf and a perfect view of the Destin Charter Fishing Fleet - AJ's offers an unbeatable atmosphere, delectable treats and strong cocktails. This is a t-shirt and jeans, shorts and tank top, or well - whatever floats your boat kind of atmosphere. There's no judging at AJ's, especially past 10pm! During the day it is a family affair, children welcome upstairs and down; while the evenings are lively with music, local bands and plenty of drinking and dancing.

Southern hospitality is alive and well at AJ's, patrons are not shy and will share a story, cocktail or a dance! Every Sunday, AJ's prepares a fresh crawfish boil in addition to their diverse menu of seafood and appetizers. Scrumptious treats, crawfish lovers will endulge in this spicy concoction of crawdads, red potatoes and sweet corn on the cob!

The view during the afternoon usually consists of watching the fisherman unload their catch and prepare the fish for commercial use. Crowds gather around the docks to watch the local tradition unfold. Destin has the largest charter fishing fleet in the State of Florida and is known as the "Worlds Luckiest Fishing Village!". A complete listing of available Captains and boats for daily and trip rentals can be found at http://www.hookedondestin.com/.

Without a doubt, the Destin Harbor and AJ's is the one spot on your vacation that will send you home with plenty of tales to tell!