Breakfast in Destin & Beaches of South Walton

Waking up to the crisp Gulf breeze is relaxing but finding the right place to start your day with delectable breakfast treats will ensure that you don't soak up the sun without a full belly. Destin and the Beaches of South Walton have ample choices for morning meals, but my favorite by far is grabbing an old fashioned fisherman's breakfast at Harbor Docks in Destin. Located directly on the water, Harbor Docks allows old time favorite, Silver Shells restaurant to utilize the establishment since it's building was demolished in the name of progress years ago.

Patrons can choose to sit indoors or out, (I always choose out!). Grab a bench and a friendly local waitress will hand you a one page menu that has very reasonably priced offerings ranging from eggs and bacon to omelets and french toast. Famous for their Tennessee ham and cheese grits, everything on the menu is sure to please. Coffee is fabulous and the view is priceless. Unobstructed view of the harbor with boats of all shapes and sizes nestled throughout the nearby piers. Muted chatter from benches nearby are undetectable as the sound of the water and frequent visiting birds echo throughout the outdoor seating section. Portions of the deck are covered for those wishing to avoid direct sunlight, but even inside is a delightful experience with rare photographs of famous patrons and Destin's landscape before being developed. The atmosphere is very casual and the waitresses are unique.

Jode is a landmark waitress with a charming smile and southern hospitality attitude; although on a busy day she has been known to tell you to get your own coffee! The entire staff is welcoming and eager to please. Breakfast at Harbor Docks is not to be missed on your vacation!

Other local eateries that have great breakfast choices are:

• The Donut Hole: Two locations, one in downtown Destin and the other in Santa Rosa Beach in the Beaches of South Walton. Fabulous homemade food, but be prepared to pay in cash. No credit cards are excepted and the prices are on the higher side.


• Another Broken Egg: Second favorite breakfast spot with locations in Destin and Baytown in Sandestin Resort. Fabulous food and would have been my favorite except is doesn't have the view like Harbor Docks and is a little more expensive. Don't miss the Eggs Benedict!


• Cabana Cafe: Great location inside Seascape Resort that has a convenient breakfast buffet with incredible bacon, eggs and other offerings. The Sunday Brunch menu has fancier treats and the prices are very reasonable.


• Whales Tail Beach Bar & Grill: Beachside location with great breakfast and perfect after late-night bloody mary's!

Of course, Destin has it's spattering of traditional breakfast locations like IHOP and Waffle House, but I highly recommend that you try one of the restaurants stated above for your first meal of the day.

The Real Value of a Vacation

Okay, so this band is not yet prime time, but just like the book I'm going to tell you about - I highly recommend downloading some tunes for the road and they are a great place to start. Besides, the lyrics in their music are a good theme to this blog. Check them out at http://www.boyceavenue.com/

I intend to utilize this blog to not only educate potential Destin tourists on the Destin Experience, but I hope you wont mind if I also use it to let you know that while you might be lured to our beautiful destination by our beaches - we have something much more timeless to share with you.

I pride myself on my time management skills; I always accomplish an incredibly high volume of work in a short period of time, but it has come to my attention that I might be spending my time effeciently but not meaningfully. My boss reads this blog so bear with me here - I'm not talking about work tasks, I'm talking about life tasks.

I would imagine that the majority of you that find this blog like to read in general, so I urge you to pick up a copy of Randy Pausch's book, The Last Lecture. I'm only half way through, but I know that there is not one person who would not benefit from having it in their library. This book would be a perfect book on tape to burn to a CD before you hit the road down to Destin. The entire family should hear it. When I was a little girl my mother made sure that I read, Louisa May Alcott's book, "Little Women". I assure you that I will spend the next few weeks reading The Last Lecture to my family.

Destin has luxurious sugar-white beaches, and you might remark to your friends and colleagues about the amazing sunset, but I promise you it is the stories that you go home with that will last a lifetime. Life can be absolutely overwhelming with bills, children, educations, retirement looming, and lately - the gasoline prices! Let it all go, even if it is just for a few days, make sure you go home with stories. Vivid memories of your child on go karts for the first time, the look of terror as your child goes down a slide at Big Kahunas for the first time, the way the birds stole your ketchup packet at Whales Tail when you were eating some scrumptious tuna dip (they really do that by the way!). Play cards with the family and drink a bottle of wine or two, go to Walmart and pick out a game you have never played (I highly recommend every group of friends try Catch Phrase). Spend a few dollars on a professional photographer, dress up the friends and family in matching outfits and head to the beach - it will be a great mantle piece to come home to after those long nights at the office.

When I look back on my life thus far, it is marked by moments with friends and loved ones, not bills, due dates or task lists. And when you get here, turn off your cell phone and keep the laptop packed up - seriously, those things can wait.

Gasoline Crunch - Research your Route

Contemplating the ride over the Mid-Bay Bridge on my bicycle has crossed my mind more than a few times lately. Unfortunately, my life insurance policy is just not adequate enough for me to actually partake on the endeavor of cycling to work each morning. To be honest, the gasoline hike is painful, but it has not changed our way of life drastically. Going out to dinner is a luxury, the morning latte is a seldom treat, but planning our annual vacation has not been curbed just yet.

We often shop around for the best deal on our accomodations, but adding a few vacation planning tips and tricks to your agenda will help you maximize your vacation dollar. First of all, most of you probably have a GPS in your vehicle or on your phone. Note to self, they are not always right! In fact, mine is a bonafide smart ass and can say, "please make a legal u-turn" in multiple languages when in fact it should have been programmed to say, "just kidding". Really research your route!

From the north we highly recommend that you take I-65 but avoid Highway 331 from Montgomery. Although previously my route of choice for years, I've recently discovered that following 65 a little further south to Andalusia and then following Highway 55 to Highway 85 into Florida will chop off almost an hour of your drive or about 3 gallons of gas!

Fill up before you reach Florida. It's not fair for us folk that live here day in and day out, but gasoline in Alabama is significantly less expensive, sometimes twenty cents a gallon cheaper. If you forget to pump before you park, then take a short stroll to Fort Walton Beach, you'll save a buck or two that way as well.

Regardless of the gas prices - realize that you work all year long for this vacation. Just enjoy it.