Okaloosa County Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is celebrating the 5th Annual Lionfish Removal & Awareness Festival on May 20-21 at the Destin Harbor. Lionfish are an invasive species that prey on native fish with no known predators due to their venomous spines. The Emerald Coast Open (ECO) tournament is a key component that helps mitigate the growing lionfish threat in the Gulf of Mexico. “We are fortunate to have a Coastal Resources Division in our community, focused on awareness and reducing the population of this invasive species,” said Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mel Ponder. FWB Life is looking forward to an exciting 2023 tournament! “The success of this annual event is undeniable,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “It not only helps to remove this invasive species, but it brings so many different local industries together within a family-friendly atmosphere that’s accessible to the public. This event grows each year and it could not happen without the hard work of the Coastal Resource Team within our Tourism Development Department.” The festival includes the Emerald Coast Open Tournament May 19-20. The tournament gives divers the opportunity to compete for prize money totaling nearly $100,000 in categories like most lionfish caught and largest and smallest lionfish. In 2019, ECO had 189 participants and removed 19,167 lionfish throughout the tournament – 14,119 in three days. ECO gave away $48,000 in cash prizes and more than $10,000 in gear prizes. Last year’s... Read More

  By Joe Capers With Summer around the corner, a lot of us locals (and our guests) will be out in our golf carts. You might even want to purchase one. Just remember, as there are different kinds of golf carts, which you’ll discover when you go to the dealership and start looking at them, there’s also different types of insurance coverage depending on your vehicle. Let’s shed some light on the differences, coverages and when you need what. To begin with, there are two main ‘uses’ for golf carts/LSVs. Either personal or business/commercial. When your golf cart or LSV is used by you and your direct family members only, that’s considered personal use. If you have a rental condo, for instance, and include a golf cart for your renter’s use, that makes it business/commercial. So, you’re wondering, what’s the big deal? Let’s start with personal use and the two types – golf carts and LSVs. Golf carts are usually electric and have a maximum speed of about 15 mph and are designed to be used on your property or within the community your home is located, and back and forth to the golf course. They aren’t tagged or registered for driving on the street like your car. Some home or condo policies might include minimal golf cart coverage with an endorsement, but this won’t give you everything you need and is not recommended. A separate golf cart policy would give you the best coverage. Next, there are LSVs, or... Read More

  City Food Hall Destin is now officially open at Destin Commons. Showcasing emerging and established local chefs from more than 10 specialty restaurant concepts, City Food Hall is a 14,000-square-foot gathering place offering international cuisine, craft beer and cocktails, state-of-the-art entertainment, and more. Located next to Foot Locker near Uncle Buck’s, City Food Hall will become Destin’s top culinary and nightlife destination. Locals and visitors can enjoy an expansive 32 seat indoor bar, HDTVs, plenty of seating, and two state-of-the-art Topgolf Swing Suites with multi-sport games and Full Swing golf simulator technology. The 10 restaurant concepts within Destin City Food Hall features unique cuisine from around the world including: PB&J Bakery and Café, with bold, unique dishes and nostalgic classics created by husband and wife duo Phillip & Jess Bauer; Nanbu Too, owned and operated by Chef Nikhil Abuvala. Nanbu (translated to “southern” in Japanese) offers Japanese cuisine with Southern Flair; Tuk Tuk Thai, bringing authentic Thai street food to Destin with ambitious dishes, bold flavors, mixed with hand-blended seasonings showcased by a military veteran-owned team; Birdie’s Nourished Kitchen by Chef Katie Dixon, offering a range of power foods from acai bowls and salads to healthy takes on traditional, southern fare; Macho Taco, Mexican inspired soul food that is simple, yet elegant, rustic, yet refined, creative, yet controlled; Poke Loa, A New Orleans-based restaurant that was the first poke restaurant in Louisiana. Poke Loa’s fish is delivered fresh daily, and fish, toppings, and vegetables are chopped and prepared in-house;... Read More

  The Seaside School, Inc. Launches Multi-Million Dollar Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project with Northwest Florida State College The Seaside School, Inc., Florida’s oldest continuously operated public charter school and #1 combination public charter school in the state of Florida, announced today the launch of the Seacoast Collegiate High School (SCHS) Expansion Project in partnership with Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC). This multi-million-dollar expansion project will further expand the partnership between SCHS and NWFSC by providing a permanent home for SCHS at the South Walton Campus of NWFSC as well as developing a high school dual enrollment center for all students in Walton County. In addition, the new facility will include “The Accelerator” which will offer training, mentoring, and collaboration to new area businesses and entrepreneurs. “Walton County and the surrounding areas are currently experiencing rapid growth,” said Patrick McCarthy, Seaside School Foundation President. “We believe investing in the people of our community is needed and necessary now more than ever. By expanding this partnership between two historically successful institutions, we will make Walton County an even better place to live and thrive.” Currently, ninth and tenth grades at SCHS operate in five classrooms that are leased from NWFSC at the South Walton Campus. Students in eleventh and twelfth grades attend classes on the Niceville Campus of NWFSC. With this expansion project, The Seaside School, Inc. will be able to consolidate all high school students at the NWFSC South Walton Campus as well as expand the collegiate programs to... Read More

  Pickle’s, located at 2236 East County Hwy. 30A, is celebrating three decades in business at their original Seaside Central Square location. Founded in 1993 by Bill and Heavenly Dawson, of The Dawson Group, Pickle’s began with only 48 square feet and a limited menu consisting of hotdogs, beer, and pickles. The locally owned and operated eatery quickly became famous for their burgers and hand-spun milkshakes. Throughout the years, Pickle’s has become an unofficial landmark in the Seaside community and is one of the few establishments that has remained in the same location along Seaside Square. In 2023, 30A’s® Hot Spot Awards named Pickle’s the Hottest Spot for Burgers. After 32 years in business, the Dawsons sold their company consisting of the five notable Seaside restaurants, including Dawson’s Yogurt, It’s Heavenly Shortcakes and Ice Cream, Pickle’s, The Shrimp Shack, and Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs, to Clark and Ashley Beecher of Houston, Texas. Since the acquisition, the Beechers along with their local operating partners Baron and Courtney Fields, have remained true to the roots of The Dawson Group while also incorporating innovative systems, additional menu items, modern concepts, and merchandise to each of the restaurants, including Pickle’s. They have developed a new brand identity for Pickle’s that remains true to its history yet shines a new light on the retro diner that appeals to a younger audience as well as their long-time customers. “As Texans, there were a lot of special dishes that we loved and wanted to bring to 30A,”... Read More

  Jazz on the Lawn @ Seaside Amphitheater May 6Enjoy an afternoon of LIVE jazz in the Seaside Amphitheater on Saturday, May 6th from 1 – 7PM. Jazz on the Lawn features a full lineup on jazz musicians ready to entertain the whole family. Bring a chair or blanket, snacks and drinks, and enjoy the show. Free and open to all ages. Jazz on the Lawn artists include: La’Roy Bodiford, Ramblin’ Roses, Dharma Beats, Kenny Cohen, Kayonne Riley’s Implications, Michael Levine Band. Seaside Amphitheater, 25 Central Square, Seaside. Casey Kearney Band @ Red Fish Taco Tuesdays, May 9, 16, 23, 30Rock out to live music featuring Casey Kearney Band every Tuesday in the Garden Room at Red Fish Taco from 6 – 9PM. Red Fish Taco, 2052 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. Carlile’s Mothership Weekend May 12-14Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida May 12 -14. Brandi Carlile invites you and yours to celebrate Mother’s Day in a whole new way – with a 3-day music vacation in Miramar Beach, Fl. Enjoy curated activities, unforgettable adventures, and plenty of relaxing beach time during the day before you cozy up together in your reserved Cove each night for a musical journey under the stars. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit mothership.topeka.live.Artists Include: Brandi Carlile, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Danielle Ponder, Hozier, Mavis Staples, The Milk Carton Kids, Katie Pruitt, Bonnie Raitt, and Fancy Hagood.Seascape Resort, 556 Seascape Drive, Miramar... Read More