The Emerald Breeze condominium at East Pass Towers I is known for its many amenities plus added features.

Perhaps none is more striking than the Giant Blue Marlin which hangs in the middle of the building lobby right outside the Emerald Breeze’s front door. The Giant Marlin was a prized catch of the building’s original developer a man by the name of John Carner.

The Marlin took 1st place in a tournament in Cabo San Lucas in the mid 1980’s and has been hanging on that wall ever since making it the most unique centerpiece of any building in Destin. The fish was caught off of Mr. Carner’s boat named “Carpe Diem”. The captain, Trowbridge Sebree, was a personal friend of mine who I fished with many times along Destin’s Emerald Coast. Trowbridge’s father had the distinction of developing the 2nd property on Holiday Isle when the Isle was just a sand bar.

Trowbridge was quite the character and an innovative fisherman whether bottom fishing for Destin’s renowned Red Snapper or Grouper.

His legacy was sealed with the Giant Blue Marlin that hangs at East Pass Towers I. Visitors from all over comment on the fish, ask questions, and take pictures home as a token of their visit to East Pass Towers I.

And The Emerald Breeze has a view straight from the helm of the Captains chair. ⚓️⛵️

If you are interested in knowing more about the backstory you can visit my website https://flickerinthewater.com

Bob Gonzalez Jr. is a local author and has been living in Destin since the early nineties. To learn more about Bob and find more information on his book, A Flicker in the Water, and his local fishing adventures, we invite you to visit his website, flickerinthewater.com.

Snow? Yes. In Destin? Yes!! Known for warm, balmy emerald breezes, Mother Nature decided to throw the emerald coast a curve ball on January 21, 2025. Transforming the white sandy beaches into a snow covered winter wonderland, the snow event shattered snowfall records including the 130 year record set in February, 1895. Schools closed and the town came to a halt as residents enjoyed their time off building snowmen, drinking hot cocoa by their fireplaces, and enjoying the rare event. Being “snowed in” definitely has its perks!

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When I first came to Destin in 1993, I felt like Christopher Columbus must have felt discovering the new world. I was traveling along Highway 98 heading over the Destin Bridge from East to West. The clear blue February sky reflecting the sun’s rays off the white sugary sand. And the Gulf’s crystal clear emerald green waters. Shimmering on each swell. Gave me a felling of being transported back in time.

Leaving an impression on me as alive today as it was when it happened. At that time, traffic was sparse and the only Snowbirds were the seagulls who had the world’s most beautiful beaches all to themselves. Most restaurants and other businesses were closed for the winter. The only activity you might see was a commercial fishing boat bringing in a days or even weeks catch. You see Destin has always been referred to as “The World’s luckiest fishing village”.

Fast forward to today and the unspoiled natural beauty of the area remains as tranquil and vibrant as ever. Only nowadays, Destin has a lot more to offer visitors all year around. The fishing remains as good as always, the Golf courses with their lush greens are open all year as are the restaurants. The harbor provides plenty of entertainment, as boats, some for sightseeing others for fishing or sailing, come & go all day long.

Today being a Snowbird in Destin means enjoying comfortable temperatures, beautiful sunsets, and having the normally occupied beaches during summer all to yourself. Whether you want to have a picnic on the beach, or just relax breathing in the salty air from the Gulf. The Emerald Breeze condominium gives visitors a front row seat to all the action with all the modern amenities to match. Something Christopher Columbus I’m sure would have enjoyed.

Bob Gonzalez Jr. is a local author and has been living in Destin since the early nineties. To learn more about Bob and find more information on his book, A Flicker in the Water, and his local fishing adventures, we invite you to visit his website, flickerinthewater.com.

The Destin Harbor Lighted Christmas Boat Parade is an annual holiday tradition that takes place in early December on Destin Harbor.

This post will cover information about the 2025 event and the best viewing spots to see the boat parade and fireworks.

Participating boats will include area tour boats, dolphin cruise boats, fishing charter boats, and private boats. At the end of this post I will also recommend a few options for a boat cruise if you want to be in the parade.

Destin Lighted Boat Parade Date and Time

The 2025 Destin Boat Parade will take place on Sunday, December 14th starting at 6pm. Fireworks will immediately follow the parade.

Lighted Boat Parade Route

The Destin Boat Parade participating boats will make their way from the east side of the harbor (near Boshamps restaurant) to the west side (Harborwalk Village/Emerald Grande) ending near the Destin Bridge and East Pass area.

Here is a map of the approximate parade route to give you a visual idea of the best viewing spots:

Best Viewing Spots for the Destin Boat Parade

Viewing spot options for the Destin Boat Parade include Harborwalk Village Restaurants, the docks of Harborwalk Boardwalk and Marina, the Destin Bridge, and the beaches of Norriego Point. This section will explain each of those in more detail.

1. Destin Harborwalk and Boardwalk Docks

Most people who go to watch the parade will just grab a spot on the docks either at Harborwalk Village or further down on the Destin Boardwalk. You can stand along any of the Destin Boardwalk or Harborwalk docks for a good view.

The areas at Harborwalk in front of Emerald Grande will have the closest view because the boats come close to the docks in that section but any place where you have an unobstructed view of Destin Harbor will be good.

2. The Destin Marler Bridge

The Destin bridge is also a good option if you want an elevated view and don’t mind walking a bit. From the bridge you will see the boats come towards you before they turn to go closer to the fireworks boat.

It’s a neat angle where you can really see them all decorated and parading along and most of them will see you if you wave.

To watch from the Destin Bridge, park at Harborwalk Village and walk up the sidewalk from there. The harbor side of the bridge has a pedestrian walkway with a divider separating you from the traffic.

Harborwalk charges $10 for parking in the busy season but normally they do not charge for parking in mid-December so it should be free to park for the Christmas boat parade.

Be sure to enjoy dinner and drinks at Harborwalk before or after your bridge wander to make your parking there technically legal. 

3. Restaurants with a Boat Parade View

Many waterfront restaurants on Destin Harbor will have a nice view of the parade if you have a table with a view of the harbor.

Restaurant choices with a nice view of the boats include Tailfins from the 2nd and 3rd floor, AJ’s Seafood from the upstairs area, Margaritaville from 2nd floor dining and the 3rd floor Landshark Landing bar, The Boathouse (limited space so secure your outdoor spot early), and both levels of Harry T’s.

The photo below is of a boat passing Margaritaville which will be about as close as you can get to the action. 

Destin Harbor’s newest restaurants that will have amazing views include East Pass Oyster House and I think the elevated Edge Sky Bar–which opened in May of 2022 next to the Boathouse–should also have a nice view.

Boshamps and Marina Cafe will also have a view of the Boat Parade but it will be more from a distance as they are set back from the parade route more.

That side of the harbor is a good choice if you want to skip some of the crowds and there is a dock between Marina Cafe and Boshamps that you can usually walk out on to get a closer view of the parade.

In 2023 I shot from the Edge Seafood and Oyster house where they had the upstairs closed off to offer a private ticketed event for the parade viewing. It was a great spot!

4. Norriego Point Public Beach

I have watched the boat parade from Norriego Point (where some of these photos were taken) but I can only recommend it with caution.

The boats come very close to the shore there so it’s a nice view except you are on the backside of the parade so they will be waving at the people on the Harborwalk side of the harbor.

Still, it’s a great spot if you want to chill on the beach and don’t mind the walk through the sand to get to the side of Norriego Point that is facing Harborwalk. You will definitely see the boats up close from there.

There is currently construction going on at Norriego Point, so it looks like it’s gated off when you get there but there is a path to the left of the fences that will lead you out there. Be prepared for a lot of sand walking going this route, because you have to cross to the other side facing Harborwalk once you get out there.

5. Christmas Boat Parade Cruise

Another fun way to enjoy the boat parade and have the best view is to be in it. Several of the boat excursions offer a boat parade and fireworks cruise that night but be sure to book ahead.

Cruisin’ Tikis Destin, Buccaneer Pirate Ship, Southern Star Dolphin Cruise, Boogies Dolphin Cruise and Destin Snorkel are a few of the companies who offer a boat parade cruise. 

Destin Lighted Boat Parade Fireworks

Once all the boats pass Harborwalk Village and Norriego Point, the fireworks will go off celebrating the end of the parade.

There is no set time planned for the fireworks since they go off immediately after the parade but in past years they went off at approximately 7:30pm so expect them around that time. They go off much earlier than the summer shows.

The fireworks view from the Destin bridge is one of the best as seen in the photo above. Norriego Point is also a great spot for the fireworks except you will want to run around to the other side for the best view once the final boats start approaching.

If you watch from the bridge, be sure to bring a jacket. It can get pretty windy up there–especially in December.

There are a lot of great spots to watch the Destin Harbor fireworks. For more detail on that, check out this post I wrote:

This article is copied from Sara’s site….

http://thegoodlifedestin.com, we encourage you to visit her site and sign up for her wonderful blog posts !

Christmas in Destin: Ultimate Guide to the Holiday Season

Whether it be a traditional Thanksgiving day shared with family, or a holiday spent amongst friends, we have much to be thankful for. Sharing special moments with loved ones defines it all. Why do I love spending Thanksgiving on Holiday Isle? It’s a quieter time of year for sure, and that is part of its charm. You won’t see quite as many boats sailing in and out of the harbor as you would in the summer. Highway 98 won’t be nearly as full of cars, but what you will enjoy is the crisp, clean sea air as it sweeps along the sandy beaches. You’ll love the power walks or sometimes leisurely strolls taken along Gulfshore Drive. I love sweatshirt weather and will always cherish these special memories.

If you’re visiting from a northern state you may enjoy the more moderate 60-70 degree weather. I remember as a teenager visiting Florida from Pennsylvania in the fall and winter and identifying other northerners because we’d be the only ones at the beach!! Too cold for the natives! Now that I live in south Florida, I still love the welcome change of the cooler air in North Florida. South Florida stays pretty warm all year round. So wherever you’re visiting from, I want to wish you a very special and memorable Thanksgiving in Destin. Especially Holiday Isle. So sit back, relax, and enjoy all that Destin has to offer. Enjoy a Thanksgiving holiday filled with the warmth of shared moments amongst family and friends, the joy of laughter, and a deep sense of gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

What brings you to the Emerald Coast? For me, it’s always been about the beautiful beaches! The peace and tranquility found there on warm sunny days defines your holiday retreat. Growing up in northeast Pennsylvania, beach vacations were always a special time. Even as a child, I remember loving the family retreats that would take us south to one of Florida’s many beaches, but we never found one quite as special as the Destin beaches. The soft, powdery sand and crystal clear water rivals the worlds most stunning shorelines. Because it is composed almost entirely of finely ground quartz crystals, the Destin sand is a breathtakingly beautiful brilliant white. It’s smooth, rounded grains contribute to the “squeak” sound the sand makes when you walk on it. Be sure to listen for the “squeak” beneath your flip flops as you step outside the Emerald Breeze condo and onto Norriego Point Beach Park, just outside the front door. With your sunscreen and beach chair in tow, you’re ready to enjoy Destin’s clear water and brilliant sand. Remember to grab your favorite beverage, and sunglasses too, and enjoy a beautiful beach day!

One of my favorite places to go when I am in Destin, is Crab Island.  Whether it is taking a tiki-hut or another one of the wonderful charter boats, there is no place as unique.

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Why I spend my evenings in the jacuzzi …

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