Destiny by the SeaDestin’s most prestigious Ocean Front community, Destiny By The Sea provides visitors with the security of a gated community, and the amenities of a five star resort. Home to some of the most luxurious and spacious homes on The Emerald Coast, Destiny By the Sea is perfect for visitors who are looking for larger homes, a central location and plenty of amenities. While many of the Destiny By The Sea Homes offer private pools and spas, the neighborhood also offers guest exclusive access to the tropically landscaped

FireworksWhile most visitors will take advantage of the beach this weekend, there are plenty of activities to help keep you busy and help you celebrate the end of summer with a bang- literally. Throughout the weekend, there a number of free concerts and fireworks displays to celebrate the unofficial end of the summer season. In Destin, HarborWalk Village refuses to believe summer is coming to an end, and kicks off its “Endless Summer Music Series” with a series of singer-songwriter focused free outdoor concerts all weekend long. On Sunday night,

Greek FlagGreece and The Greek Isles are a source of wanderlust for many locals and visitors. With the beautiful Mediterranean Sea as a back drop, its easy to see why those beaches are a fabulous tourist destination. While we might not be jet setting to Greece any time soon, the Emerald Coast’s active Greek Community is hosting the 22nd Annual Greek Festival. Sponsored by Saints Markella and Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church the festival will be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center over Labor Day weekend where there will be

South Walton Emeril’s FloridaEmerald Coast resident and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse has been seen in and around 30-A and South Walton filming his Cooking Channel Show, Emeril’s Florida. During season two, Emeril will feature nine South Walton restaurants as part of the series that highlights Florida restaurants, cooking events, and restaurant culture. This season, Emeril will visit some South Walton culinary staples, including Seaside’s “Airstream Row” featuring Raw and Juicy, Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs, Meltdown on 30-A, and Frost Bites. Also featured are some of South Walton’s newer and most

Crystal-BeachOne of Destin’s most charming neighborhoods, Crystal Beach is right in the heart of town. It is close to all of the best shopping and dining, and just a short walk to the city’s public beach access points. Across the street from both Destin Commons and Paradise Key Shopping Center, Crystal Beach residents and visitors can walk to multiple banks, the grocery store, Chan’s Wine World, and a number of shops. Nestled along the north side of Scenic 98, there are plenty of owned and operated restaurants lining the street.

Destin Kite FlyingLast weekend was dedicated to “go fast boats”, and this weekend celebrates a slower past time: kite flying, You can spend Saturday and Sunday, August 24th and 25th along the historic Destin Harbor during the 5th Annual Harbor Kite Festival. Sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites, this free, family friendly event celebrates the fun and whimsy of kite flying. The event will feature demonstrations by professional kite flyers, stunt kite demonstrations, kite-making lessons, as well as toys and games for all ages. Once the sun sets, you can enjoy

30a HousekeepingOne of the best parts about going on vacation is leaving all the mundane tasks at home. While staying at a luxury beach home offers many advantages over a renting a hotel room, daily cleaning and turn-down services are generally not included in the price of your rental. You may find yourself sweeping sand off your tile floors, rinsing toothpaste from the marble sinks, and making beds daily. Even if the beds are outfitted in high thread count sheets and luxurious linens, it’s still not a very “vacation like”

Emerald Coast Hurricane PreparationHurricane season officially runs from June 1st- October 31st, but The Emerald Coast is most likely to see tropical storm or hurricane activity in August and September.  As a reminder, it’s is our policy to honor all reservations unless the National Weather Service issues a mandatory evacuation order for the county where your rental property is located. This means a mandatory evacuation order must be given for Okaloosa or Walton County in order for you to receive a refund. Once the order is given, Five Star

Destin In Home MassageAn in-house massage is the perfect way to end to a day spent on the beach or the boat, and the concierge service provided by Five Star Beach Properties can book a private deep tissue or Swedish massage for you. This ultra-luxurious experience brings the serenity and relaxation of your favorite spa right into your luxury beach vacation rental. Luxury and relaxation go hand in hand, and an in-home massage is the perfect amenity for a romantic couple’s get away or a fun activity for a girl’s

Destin Pool Safetey Recently, a number of tragic drowning related accidents in pools have been in the news, prompting families to take a closer look at the safety and security of home swimming pools. Many of the luxury beach homes offered by Five Star Beach Properties have beautiful swimming pools. Our owners and maintenance staff work hard to ensure the pools comply with local safety ordinances and recommendations. You’ll find that most homes offer gated security around the pool, and many provide an alarm or sensor, to notify visitors that

The much loved Jim Carey film, The Truman Show, turned fifteen this year and Seaside is celebrating the occasion with a free showing of the film in the Amphitheater On August 16th. Bring your blankets and pack a picnic and enjoy the movie that literally put Seaside on the map. The film, which pumped millions of dollars into the local economy, was also the catalyst for the creation and building of the Seaside Neighborhood School. Opened in 1996, The Seaside Neighborhood School was one of the first charter schools in

Destin concertLabor Day is right around the corner, and with that comes the “unofficial” end of summer  and the beginning of the Emerald Coast’s spectacular fall season.  Last year, The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation launched its popular Thursday Night Concerts in the Village. For years, the Thursday Night Concerts in the Park were a Destin area staple. With the new venue, the Dugas Pavilion, these concerts were bigger and better than ever. For ten weeks during the summer, locals and visitors alike gathered to enjoy some of the