I was blessed to be raised mostly in and around Destin, Florida and each year our family tries to spend the Christmas Holidays there together. My grandparents moved to the area in the 1950's so I've seen Destin grow by leaps and bounds!
This year I went a week ahead of the rest of my family to be with my Mom as her health is not what it used to be and she lives in an assisted living facility. I wanted to give her a "girls" week before everyone else arrived. We were able to stay in the Emerald Grand for "our week" and enjoyed shopping and lunching with friends before the rest of the guys arrived at which point we moved to a golf villa in Sandestin for Christmas week.
The Emerald Grand balcony views from our 11th floor room included a slice of the gulf, Okaloosa Island- where my parents once had a beach home, and a view of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Every
view is a water view!
The sunsets are so beautiful and I made sure I enjoyed sitting out on the balcony everyday.
The resort is beautifully decorated in a coastal theme with lots of blues and neutral tones with pops of yellows for extra sunshine!
Fish art in the kitchen and
I loved the sunflowers in the master bath!
I love to take pictures before unpacking, don't you?
The lobby had a life-size Santa and a
beautifully decorated tree.
My Aunt Pat came down for a visit too!
My mom, brother and his family live along the Emerald Coast and we always get together to enjoy a good shrimp boil on Christmas Eve and then Prime Rib for Christmas Dinner.
It's always a fun and delicious time at the holidays!
A favorite family tradition is a trip to Joe Patti's in Pensacola...truly one of the best seafood markets in the country! Everyone picks out their favorite fish and we buy pounds of royal red shrimp to bring back for our seafood and shrimp feast. Emeril shops there too, so if you are in the area it's a must on your places to visit.
The beignets are to die for and can be found right outside the front door!
I was able to cook for all 14 of my family members in our rented "golf home" in Sandestin
...thank goodness for a well stocked kitchen! We always bring a few things from home like our huge shrimp pot and a Christmas tablecloth so I can pretty up the table!
Christmas day included a walk (note: dogs are not allowed on most beaches-so be sure to check first) along the beach enjoying the pristine white "sugar" beaches with the blue watercolors of the gulf.
The beach is just a nice stroll across the bridge from our rental that overlooked the golf course
and duck pond.
Our newly found "friends" made our trip even more fun as they quacked for their breakfast
and dinner each day.
The little ones in our family...
and yes even the grownups enjoyed
feeding the ducks.
Everyone enjoyed the golf courses, the beaches, museums, shopping, sightseeing, and wonderful restaurants. The heated pools and hot tubs without the crowds make winter a nice time to visit northern Florida!
We are back home in chilly Oklahoma now and celebrating the first day of 2014 watching the
Rose Parade.
We are already planning next year's trip...
family traditions are the best...
even Gigi and Belle had a good time!
Happy New Year!
