The downtown portion of this tour includes an overview of the early days of St. Petersburg, takes in a small portion ot the waterfront after which the tour ambles past an eclectic collection of historic and threatened buildings along 4th Avenue Northeast, including the Flori de Leon Apartments where Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig resided during their spring training visits.  The tour leaves downtown by hopping onto a westward ho bound looper trolley for a 10 minute ride out Central Avenue to Historic Kenwood, a neighborhood that has received national recognition for its efforts at restoring its many bungalow homes.  In Historic Kenwood, the walking tour resumes with a pleasant stroll among the various styled bungalow homes.  Each Kenwood tour includes a special inside tour of a restored home.  The tour ends at the Craftsman House Gallery, the original model home for Kenwood.  Fully restored, the Gallery is home to a magnificent collection of American crafts that are available for purchase.  We encourage you to stay for lunch at the Gallery’s cafe before returning downtown on another looper trolley.  The Looper trolley stops across the street from the Craftsman House every 15 minutes for the return trip downtown.

All walking tours leave from the front of the Detroit Hotel at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street at 10 A.M. and ending at approximately 12:15 P.M.  Our tours are one of the best bargains in the city, being free for SPP members and a $5 donation suggested for non-members.  Most street parking on Saturdays is free and convienent garage parking is available in the Baywalk garage, entrance on 2nd Street or in the “Bayplaza” garage, entrance on 1st Avenue South.  Reservations for walking tours are not required but are appreciated.  Reservations can be made on the SPP phone line, 824-7802, by emailing at stpetepreservation@gmail.com or on the SPP website at www.stpetepreservation.org.

Panama City Beach brings you up close and personal to the mammals which inhabit the sea by allowing us flat-footed landlubbers to play and swim together with them. Gulf World Marine Park is an oceanic adventure for the whole family. Here you can swim with dolphins, kiss a seal on the nose, sing along with the bands, throw a party and much, much more.

Gulf World’s main attraction allows visitors to learn about and interact with dolphins. Adults and children age five and up can swim with these friendly fish. Professional photographers document the entire experience.

Throughout the day the park holds an amazing dolphin shows that will take your breath away as they flip and fly through the air. A silly seal show is a crowd pleaser for all ages. There is also a magic show that brings an element of comedy to the act.

The reptile arena allows you to get up close and personal to some super-sized snakes, alligators, and lizards. You’ll also see spiders and other creatures lurking in every corner. One of the best visual encounters is the saltwater aquarium which is home to all different kinds of sea life. Watch as eels, stingrays and other exotic animals navigate the underwater terrain.

Another great feature is the tribute concert held daily which pays homage to popular music artists such as Shania Twain, Johnny Cash, and The Eagles included in the price of admission.

If you love the ocean or just want to have some fun, spend the day exploring Gulf World Marine Park and be sure to bring the whole family. Check it out at: www.gulfworldmarinepark.com

Destin Commons is a a glorious place to shop! There are many more shops for all to browse, spend, and charge away. However, many gentlemen can keep themselves entertained for hours at the Bass Pro Shop which is one of the anchor stores there. It’s HUGE.

And if you have children, they’ll also be highly entertained (and completely worn out) after playing for hours on the great padded playground that’s well within sight the center of the plaza. Is it the biggest one in the Panhandle? I think it might be.

As far as the restaurants, I stick with a winner and have my soup and sandwich at Panera Bread Company…wonderful Chicken Noodle and the softest, fresh baked bread available…all for $5.99. Now, that’s a deal.
Also know Hard Rock Cafe is a classic, and a great place for Cheeseburgers. Or, if your in hurry, Johnny Rocket’s is hard to beat for burgers as well.

And of course there’s Starbucks, which is a great way to warm your insides, and boost your energy level, which may be running low after all the shopping you’ve been doing. But, what I’m really looking forward to is the opening of Grapes Wine Bar, where I’ll really indulge in the luxuriousness of the atmosphere as I sip on a wonderful glass of Pinot Noir and people watch to my delight.

The Rave theater is great, I’m glad you gave it an A. The sound system rocks, and it’s always clean…which is not always the case at some of the other movie theaters around my area.

There are several stores that some people may have never heard of, but that’s what makes it more and more exciting than your everyday stores that you see at every shopping center. Overall, I give Destin Commons an A+, and think it’s well worth the 45 minute drive from Panama City, especially this time of year when it’s so decorative all along 98. I love it!

Find Destin Vacation Rentals at Florida Gulf Vacation – Vacation Rentals on the Gulf of Mexico

Have you ever wanted to capture your vacation so you can remember it forever but the camera you carried along for vacation just isn’t cutting it in the bright Florida Sunshine? Well if you are visiting the Panama City Beach or Vicinity then we’ve got the photographer for you.

AnaEdwards Photography Studio is located in Leesburg, Georgia. However,Ana now calls Panama City Beach, Florida home. She spends as much time as the sun allows creating beach portraits …as well as landscape/nature prints. She loves to travel (especially to anywhere there is a beach)…so don’t hesitate to ask me to photograph you or your family on your next vacation, regardless of where it might be!

“You’ll notice that I’m not a ‘smile and say cheese’ kind of photographer… I do try to get a few shots of your child facing the camera, but my feeling is that you should capture your child’s personality at THIS moment in his/her life”, Ana says.

AnaEdwards Photography

Call Ana at 229.886.5575 to schedule your next beach session and remember your Florida Vacation Forever.

The inverted pyramid of The Pier has been a St. Petersburg landmark since it opened its doors in 1973. On January 6th, the Pier Advisory Task Force met to discuss plans to redesign and revitalize the colorful triangular edifice, which has been seen as a burden on the city in recent times. $50 million has been approved for future renovation of the structure, but will not become available until 2012.

The twenty-person task force met with members of the architecture firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners, to discuss such ideas as adding a Ferris wheel to The Pier. Proposals for an amphitheatre, bringing the structure closer to land, adding retail space on the walkway to the building, and creating a water park were also considered.

Currently, The Pier is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as The Pier Aquarium. Many events are held at the location throughout the year. An estimated 1.2 million people visit The Pier annually.

The first of three public hearings is scheduled to take place on January 19th at 7:00 p.m. at The Coliseum to discuss the issue and gather input from the community.

A community input survey can be found at The Pier’s website, www.stpete-pier.com. 

Now is the time to start planning your Summer Vacation because spring along the Florida Gulf Coast is booking up fast.  If you are headed to the Tampa Bay Beaches or the Southwest Beaches along Florida’s west coast there are plenty of options for you and your family when it comes to accommodations. Beach Front Vacation Rentals offer substantially more room than a comparably priced Hotel plus all the conveniences of home.

Below is a list of the most recently posted Vacation Rentals at Florida Gulf Vacation. You can also Search by Beach or Search by Map to find the best possible accommodations for your needs.

MOST RECENT FLORIDA VACATION RENTAL ADDITIONS AT FLORIDA GULF VACATION Destin Property Info: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-10 Style: 2 Bathrooms Property Rates: From $ p/week night From $ p/wkend night From $ 1075 p/week From $ 1200 p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights Description: Light House Beach House. Newly Renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with private pool, close to the beach. Destin
	Property Info: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-8 Style: Beach House 2 Bathrooms	Property Rates: From $ p/week night From $ p/wkend night From $ 975 p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights
	Description: Crystal Cottage, 3 Bed/2 Bath, Private Pool, Close to Beach, Sleeps 8

Destin
	Property Info: 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-14 Style: Beach House 3.5 Bathrooms	Property Rates: From $ p/week night From $ p/wkend night From $ 1150 p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights
	Description: 5 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath Beach House Private Pool, Sleeps 14, Close to the beach.

Destin
	Property Info: 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-17 Style: Beach House 5.5 Bathrooms	Property Rates: From $ p/week night From $ p/wkend night From $ 1500 p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights
	Description: 5 BEDROOMS, 5.5 BATHS, PRIVATE HEATED POOL, GULF VIEW SLEEPS 17

Destin
	Property Info: 6 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-16 Style: House 4 Bathrooms	Property Rates: From $ p/week night From $ p/wkend night From $ 1600 p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights
	Description: Brand New, “Jewel by the Sea”, A Treasure Found! 6 Bedroom, 4 Bath, Private Heated Pool, Beautiful Gulf Views.

Panama City Beach
	Property Info: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-8 Style: Beach Front Condo 2 Bathrooms Water Front	Property Rates: From $ 165 p/week night From $ 165 p/wkend night From $ 1000 p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 3 Nights
	Description: Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom 1600 sq/ft 3rd floor condo is sure to please. 2 beach front masters with king beds and 3rd bedroom has twin sized bed.

Indian Shores
	Property Info: 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 1-6 Style: Condo 2 Bathrooms Water Front	Property Rates: From $ 122.5 p/week night From $ 122.5 p/wkend night From $ p/week From $ p/month Minimum Stay: 7 Nights
	Description: Beautiful Totally renovated gulf front condo at Sandcastle I, Indian Shores

Shoppers Paradise on the Beach

Not only can you find some of the world’s finest beaches and fishing in Destin, but you can also find some amazing post-holiday deals at the Silver Sands Factory Stores located directly across from the beach. With over 100 designer stores ranging from apparel to electronics and more, you’ll be sure to find just what you’re looking for without breaking the bank. I was able to find a brand new Coach handbag for my wife for under $100, regular price $250. Some of the other really hot stores include: BCBG,  Lacoste, Nike Factory Store (a must), Rockport, Swarovski, Tommy Hilfiger, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Silver Sands Outlet Mall - 10562 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32550

Dooney & Bourke as well as their sport collections (Duck, Patchwork, Stripe and Sailboat) are currently 50% off original outlet prices.

The prices in San Destin rival are what you might expect to pay online or at one of the world’s largest outlet malls like Sawgrass Mills in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Be sure to wear comfortable footwear and come prepared to do some walking. The outdoor mall is laid out in sections with about 10-20 stores on each block. Parking is usually readily available and spaces are large enough to accommodate large vehicles.

If you get hungry you can always stop at one of the restaurants and grab a bite to eat. For something fast, I would recommend Panera Bread for their soups and sandwiches served on fresh specialty bread, or if you prefer Italian, Carabba’s Italian Grill is a really good choice for franchise dining. For desert, San Gelato Cafe is well-known for serving fresh Italian ice cream made daily.

True to their motto, Silver Sands is the shoppers’ paradise.

For more information about stores and sales visit: Silver Sands Outlet

Cheers!

Bryce Halfacre

Gulf Breeze never ceases to amaze me. For those who don’t know, much like its neighbor to the south, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze is one of the consummate beach communities for tourists and residents alike in the state of Florida. Along with a great education system, small town appeal, and a sense of community, it also has an amazing assortment of restaurants to choose from, but they’re not always so easy to find.

On a whim, my wife, who was pregnant at the time, and I decided to go for a drive through town to find a new place to flex our culinary palettes. We figured we’d probably stop at one of our trusty standbys until the cellphone rang; we pulled into a little plaza to take the call. That’s when we noticed a small sign that read “Aegean Breeze”; we could smell the aroma of delicious Greek cuisine in the air. We followed our noses under some shrubbery to the indiscreetly decorated front door.

Aegean Breeze - 913 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL - (850) 916-0430‎

Aside from the amazing aroma, the next thing we notice are the reasonable prices and specials posted outside. The moment we step inside we knew we struck gold. We were immediately greeted by a hostess and escorted to our table. The ambience is pleasant and the mellow sound of Middle Eastern music resonates beautifully with the lighting. The décor feels just like a traditional Greek restaurant you might find in South Beach. The service was kind and prompt. Our meals arrived in less than a half hour and the waitress was very concerned with our experience, frequently checking in and refilling drinks.

The food was absolutely delightful and cooked to perfection. We both ordered the 8oz. filet mignon on special for under $15. The meat was fresh and tender and cooked as ordered. For desert, we shared baklava. It was not too rich, nor too sweet. We left full and satisfied for under $40, making sure to tell all of our friends, family, and you about this hidden treasure in Gulf Breeze.

Your Panhandle Expert,

Bryce Halfacre

Plan Your Next  Perfect Panhandle Vacation at Florida Gulf Vacation

Its time to plan your next Florida Beach Vacation now before all the best beach rentals are all booked.

Smart travelers are already aware that booking a beach front rental will save them hundreds of dollars versus staying in a hotel, we have also found a great place to save on your other high cost item – Food. Part of a fantastic vacation is taking the whole family out to great dinners at fabulous local eating establishments.

Well just like your accommodations, there is no need to pay full price for food!

If you are staying anywhere on the Gulf Coast of Florida or in the Disney/Orlando Area you should definitely make a stop at Restaurant.com for discounts on meals for the whole family.

How can a company offer $25 gift certificates to restaurants and only charge you $10 (or less if a coupon is involved) and actually be a deal that is for real?

We purchased our gift certificate for $25 for a mere $4 because they happened to be running a great sale on the gift certificates. When we typed in our zip code, there are a over 70 restaurants in our area along the Tampa Beaches.

I purchased the gift certificate for one particular restaurant and a copy of the gift certificate was emailed to me as well as available immediately for printing. You have the ability at this time to make a reservation through the website. This is not required, but I thought it might make the process go smoother and alert the restaurant that I was using one of these certificates Within a minute of placing the reservation I received an automated call from Restaurant.com to thank me for placing my reservation and that they were confirming it.

We went to dinner that night and had two entrees and two glasses of wine. The total bill was over the amount needed for us to use the certificate so meeting a $35 minimum purchase at the restaurant was not a problem at all! When we received the bill, we tucked the certificate inside and when the waiter came out with our bill revised with the $25 removed from the total tab. Now we could let the excitement really begin because it was the real deal! Our evening, including our tip and the $4 purchase price) was about the cost of one entrée at the restaurant – you reaLLY CAN’T BEAT THIS DEAL.

Now why in the world would a restaurant be open to doing this? Well, if it is a small mom and pop shop, this is a great way to get new faces in the door and let them know about your restaurant. For example, the place we went to was so great that I now want to go there for my birthday. Mission accomplished by the restaurant to get me to be a reoccurring customer. This is also a great way for a new restaurant to get their name out there. The places that were offered were great and they probably know that they are great. They know that they are so great that they can give you food (practically free) and know that you will probably come back and pay top dollar for the same entrée.