Florida Panhandle

July 6: The Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament, Panama City Beach. No stranger to Big Fish, the Bay Point Invitational is home to both the first and second place Florida State Record Blue Marlin. 2011 will also see the triumphant return of Weighed Blue Marlin and the addition of a Weighed Swordfish division. The lucky angler bringing in the heaviest Blue Marlin will be crowned Tournament Champion. 850-628-1740. http://www.baypointbillfish.com/

July 10: Summer Jazz Concert Series, Jacksonville Beach. The City of Jacksonville Beach presents this outdoor concert with great jazz musicians.  Relax on the lawn as renowned jazz performers take the stage at Sea Walk Pavilion.  904-270-1658. www.jacksonvillebeach.org.

July 18-23: Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, Jacksonville. Two-day fishing tournament that also includes a free festival with live music, a boat show and food, plus a Junior Angler Tournament presented by Carolina Skiff  904-251-3011. www.kingfishtournament.com

July 22-24: Smokin’ on the Suwannee BBQ Festival, Live Oak. At Spirit of the Suwannee River Music Park. Admission. 386-364-1683. www.musicliveshere.com

Central Florida

July 9: East Coast Cruiser Night, New Smyrna Beach. Every second Saturday of the month Historic Downtown Canal Street becomes a showplace for antique cars and street rods. Food, fun and entertainment. Free. 800-541-9621. www.nsbfla.com/calendar.cfm

July 13-26: ESPN RISE Games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista. This event will be anchored by three invitation-only, elite high-school sporting events. It will continue to feature the premier high-school talent in the country in basketball, football, lacrosse and soccer, while youth athletes aspire to their level of greatness in baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse and track & field. At Wide World of Sports Complex. www.espnrisegames.com

July 14: Music on the Beach Concert, Tarpon Springs. Blackwater Blues (Blues/Rock) perform at Sunset Beach. No pets, no alcoholic beverages. Hot dogs, popcorn, sodas and water available for purchase. Free admission, but donations are appreciated. 727-937-3102. www.tarponspringsmusic.com

July 16: Snooty the Manatee’s Birthday Bash and Wildlife Awareness Festival, Bradenton. This festival features a birthday bash for the resident manatee mascot, complete with punch and cookies for the kids, games, crafts, and much more. Admission to the party, in the Spanish Plaza at the South Florida Museum, is free; reduced admission to Museum. 941-746-4131. www.southfloridamuseum.org

July 23: Art Walk on Flagler, New Smyrna Beach. Make the fourth Saturday of each month a special day at the beach. Join resident and guest artists, view their works on porches and in studios as you stroll from river to ocean down historic Flagler Avenue. This month’s theme is Christmas in July. Free. 386-428-1770. www.nsbfla.com/calendar.cfm

July 22-24: 25th Annual Mid-Summer Dollhouse and Miniatures Show and Sale, Lakeland. Premier summer miniature show in Florida, with some 50 dealers taking part. Exhibits, workshops and sales tables. At Hilton Garden Inn. Admission $6 adults, $1 children 6-12. 863-646-8917. http://mysite.verizon.net/lakelandmini/

July 27: Hyde Park Village Live Music Series, Tampa. Now in its 23nd year, this series of musical evenings offers great fun on the last Wednesday of the month. With a free concert, all beverage sales will benefit Quantum Leap Farm. At Old Hyde Park Village. 813-251-3500. http://hydeparkvillage.net/

July 28-30: Celebrity Mascot Games, Orlando. Watch more than 30 mascots from the NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA and MLB compete in wild and crazy games such as Mascot Joust, Inflatable Obstacle Course and Dodge Ball. 19th annual. At Stetson University and Amway Center. 407-648-4900. www.mascotgames.org/

July 28-31: Summer Sidewalk Sale and “Survivor” Reunion, Celebration. Have a chance to meet previous winners and cast members of the TV reality show “Survivor” at this summer sidewalk sale at Celebration’s Town Center. Free. 407-566-2200. www.celebrationtowncenter.com

Keegan’s Seafood Grille

1519 Gulf Blvd
Indian Rocks Beach,
Florida 33785
(727) 596-2477

Keegan’s has been a local favorite for years and for a long time one of our little secrets, but over the years with people like Guy Fieri from the food network and lots of local press they are now one hoppin’ place…

You can’t judge a book by it’s cover and don’t judge Keegan’s by it’s location or interior.

I saw this in a description elsewhere and it pretty much sums the place up: “It’s your basic, down and dirty locals hangout and the decor ain’t here to impress you…but the food is.”

Top Florida Gulf Vacation Selections:

Smoked Fish Dip appetizer

Macademia Nut Encrusted Flounder with Fruit Salsa

Kids Crab Legs for $6

Crab in a Pocket sandwich

With a summer place just down the beach in Indian Shores we stumbled upon this local gem a few years back and now are pretty much regulars during our weeks here at the beach.

If you are a real southerner and love your gumbo like I do, you have to try the Seafood Gumbo! This is some of the best gumbo south of New Orleans…If you’re more of the chowder kind of person, then the she-crab soup is just to die for.

The macademia nut flounder is absolutely amazing. Crispy coating, fresh fruit salsa and right off the boat flounder. To die for! Top all that off with the fact  that a large pitcher of sangria is only $12 and you have a perfect end to a beach day.

The Crab in a Pocket is a light fresh crab salad stuffed in a pita pocket with lettuce, side it with coleslaw and you have a spectacular light dinner that will find you satisfied and refreshed.

After a quick bite at Keegan’s head down to Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach and check out the gorgeous sunsets.

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