Christmas at the Beach

Escape to these laid-back Gulf Coast resort communities for a bright and merry weekend.

Unwrap an early Christmas gift with a trip to Destin and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. You may not use a swimsuit, but be sure to squish your bare toes into the surf. Along the snow-white sands, Santa sports a tan, and palm trees glow in sparkling lights against early-evening sunsets. Best of all, lodging rates plummet now, while the daily temperatures stay pleasantly mild in the 60s and 70s with balmy breezes. While traffic can make it too time-consuming to visit these sister destinations during the busier months, in December you can zip between them, picking the best of both.

Finding Fabulous Food

For lunch, excellent fried oysters and shrimp fill plates at the Acme Oyster House in Sandestin's Village of Baytowne Wharf. AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar provides some of the best views of Destin Harbor. Sit outside on the deck, and dig into a grouper po'boy ($9.99).

In Fort Walton, Big City American Bistro serves creative cuisine. Choose from their famous meatloaf in onion gravy ($10.50) or field greens topped with herb-and-Parmesan-crusted catfish and tomato relish ($11.50).

For dinner, opt for Magnolia Grill of Fort Walton Beach. Tom and Peggy Rice meet guests who come to their homey eatery where pasta and seafood specials satisfy diners. Or make a reservation for a table facing the harbor at Destin Chops. Try the 8-ounce filet mignon ($27) or the 16-ounce New York strip ($39).

Super Shopping

Silver Sands Factory Stores between Destin and Sandestin boast more than 100 outlets and allow you to save money on your gifts this season. In Destin Commons, an outdoor mall by the Mid-Bay Bridge, you can't miss the Santa hat on the big plastic shark at the Bass Pro Shop. Look to Distinctively Destin for unusual gifts.

Be sure to visit the boutiques in the small strip malls along U.S. 98. Try The Doggy Bag for homemade treats for your four-legged friends, or peruse The Allure Gallery for art and glass. Shoe princesses adore Shoo Fly Shoo, and the best children's clothes delight shoppers at Hugs and Hissyfits. Wine and beer connoisseurs fall in love with Wine World.

Lodging Options

The best accommodations in Destin are cottages and condos, and most properties waive the minimum-night stay requirement this time of year. We like Southern Resorts (www.southern resorts.com, [850] 837-3937, or 1800-737-2322). You'll find threebedroom cottages a block from the water and one-bedroom oceanfront condos from $91 a night. Crye-Leike Coastal Realty (www.destingetaways. com, [850] 654-7700, or 1-866-3371992) also features low rates.

If you aim to overnight in a beachfront hotel, you'll want to stay in Fort Walton. We recommend the Best Western or the Four Points by Sheraton. The fully updated Best Western Fort Walton Beachfront (1-877-243-9444) offers the lowest rates of the year at $99-$ 119.

Four Points by Sheraton DestinFort Walton Beach (1-800-874-8104) recently completed a major renovation. Rates range $80-$205 in December.

-ANNETTE THOMPSON

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Dec 2006
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