The crowds on the beach have thinned and the traffic has finally been reduced to reasonable levels. Summer has passed and the official beginning of fall is just a few short weeks away. The best part of it all is the weather on the Emerald Coast – the warm sunshine, gentle tropical breezes and clear, warm Gulf waters – hasn’t changed.
The fall and winter months on the Emerald Coast can be just as enjoyable as the hectic spring and summer season – maybe even more so since the beaches and roadways are less crowded and the cost of accommodations is less expensive. Temperatures hover near the low to mid-60s for most of the second half of the year, measurable rainfall decreases with the November end to hurricane season, and Gulf waters remain refreshing in even the coldest months.
Being a prime summer vacation destination, understandably there are some Emerald Coast attractions that are only open during the peak of the tourist season. Water parks and some beach activities tend to close near the end of August or at least after Labor Day weekend in September. Yet, there are still more than enough festivals, attractions and cultural and sporting events to make a fall or winter vacation a trip to remember.
Festivals
Other than Spring Break events, the majority of local festivals are held in the fall and winter months. Being its own multi-cultural region, the Emerald Coast is host to a virtual United Nations of ethnic celebrations. In late August, the Latino Festival is held closely followed by the Greek Festival in September, and the Festa Italiano and German Oktoberfest in October Isn’t this in September?.
The International Thunderbird Powwow brings Native American tribes together from all over the country to Niceville. The three-day festival in November features dancers, drummers, and native arts and crafts.
The Emerald Coast is also the place for the freshest, and best tasting seafood. Locals love to eat and they love to have a good time. Throughout the fall, local festivals celebrate what makes the area so popular – good food and good music.
During the first weekend in October, Destin pulls out all the stops for its Seafood Festival and a month-long Destin Fishing Rodeo that offers more than $100,000 in cash prizes. Headliners at the three-day seafood festival have included former Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm, and the Grass Roots. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason, and legendary rock bank Kansas return to the festival in 2006 as the musical headliners.
The Indian Summer Festival in Panama City at mid-October is another three-day event offering great food, great music and great family fun. Hootie and the Blowfish and American Idol’s own Bo Bice are headliners for the 2006 festival. Past musical guests have included SheDaisy, Blake Shelton, Travis Tritt and Keith Urban.
Later in the month, the Niceville Mullet Festival provides not only some of the best, fried mullet in the region, but also award-winning country music headliners at its three-day event. Past guests have included Rascal Flatts, Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry, Charlie Daniels Band, and Dierks Bentley. Country Music Association award-winner, Lonestar, is the headliner for the 2006 festival.
Each orchestra begins its concert season in the fall and continues through early spring. International musical guests, along with award-winning stage, screen and recording stars perform with the orchestras.
Located in Niceville, The Arts Center offers a year-round calendar of Broadway musicals, children’s theater, orchestral concerts and holiday specials.
During the 2005 season, The Arts Center presented Elton John and Tim Rice’s Broadway spectacular AIDA. For the coming season, audiences will be entertained with Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Urban Cowboy: The Musical.
OWC is also home to the McIlroy and Holzhauer Galleries. Here The Art Center houses its permanent collection of artworks by Emil Holzhauer, Salvador Dali and several local and internationally renowned artists.
Water Fun
When in Florida it is almost sacrilegious to not engage in some sort of water sports whether it is jet skiing, parasailing, swimming, diving and snorkeling, or fishing – either from the shore or a boat.
During the fall and winter months, life on the Emerald Coast beaches hardly misses a beat. Charter boat and shore fishing continue throughout the year. If fishing from a licensed charter boat, an individual fishing license is not necessary. If shore fishing, you should check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about registration requirements and which fish are in season.
Find out more about this local sport at Fishing on the Emerald Coast. Here you can learn more about where and how to find a charter fishing excursion and where to go for freshwater fishing.
If you want to get a closer look at native marine life, scuba diving charters run year-round too. With the clear, emerald green waters, and Gulf temperatures that stay in the 60s throughout the winter months, diving trips can be scheduled well into December and January.
To find a fishing charter or local dive shop, check out the Yellow Pages at EmeraldCoast.com.
State Parks
Florida State Parks received national recognition in 2005, winning the coveted Gold Medal from the National Recreation and Parks Association for the second time to earn the distinction of being the "Nation's Best State Park Service."
With more than 723,000 acres spanning the entire state, including 100 miles of shoreline, there is an outdoor activity to be found to suit even the most particular nature lover.
The consistent warm weather means all these parks remain open throughout the fall and winter months offering hiking, fishing, camping, and boating opportunities year round. Many of the parks rent cabins, or have campsites that accommodate either tents or RVs.
Check out Emerald Coast State Parks for a directory of area parks and what activities each provide. You also find helpful feature articles on how to make the most of your outdoor adventure.
Sports
Even though the Emerald Coast lacks a major league sports team, there is no shortage of other great sporting events.
Football is king along the Emerald Coast. Area high school football has risen to championship levels with many local teams consistently ranking high in both regional and state divisions.
On any given Friday night, thousands of loyal football fans will gather at high school stadiums to watch their team battle for the chance to be regional and state champs.
The same can be said about local high school soccer and basketball teams. Both men and women’s teams compete in championship races at regional and state levels.
Area community colleges also have championship caliber sports teams, offering high-level play at reasonable ticket prices, including:
Okaloosa-Walton College, Niceville (http://raider.owc.edu/): men and women’s basketball, and baseball and softball
Pensacola Junior College (http://pjc.edu/sports/index.asp): men and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball and baseball and softball
Keep up with the games at Sports. Stop by for the latest scores and news on your favorite local teams.
For all the duffers wanting to come to the Emerald Coast for its PGA courses, they need not worry about the weather. Courses remain open year-round and offer some of the country’s best golfing.
Learn more about where to play at Golfing the Emerald Coast. Read about championship courses throughout the region, and find helpful feature articles that provide tips on golfing etiquette and how to decipher basic golfing terms, and which courses golf legends Robert Trent Jones Sr. and sons Robert Jr. and Rees Jones each designed.
Shopping
No inclement weather can keep the faithful from enjoying the overabundance of shopping venues available along the Emerald Coast. From the traditional indoor malls, to open outlet centers, to the truly unique Destin Commons, there is just the right shopping adventure for everyone.
Shopping is not just for the ladies either. Destin Commons is anchored by the newly constructed, 50,000 square-foot, two-story Bass Pro Shops World Wide Sportsman complete with a 10,000-gallon indoor saltwater fish tank and a 6,000 square-foot covered boat canopy. If you can’t find what you want for your outdoor adventure here, you probably don’t need it.
For a listing of area shopping centers and an index of what each site offers, visit Emerald Coast Shopping.
Throughout the year, several area shopping centers also offer free community events including family style movies, concerts, and children’s activities.
Family Fun
Gulfarium, Okaloosa Island/Fort Walton Beach (http://www.gulfarium.com/) – Sea life shows featuring dolphins, seals and sea lions. Animal exhibits of native marine life, highlighted by alligators, sea turtles, otters and coastal birds. October to February open Wednesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Park closes at 6 p.m.
Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City (http://www.gulfworldmarinepark.com/) – See live sea shows with tropical birds and marine animals showcasing penguins, sharks, sea turtles and alligators. Check out the Web site for off-season hours.
The Track, Destin (http://www.destintrack.com/destin/default.asp) – Go-karts, miniature golf, bumper rides, and more. Off-season hours are September to October from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; November to February, Monday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Depending on Spring Break dates, the park will reopen with late night hours the first or second weekend in March.
Okaloosa on Ice, Downtown Fort Walton Beach (http://www.okaloosaonice.com/eventdisplay.php?e=12) – For those visitors who miss the cold and ice, the annual Okaloosa on Ice comes to The Landing each fall. The seasonal ice skating rink, which can accommodate about 100 skaters at a time, is a local holiday favorite. The 2006 skating season is set for Nov. 17 through Jan. 1. Check out the Web site for hours, admission fees and equipment rental information.
Museums/Art Galleries
The Emerald Coast has a stunning array of art galleries and museums displaying both international and regional masterpieces, along with historical treasures and hands-on adventures sure to thrill children of all ages.
For a listing of area art, science, and historical and cultural attractions, read Everyone Loves a Bargain on the Emerald Coast Travel Guide. Here you will find a directory of places to visit throughout the Panhandle that were either free to the public, or charge only a minimal entrance fee.
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