5 Perks to Visiting Destin at the Cheapest Time

Most people visit Destin, Florida’s jewel-toned waters for annual family beach vacations in the summer. Vacation rentals reach their highest peak rates this time of year due to the strong demand. The sizzling summers are obviously a great time to come to what is now known as the Emerald Coast. Many visitors luxuriate in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico near the sugary white sand shoreline. 

Savvy travelers know that the best time to visit this piece of paradise occurs from November 1^st through early March. Here are 5 key perks available to those who visit Destin during the cheapest time to come.    

1. Vacation Rental Rates are a Real Bargain!

High demand escalates all rental costs during the hot summers but the quieter winter months offer the lowest rates available for every property. Most guests use vacation rental properties instead of a hotel for great value since they offer multiple sleeping quarters and they can share the cost.  Kitchens are included and provide big savings on meals when “dining in”. Although rates in Southern Florida hit peak during the winter, properties along 

The Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida are at their absolute lowest. Temperatures range from the mid sixties during the day to high forties at night with almost daily sunshine. Even if you may not be swimming, it is perfect weather for sightseeing, golf and other delightful diversions at a huge savings.

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2. Christmas Shopping is a Bargain too!

The famous Silver Sands Premium Outlets in Miramar Beach is one of the largest discount shopping center in the entire nation. Millions of visitors shop there every year for prestigious store brands at bargain rates up to 70% off retail prices. It is the perfect place to shop and especially at Christmas time. These huge discounts are available at over 110 designer stores for men, women and children’s clothing, shoes, handbags, leather goods, household items, crystal, china and jewelry.

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3. The Holidays are here!

Places like the New Orleans French Quarter inspired Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin and charming Disneyesque Harborwalk Village in Destin celebrate the holidays in a big way. Major seasonal festivals are held here for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Mardi Gras. Expect lots of vibrant lights, free outdoor concerts, parades, holiday festivities, great food and even fireworks.

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4. The Wide Open Spaces!

This time of year you may enjoy wide-open spaces compared to the throngs of people who visit the Destin area during the summer. There are no heavy traffic jams or waiting in line at popular restaurants. It’s a wonderful time to spend serene times on beautiful beach listening to the soothing surf sounds, watching distant dolphins frolic and see squadrons of pelicans flying overhead.

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5. Romantic Rendezvous!

The lack of a crowd provides a perfect time for enchanting walks along mostly deserted sugar white beaches, especially when the sun sets in spectacular fashion right down into the gulf. Restaurants on the beautiful beach side provide romantic sunset dinners during this special time of the year. (Think Valentine’s Day, special birthdays or anniversaries!)

Many visitors to Destin’s Emerald Coast stay at distinctive privately owned vacation homes and condos, many of which come with heated pools and bubbling hot tubs for sensuous relaxation. One real bargain includes rental properties at the Sea Cabins by Ocean Reef Resorts, which includes a heated pool and a private beachfront gazebo on the sugary shore along Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach. Four to six guests may stay here starting at $64 per night or weekly at $385. These same properties rent for more than twice these amounts during the summer months!

Take time to plan your own special winter getaway during the Season of Savings. You can experience a special holiday or memorable time away with loved ones in Destin at bargain rates. 

Extend Your Summer with These 5 Trips

It's October and it's turning into our cold and rainy season here in Oregon. It's not hard to endure one or the other, but both at the same time can be brutal. This is one of the reasons we usually travel this time of year. The others are that it's cheaper and destinations are much less crowded, because the kids are in school.

I don't mind packing a coat and boots when I travel, but there are lots of places you can go in the early fall that are still warm, so you don't have to take your swimsuit and shorts out of your carry-on to finish packing.

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Marrakech, Morocco 

With temperatures still in the mid-80s, you can revel in the sunlight during the day, then add a layer for the evening when they dip into the 50s. This gives you the option to enjoy the beach, hiking, wandering the souks for items to bring home, and wandering the gardens and streets to take pictures of amazing architecture and different flora. October hotel rates are pretty low, so you can definitely fit it into a budget.

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Gran Canaria, Spain

Located in the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is off the coast of Spain and Africa. The black and white beaches are something to behold, that you won't find elsewhere. And there are 37 miles of them, meaning you won't have to fight for a stretch of sand of your own. Hike the famous dunes, explore the lovely little coast town, and soak up some history while you're there. Whether you're looking for a totally chill vacation or one full of sightseeing and more, you'll find it here.

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Santa Barbara, California

Southern California is usually very comfortable this time of year. We're headed to San Diego, but Santa Barbara is just as fantastic. The weather in both are in the mid- to high 70s, which means you can still head to the beach if you like. Not only are there plenty of sandy spots to call home, there's also awesome hiking and wine tasting venues. If you're a shopaholic or a foodie, you won't run out of places to give you an easy vacation high. Hotel rates are fairly low, as well as airfare, so your wallet will definitely thank you.

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Crete, Greece

Packing your walking shoes and be prepared to climb a billion steps, but with the most amazing views you'll see anywhere. Even the blue and whites of the buildings on the cliffside are photo-worthy. The days will range between the 70s and 80s, making it much more bearable than the crazy hot summers. Not only can you find accommodations in all price ranges, but you can laze on the beach, explore charming villages, go hiking (on more than just steps) or immerse yourself in history. And if you love food, Greece is not the worst place to be to get your eat on.

Sedona, Arizona

Want to rest and recharge? Hit up Arizona when the weather isn't like visiting Hell. Sedona is known for luxury and healing. Get in on outdoor activities, like hiking, golf, and wine tasting, or indulge in spas, yoga retreats, and hot springs. Depending on where you want to stay, you may be paying a little bit more for a hotel room, but you'll make up for it in affordable airfare.

Fall travel without the fall weather is doable if you're creative and think outside of the box. Like I always say, every destination has awesome stuff to see and do if you look hard enough. Ask friends on social media, research online, and do whatever you can to plan the most awesome, off the beaten track, trip you can. What's your favorite fall vacation destination?

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 7

It's officially fall, you guys! You know what that means: hot coffee is back in my life. Not that I quit on it over the summer, because we still had some mild mornings, but now we're into the real cooler weather and sitting down with a hot cup of coffee sounds like a little luxury. Yesterday was also National Coffee Day, so this seems pretty topical today.

This month I tried out some quick-stop coffee shops, because it was hot out and I wanted to get out and about with my iced lattes and such. This may be the last month of cold drinks for me in the mornings, and I might also have to take a break from my coffee shop visits for the month with my crazy schedule, but that doesn't mean the end of this series.

Silver Bullet Coffee

This new coffee shop comes in the form of a sleek silver Airstream trailer in the parking lot near the Washington Square Mall. You can see it when you get off the highway and it calls to you...or it does to me. I've been here two or three times now, because they have a small, but perfect menu of drinks and nibbles. the first trip there I got a vanilla latte, which came with a wooden nickel for a $1 drink on my next visit. I mean, that meant I need to go back, obvs.

On my next trip I picked up a chai tea latte and a bagel. The staff are awesome, the drinks are delicious, and you can either drive or walk up and enjoy the shiny truck. I love the location and it's one of my new favorite quick-stop coffee joints. A medium latte is just $3.50 and a bagel with cream cheese is only $2.25, plus it's just a hop to the mall, Cost Plus and Sears Auto Center (so I can get a drink while I wait for my oil change). 

Silva Cafe

This food truck has been a staple of Multnomah Village for a few years now. I had been meaning to try it, but didn't know that they were known for their coffee. The bright blue truck is easy to spot and are near plenty of other stuff you might want to check out (like all those lovely boutique shops in the Village), so it's not even out of the way. 

I was in the area, so I decided to check it out. I'd heard they had fantastic breakfast sandwiches, which I'm all about. I ordered myself an iced chai tea latte (can you tell I love those?) and a biscuit sandwich with bacon, egg and cheese. Oh my! The homemade biscuit was something to talk about. It was a bit crumbly, but it reminded me of biscuits my grandmother made during my childhood, with a lot more butter. My latte was perfectly spicy and not super weak like they can be when you order them iced. 

I grabbed a seat at one of the outdoor tables and relished my meal. My coffee was just $3 and my sandwich was only $5 ($6 if you want a jalapeño cheddar biscuit instead of plain). That was a decent price for a quick and filling meal. 

Cozy Grounds Coffee

This tiny shop is new to downtown Beaverton, and I have been meaning to check it out, because it's not that far from my house. They have a nice selection of drinks, plus they have bagels and will soon have paninis. I asked for a recommendation and the barista suggested their Cocomac, which, as you can probably guess, is a coconut macadamia latte. I ordered it iced, because the weather has been pretty hot. 

It was a big punch of flavor for my taste buds and I loved it. I'd definitely head back there to try something else and check out the food on offer. The inside of the shop is quite small. It barely has room for their two two-person tables, so I would suggest taking a seat at the outside table or just taking your goodies to go. My coffee was average priced at $4.45.

And there you have my coffee reviews for September. I'm going to try to get a post in next moth if I have the time. For sure I'll be hitting up a few coffee joints in San Diego while I'm there on vacation, so you can see the photos on Instagram, but that won't help my Portland coffee tour. I'll do my best to get out into the city though and keep this going for you. Talk to me about your favorite coffee shop.