DESTIN, FLORIDA WINTER EXPERIENCE
Each year, retirees and vacationers, affectionately known as "Snowbirds" migrate from the northern United States and Canada to spend up to three months in one of the resort's fully furnished and professionally managed beachfront, beach view or gulf view condominiums. Winter monthly rentals are available beginning November 1 through the end of March and have become very popular for retirees wishing to avoid the cold winter weather in places like Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Canada.
Many "snowbirds" call the Emerald Coast home for one to three months every year. These winter renters take advantage of the great year-round weather, restaurants, golf, shopping, and entertainment while relaxing in a fully-furnished condominium that is convenient to everything the area has to offer. The Resorts of Pelican Beach offers an activity program to guests throughout the snowbird season. In fact, Pelican Beach's extensive program has been a big factor for so many snowbirds when choosing a place to stay. Each week, the resort staff organizes more than 30 activities and events geared specifically to winter guests. Pelican Beach guests can choose from activities, such as watercolor classes, dance lessons, exercise/fitness classes, golf outings, tennis, card games, beach walks, and travel to regional casinos and special events, such as Mardi Gras. Winter activities are great ways for winter guests to meet and make new friends and feel right at home.
"Many of our winter renters come back year after year and request to stay in the same property since it has become a comfortable second home for some of them. We look forward every year to the annual 'snowbird' migration and welcome all of them with our version of Florida hospitality," said Herb Profitt, General Manager of Pelican Beach Management, Inc, the resort's onsite rental management company. "Our guests know that they are getting a quality vacation rental at a great price along with outstanding amenities and activities. A majority of them rebook for the following year before they even finish their winter stay.
Resorts of Pelican Beach Winter Experience Essentials
Winter guests come to the Emerald Coast for an exciting Snowbird season at the Resorts of Pelican Beach! Trading in snow for snow-white sand, Destin Snowbirds are busy throughout the winter season utilizing our sunny weather, indoor/outdoor activities, making new friends and visiting their favorite Destin restaurants before the season ends. This season, experience why our Snowbirds enjoy winter getaways at the Resorts of Pelican Beach with our snowbird activities area guide:
Outdoor Sports: Snowbirds stay busy enjoying the Emerald Coast's warm winter playing golf, tennis, biking, walking and attending beach yoga classes. With Average daily highs in the 60's - it's the ideal season to enjoy a round of 18 on one of the Destin's award-winning golf courses or play a match on the Resorts of Pelican Beach's outdoor tennis courts. Just a short drive from Pelican Beach, Destin Yoga by the Sea offers beach yoga where there's plenty of space on the beach for all and drop-ins are always welcome!
Resorts of Pelican Beach Snowbird Activities: Every day throughout the winter season, Snowbirds at the Resorts of Pelican Beach have access to scheduled activities that will keep you as active as you would like to be throughout your stay in Destin. In fact, many Pelican Beach guests comment on how much they enjoyed meeting new friends through our variety of activities and events. From card games (including bridge, poker, Pinochle, Euchre) to tennis, aerobics, watercolor painting, ballroom dance classes, Tai Chi, potluck dinners, socials and much more - Pelican Beach has great activities on-site for guests to enjoy all winter long!
Destin Snowbird Activities: Located just down the street from the Resorts of Pelican Beach, Snowbirds are welcome to join the Destin Snowbirds Club - located in the Destin Community Center (101 Stahlman Avenue). For bowling enthusiasts, winter guests will enjoy Destin's Hurricane Lanes - featuring 26 lanes of bowling, located on the corner of U.S. Hwy. 98 and Matthew Boulevard. In addition, Snowbirds will love the Mattie Kelly Arts Center's National Touring Season shows which features 10 Broadway/Artist shows and three special events! All 1,650 seats of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center's Main Theater are no more than ninety feet from the stage - making every seat in this state-of-the-art performance venue the best seat in the house!
This winter, come see why our Snowbirds enjoy spending their winter getaways at the Resorts of Pelican Beach!
WINTER SEASON EVENTS
Travelers to Destin-Fort Walton Beach escape winter’s grip with long walks on sunny beaches. Winter used to be known as the off-season, but there’s hardly such a thing anymore. Plenty of winter events in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Okaloosa Island make it fun to cozy up at the beach and enjoy the holiday season.
Destin Christmas Parade
Each year, Santa himself grandly closes the Destin Christmas Parade atop a big red fire truck. One of the most memorable winter events in Destin infuses everyone with holiday cheer. Friends old and new wave from floats and shout “Merry Christmas!” It’s tradition to wake up early and grab breakfast near Destin Harbor before settling in at your favorite spot along the parade route.
Destin Lighted Boat Parade
HarborWalk Village hosts the annual Destin Boat Parade with holiday flair. Visit Santa Claus and enjoy special performances before grabbing a spot along the harbor. Boats in the parade are decked out with Christmas lights and are viewable from docks and restaurants along the harbor. The lighted boat parade is followed by a firework display over the water.
New Year’s Eve Street Party
Start the new year off with a bang at the annual ball drop at HarborWalk Village. Dine, drink, and dance your way throughout Destin Harbor while listening to live music. The beach ball drop descending over the harbor makes this celebration the most bustling place to be in Destin on New Year’s Eve. For families, the beach ball drops at 8 p.m. so children with early bedtimes can join in the fun. Later, for the grown-ups, the beach ball drops again during the countdown to the new year at midnight.
Pelican Plunge at The Boardwalk - New Year’s Day
Add jumping in the frigid Gulf of Mexico to your list of New Year’s resolutions at the annual Pelican Plunge at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. The party continues at this New Year’s Day event, with a pre-party before the official splash. The post-plunge party has plenty of coffee, cocoa, and gumbo to keep you warm. Proceeds benefit The Emerald Coast Foundation, a supporter of children’s charities in Northwest Florida.
Mardi Gras in Destin
Mardi Gras in Destin is a wonderful time to shake off Old Man Winter and let the good times roll! Kicking off the festivities, Destin Commons hosts their annual Mardi Gras Masquerade complete with live Zydeco music and Cajun cooking. The Mardi Gras parade has treasures, trinkets, and beads up for grabs.
The annual parade at HarborWalk Village showcases dazzling floats, colorful costumes, street performers, live music, and handfuls upon handfuls of beads. The long weekend culminates in a Fat Tuesday Celebration at many restaurants and bars in HarborWalk Village.
Winter is not a season ― it’s a celebration. With mild temps and sunsets that paint the sky, there’s no better place to celebrate than in Destin and Fort Walton Beach! From celebrating the holidays to letting the good times roll, winter reminds us that to wake up near the beach is to be very fortunate indeed.
Find more ways to celebrate in our events calendar.