Entertainment & Fun at the reception!

Hey there!

I also wanted to add that while we will have Chuck Lawson at the reception,playing a variety of music (CALYPSO-STYLE), we will also have some fun stuff for all the kids at the reception.

ABRAKADOODLE (http://www.abrakadoodle.com) will be at our reception, leading the kids in art projects on canvas. The kids will be able to take their own canvas home with them !!! I'm very excited about that!

I also wanted to give special thanks to my friend, Beck! You've done a wonderful job at coordinating my wedding and reception. There is NO WAY that I could've done this without you! You are a very special friend! Now, LET'S HURRY THAT BABY GIRL OUTTA THERE SO THAT YOU CAN ATTEND THE WEDDING :)

Love to you all,
Doug and Melanie

Update of Wedding Site :)

Hey friends !!!!

I talked with the wedding coordinator today (my friend, Beck, who is about to deliver a baby girl any day now ..., but still working diligently on my wedding), and she says that the site of the ceremony will take place on the beach located on the extreme west end of the Crab Trap parking pavillion.

YOU WILL PARK YOUR CARS AT THE CRAB TRAP BECAUSE THERE IS NO PARKING AT THE RENTAL HOUSE!!!!!

We will all then walk across the street and back to our rental house for the reception! NOT A FAR WALK AT ALL :)

The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m., on the beach!

The actual physical address of The Crab Trap is:
3500 Scenic Hwy 98 E
Destin, Florida


I've provided a map to The Crab Trap below! The Crab Trap is located just to the RIGHT of the words "Old Highway 98" on the coastline !!!!






We look forward to seeing you there !!!!

Melanie & Doug

Destin Restaurants

Destin Florida Restaurants

Embassy Suites Calypso Café Destin / Miramar Beach
The Calypso Café located in the Embassy Suites Hotel Destin at Miramar Beach is opened daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring scrumptious menus customized to highlight local color and flavor.
Casual | 850.337.7000 | 570 Scenic Gulf Drive, Destin, Florida

Rutherfords 465 Restaurant at Regatta Bay Destin
Destin - Award-winning casual dining restaurant, located at Regatta Bay. Open for lunch. 850.337.8888 | 465 Regatta Bay Blvd, Destin, Florida
Open for Lunch | Private Event Dining | Full Service Off Site Catering

Grazie, 850.837.7240, 1771 Old Hwy 98, Destin, FL

Guglielmo's, 850.654.9880, 529 East Hwy 98, Destin, FL

Pompano Joe's, 850.837.2224, 2237 Old Hwy 98 East, Destin, FL

The Back Porch, 850.837.2022, 1740 Old Hwy 98, Destin, FL

SHOPPING :)

Apparel & Accessories

Santa Rosa Mall Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach/Destin's largest regular retail mall with over 90 stores including Dillard's, The Gap, Old Navy, JCPenny's, and Sears. Enclosed mall with food court and scheduled events.
850.244.2172 | 300 Mary Ester Blvd., Mary Esther, FL, 1 block north of Hwy 98

Silver Sands Factory Stores Sandestin®The nation's largest designer outlet center with over 100 designer names. Located next to Sandestin® on Hwy 98.
10562 Emerald Coast Parkway 10562 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, FL

Uptown Station Fort Walton Beach
Your first shopping stop! Designer outlet store, pet shop, Winn Dixie, Beal's Outlet, beauty, music and more. Easy access from Okaloosa Island. West on US 98, turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-85 continue 2 miles!
99 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Black-N-White and Red All Over, 850.654.2008, The Market Shops at Sandestin®, Destin, FL

Bungalows, 850.654.8570, 98 Palms, Destin, FL, 850.236.0313, Carillon Beach, FL

Candy, 850.837.2704, The Market Shops at Sandestin®, Destin, FL

Capapie's Boutiques, 850.654.9336, 13330 Hwy 98 West, Destin, FL

Carol Little, 850.654.9217, 10562 Hwy 98 West, Destin, FL

Causey's, 850.862.1000, 224 NE Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL

Destination Today's II, 850.837.5565, 4433 East Commons Drive, Destin, FL

Diva, 850.650.3482, Shoreline Mall in Destin, FL

Gidgets, 850.622.1053, Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, 850.235.4866, Carillon Beach, FL

Hepburn's, 850.622.1052, Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

McCaskill and Company, 850.650.2262, 13390 Hwy 98 W Suite A, Destin, FL

Mars, 850.231.0303, Seaside, FL

Factory StoresSilver Sands , 850.654.9771, 10562 Emerald Coast Parkway W. #200, Destin, FL

Sport Lady of Destin, 850.837.6763, Shores Shopping Center, Destin, FL

Surfer Girl, 850.231.1919, Seaside, FL

The Buzz, 850.269.1027, Shoreline Village Mall, Destin, FL

The Market Shops at Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort, 850.267.8092, 9300 Hwy 98 W., Destin, FL

Today's, 850.837.3150, Shores Shopping Center, Destin, FL

Tooley Street, 850.837.7100, The Market Shops at Sandestin®, 850.837.8008, Shoreline Mall, Destin, FL

Venus, 850.231.0300, Seaside, FL

Sunset Cruise Dinners

Sunquest Cruises offers another option for nightlife :)

Come aboard Solaris…the gulf coast’s only dining & entertainment cruise. Enjoy extraordinary dining and live entertainment on the nightly dinner dance cruise. Book Solaris for your wedding or special event. Get ready for fabulous food and unforgettable fun on 3 decks and 5,300 square feet of beautifully appointed, climate controlled passenger space with panoramic views. Come aboard the gulf coast’s only entertainment luxury yacht. Dinner Cruise | 850.650.2519 | http://www.sunquestcruises.com

Destin Area Casual Dining

Just a few of the area's very "beach" casual restaurants:


Busters Oyster Bar and Grill, 850.837.4399, 125 Poinciana Blvd, Destin, FL

Coach.N.Four Steakhouse, 850.863.3443, 1313 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL

Giuseppis Wharf Restaurant and Marina, 850.678.4229, 821 Bayshore Dr, Niceville, FL

Harbor Docks, 850.837.2506, 538 Hwy 98, Destin, FL

Hogs Breath Saloon, 850.837.5991, 541 Hwy 98, Destin, FL

Lewbo's Steaks, 850.678.6022, 1128 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL

Lucky Snapper Grill and Bar, 850.654.0900, 76 E Hwy 98, Destin, FL

Marina Cafe, 850.837.7960, Destin Harbor, Destin, FL

Outback Steakhouse, 850.269.1936, 34908 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL

Pandora's of Grayton Beach, 850.231.4102, Grayton Beach, FL

Seagrove Village Marketcafe, 850.231.5736, corner of Highway 395 and Highway 30.A in Seagrove Beach

Fun! Fun! Fun! @ The Village @ Baytowne Wharf

Fun for the whole family ....

The first half of this post is a list of some fun things for the whole family to do!
The second half is more of the nightlife scene!


Adventure Landing Playground
Relax while the kids play mornings through evenings on the imaginative nautical themed playground. Enclosed fenced area, climb, swing, run and play.

Baytowne Adventure Zone
Baytowne Adventure Zone in The Village of Baytowne Wharf will give you four more reasons to "hang" around Sandestin longer. Get an aerial view of the Village and its surroundings as you soar across the lagoon. Then head over to the ropes course for skill-testing fun. If you still haven’t had enough fun, the Coconut Climb and Eurobungy are sure to put you over your limit.

Boondocks Family Arcade
Play the latest video and interactive games in this safe and friendly environment. Perfect for families with children and teenagers, as well as adults. Collect tokens and win exciting prizes. Call 850.424.5662.

Paint'n Place
A delightful paint-your-own-pottery studio fun for all ages. Create treasured keepsakes from babies' footprints and handprints to creating your own dinnerware or lavatory sink. From pet food bowls to martini glasses, Paint'n Place is the place to let your creative juices flow. Workshops are also available by appointment for silver jewelry making, stained glass mosaics, hand building with clay and wheel pottery. "To go" orders are available for painting in your home or condo, then just bring them back for "firing." Located between Bistro Bijoux and Wachovia, next to front parking lot. Call 850.267.6062.

Rick Moore's Magic Shop
Entertain the family with a live magic show by Rick Moore as he performs unique tricks and illusions. The magic shop will also feature a variety of specialty magic kits, juggling items, puppets and MORE. Rick Moore has been performing magic professionally for more than 30 years and his magic has been seen all over the world in more than 30 countries. Stop in and visit Rick Moore’s Magic Shop for live demonstrations and extraordinary entertainment!
Please call Rick or Donna for show times or visit the Magic Shop for ticket information. Daily Tickets are only $5.00 each! Tickets are on sale now for LIVE shows please purchase tickets in advance seating is VERY limited so please make your reservation now for the LIVE shows. The museum and Shows on the big screen will be open during regular business hours and do not need a reservation. For more information call 850.351.1600.


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Area nightlife in the nearby Sandestin Area:

Destin bars & nightclubs
When the sun sets at Sandestin, The Village of Baytowne Wharf comes alive. The Events Plaza is always rocking with live music and a line-up of events, concerts and entertainment year-round. Happy Hour is a cherished institution where guests and locals mingle and kick back each day at a variety of Destin, Florida bars and nightclubs.

Ballyhoo Bar
In Destin, Florida, the Grand Sandestin beckons guests with Southern comfort at the elegant lobby bar, Ballyhoo. Pull up a seat at the mahogany bar or gather at a cozy table with friends for beautiful views of the Grand Lawn. Open Daily 4:00pm - 9:00pm. Call Ext. 23920. Located in The Grand Sandestin


Fat Tuesday Daiquiri Bar
Fat Tuesday, the famous New Orleans daiquiri and frozen drink bar, serves up specialties at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy frozen concoctions like 190 Octane or the Hurricane – each blended, chilled and served to cool the summer heat. Fat Tuesday will also serve up wings, nachos and snacks to munch on while you catch the big game on the flat-screen televisions or test your skills on an interactive video game. Call 850.351.1809.

The Funky Blues Shack (There is one in Destin and one in Baytowne Wharf): One of the most popular Destin nightclubs is the Funky Blues Shack. After dinner, just head next door and get funky to some of the best live local, regional and national blues performers. To catch the latest drink specials and upcoming entertainment, visit the calendar on our website. Late night menu also available. Call 850.424.6650.

Hammerhead's Bar & Grille
Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille is the best place bar in Sandestin, Florida to watch the sun set over the bay. Enjoy our casual atmosphere and an open grill that serves up grilled and steamed seafood, chicken, burgers, as well as a variety of chowders and ice cold beer. Call 850.351.1997.

Lumpy’s Wine Bar
Another favorite Destin bar is Lumpy’s Wine Bar - a bohemian bar and bottle shop, featuring over 200 wines and beers from around the world, as well as tapas and light meals. Enjoy your wine in the cave for a cool, sensual atmosphere or people-watch on the veranda in the lively Events Plaza. Weekly wine tastings.

Rum Runners
There’s nothing like the delicious food and live entertainment at Rum Runners bar in Destin, Florida. Featuring great food, great music and great fun, and open every day for lunch, Rum Runners offers a casual upscale dinner menu. Each night, the "World Famous" Dueling Piano Players perform all the hits from the '50s to today with high-energy, crowd interaction and plenty of fun. And don't forget the Village's only sports bar is upstairs. It makes a great "happy hour" spot with outdoor patio seating overlooking the Events Plaza, and is perfect for your next corporate group event, birthday or bachelorette party. Call 850.351.1817.

TopThis!TopThis! turns into the 'Karaoke Kafe' late night and has over 10,000 songs for your singing pleasure, take the stage and become a star seven nights a week. Weekend contests with cash and merchandise prizes, as well as drinks specials every day. Large screen TVs for sports throughout the year too! Call 850.424.5322. Located at the north entrance to Tupelo Courtyard in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. 11am-2am 7 days a week.

Tupelo Courtyard
Charming European style courtyard with fountains and tivoli lighting. Relax here just steps away from the hustle and bustle in the main village. Drinks and dining served exclusively by TopThis! and the Raspberry Rhino, live music in the evenings from some of the areas favorite acoustic artists. Parents can relax and enjoy the ambiance while children stay busy in Boondocks arcade. Fall and winter months feature a fire pit with complimentary ingredients for smore making around the flames. Tupelo Courtyard is located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf 7AM - 2AM 7 days a week. 850-424-5322. By the way, Tupelo Courtyard has their very own Facebook Page :)


John Wehner's Village Door Nightclub
Formerly John Wehner’s Famous Door of Bourbon Street. The Destin areas only dedicated live music/dance club. This World-Class venue has been Sandestin’s night time entertainment anchor since it's opening in 2002. The regions finest sound and light show along with the world famous Dream Band adds up to one of the most exciting entertainment experiences anywhere in the US! The Village Door caters to the 21 and over crowd and features a dj playlist of the best dance music from the 60’s to the most current dance mega-hits of today. The Dream band plays 80’s dance, Classic Rock, College Rock, R & B as well as your favorite Disco Dance Hits. Chances are you’ll be singing along with every song they play! The famous "Tooter Girls" sell your favorite shots on the floor of the club nightly. Enjoy the excitement inside the club, or relax outside at the bar overlooking the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay. 850.502.4590

Getting Excited,
US

Tired of the beach?

If you've never visited Baytowne Wharf, you are missing out!! Once you get tired of the beach and you are shopped out, I recommend taking an afternoon (or whole day) to visit this area of Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. It is obviously on the bay side of Destin, but it is really like a small city, in itself!

Here is some information on the area:
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is the "heart and soul" of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and the gathering place for everyone visiting, living or working along the Emerald Coast. Discover this vibrant wharf-side Village and explore many charming shops and boutiques, eat in a different restaurant or eatery every day of the week and party into the wee hours of the morning at exciting nightclubs and bars.

To view information on shopping, dining and nightlife, go to Sandestin's official website: www.sandestin.com & find out more!



Here are some of the events already on their calendar, scheduled for June 2010:

Magical MondaysMondays; 7-9pm
Join Magician Rick Moore on the Events Plaza stage for an evening full of laughs and illusions. After the show, visit his shop to create your own magic!


Mini Gras & Boomin' Tuesdays
Tuesdays; 7-10pm
An evening of fun and merriment at the Village with special children’s activities sprinkled throughout the events plaza. Each week, the village will crown a king and queen to throw moonpies and candy to the crowd. Then, as a special treat, our king and queen will begin the fireworks show. Every Tuesday at 9:15pm the village hosts a fireworks show over the lagoon. Participation in Mini Gras is free. Enjoy the Bouncy Castle and other inflatables with purchase of a $10 wristband.
Wristbands will be sold from 7-9pm and activities will stay open until 10pm.


Wednesday Night Concert Series
Wednesdays; 7-9pm
Enjoy the continuation of the Wednesday Night Concert Series through the month of June. We’ll be tantalizing your musical taste buds with musicians to entertain all of our homeowners and locals, and guests!


Sunset Cinema
Thursdays; 8pm
Come out and watch your favorite family movies under the stars!


House Band Coconut Radio
Saturdays; 7-9pm
COCONUT RADIO is a three piece acoustic group that relishes the task of taking music (great music) from whatever source and making it their own. Fast rock becomes slow funk, folk becomes reggae, bluegrass becomes the blues.....all in good taste, and of course, good fun.

Check it out :)

This website is wonderful !!!

Hey Friends,

Our wedding is 67 days away! WOW!!!

I've been searching for a great way to relate information to you guys, and I came across a very informative website that lists everything from accomodations & nightlife to spa services & art galleries!!

www.destin-ation.com is the webiste & it's great! Sorry that I couldn't find a way to make the address a direct link.

Will post more in the next few days!

Love to you,
US :)

Our Wedding

Date: June 24, 2010

Time: 6:30 pm (will post beach directions, parking, etc. at a later date)

Destination: Destin, FL: Beach Wedding with Poolside
Reception to follow (with calypso/zydeco music :)
"Sandcastle Dreams" is the name of the rental
Address: 3467 Scenic Gulf Drive (Scenic 98)
Destin, FL (in Destiny By The Sea community)

Attire: Beach Casual; Very Casual (you can leave your flip flops at the rental :)
Women: light linen dresses, maxi dresses, light weight seperates
Men: khakis (shorts or pants), lightweight polo or short sleeve button-
downs

**Please check back often; I will add exact locations for the wedding, as well as add posts for lodging around the area.

Much love and appreciation,
Doug, Melanie and All Our Girls :)