How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

Listen on your phone: iPhone, Blackberry, Cell Phone Listen Link

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 074_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Christmas on the Emerald Coast! Many people are traveling the week of Christmas. The Emerald Coast will feel busy like spring break for about a week. Visitors can expect increased traffic and busy stores the week of Christmas. Many people come to the Emerald Coast to experience Florida's white Christmas.

Wal-Mart is coming to South Walton! A Wal-Mart Supercenter will be part of a new development in South Walton County that will be located on the northwest corner of Hwy 98 and West Hewett Road. Next to the Wal-Mart will be the Topsail West development. The St. Joe Company has designated 116 acres for the development. Topsail West will include 308,000 square feet of retail space, 5,000 square feet of office space, 190 senior-living units, 110 assisted-living units and 310 multi-family units. 2020 is the completion date of all phases.

Spring break back on Panama City's mind! Not long ago Panama City Tourist Development Council voted against funding marketing campaigns with MTV. Now, the TDC is reconsidering. The TDC will give a co-operative $25,000 to local hotels and restaurants for efforts to attract spring breakers. Spring breakers will get discounted food and lodging incentives.

Congratulations Reed Waddle! Reed Waddle is a popular musician along the Emerald Coast. Recently, Waddle was recognized for winning the Grand Prize at the New York Songwriter's Circle. The song, "Piece By Piece" impressed the panel of blue ribbon judges.

Snowbirds are coming! The snowbird season has begun. The Destin Snowbirds recently had a Roost and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. This year there are 176 members. In 2008, the number was slightly higher with 186 members. Snowbird season does not peak till January. Snowbirds come each year from areas up north such as, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Zoo is saved! The Gulf Breeze closed only to reopen! Eric Mogensen, owner of Virginia Safari Park purchased The Gulf Breeze Zoo. The zoo was open for 25 years, but closed in August this year after local governments would not support the facility. The zoo was $4.5 in debt due to hurricane damage that was uninsured. Look for the reopening in early 2010.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Reed Waddle of Destin with his song piece by Piece

• Reed Waddle Myspace Page

Got a show comment or suggestion? Or, are you a local band/artist who would like us to play your music?

I love to hear from you and find out more that you would like to know about Destin and the Emerald Coast!

Email me at destinfloridapodcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 073_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

El Nino felt on the Emerald Coast! This winter is an El Nino winter. Pacific Ocean water temperatures are warmer creating the El Nino phenomenom. The Emerald Coast is affected by fronts dipping down bringing lots of rain to southern states. Along with an increase in weather, there will be an increase in waves. Surline has predicted that the panhandle of Florida is a good bet for surf for the month of December.

DestinFloridaPodcast.com is on Twitter! Many people follow their favorite band or celebrity on Twitter.com. Now, fans of the Emerald Coast can follow recent updates and photos of Florida's most beautiful beaches at www.Twitter.com/DestinLive

Destin gets stimulus. Many parts of the country are getting stimulus money to create jobs and improve communities. The City of Destin is receiving $760,000 in stimulus money. The money will go to giving Scenic Old Hwy 98 some additions. The bike path will connect to South Walton County's bike path offering a longer bike ride.

Christiano's is the new Italian! Christiano's is now open in the old Gugliemo's location on Hwy 98 in South Walton County. The Italian restaurant is Chris Chirium's first restaurant! Chirium was once a chef at the Elephant Walk. The classically-trained French chef has good resume of italian experience and everyone is welcome for dinner Monday through Friday 5-9 p.m.

Southwest has flights! Southwest Airlines has announced its flights for the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Travelers from Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, Orlando and Washington D.C. will have direct flights to the Emerald Coast!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Perilune of Pensacola with their song This Love Is Stone

• Perilune Myspace Page

Got a show comment or suggestion? Or, are you a local band/artist who would like us to play your music?

I love to hear from you and find out more that you would like to know about Destin and the Emerald Coast!

Email me at destinfloridapodcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 072_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Weather was great Thanksgiving Day! Thanksgiving Day was blessed with sunny skies, a nice breeze and temperatures in 60's. The Emerald Coast is destination growing in popularity for celebrating the holidays! Traffic on the roads and in stores was surely up! Some businesses were open on Thanksgiving Day. Harbor Docks was one of the few.

Baby J's and Pat O'briens are both closed. Baby J's closure is due to the vessel being moved to either Louisiana or Mississippi. The owners are now looking for a new location to reopen the once popular harbor hang out. Pat O'briens closure is due to the business not fitting into the family vision of HarborWalk Village. A Mexican cantina themed restaurant will take its place.

Winter weather is being felt! Florida is known for having warm temperatures. The winter months can get chilly. Snowbirds and holiday season visitors can plan their visit by paying attention to The Weather Channel. Temperatures along the Emerald Coast will normally warm up before an approaching cold front. Once the front passes, dramatic temperature drops follow.

Parallel parking coming to Old Hwy 98. Walton County Commissioners approved a bid for $860,000 from Utility Solutions to install about 100 parallel parking spaces. The spaces will be put in starting from Whale's Tail westward to Sea Cabins town homes. Construction should begin in the next 30 days.

Holiday Isle will not see sand! The East Pass will be getting dredged soon. The sand will stay west of the Marler(Destin) Bridge due to an Inlet Management Plan. Even though Holiday Isle is in desperation for sand the homeowners on Okaloosa Island will still get all the sand due to the IMP.

Speeders will get tickets in Destin! A grant has been given from the Department of Law Enforcement. The $75,000 will pay for roughly 2,700 hours of traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement will be in residential areas along with Hwy 98.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Barry Langford of Panama City Beach with his song hurricane blues

• Barry Langford Myspace Page

Got a show comment or suggestion? Or, are you a local band/artist who would like us to play your music?

I love to hear from you and find out more that you would like to know about Destin and the Emerald Coast!

Email me at destinfloridapodcast@yahoo.com