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The Palms of Destin Resort |
Destin/Fort Walton Beach Area – Where Palms Meet Magnolias
On a recent visit to Destin and Fort Walton Beach, I could not help but marvel at the area's clear, emerald-green waters and pristine white-sand beaches. As we traveled the sand-dune-lined route from Okaloosa Regional Airport, across Okaloosa Island to Destin, I could feel relaxation setting in.
Just 20 minutes later, I arrived at the Emerald Grande Resort at HarborWalk Village, which is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and within five miles of the area's convention center. The resort, with a style that is reminiscent of an upscale turn-of-the century yacht club, opened in June 2007 and features 281 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Indoor function spaces include a Gulf-view ballroom, additional breakout space and the Charter Room – a large and welcoming hospitality room. For outdoor events, two event decks flanking the elevated pool area offer panoramic Gulf views. Also available is HarborWalk Village, a dining, entertainment and retail center. This summer, HarborWalk will add New Orleans icon Commander's Palace as well as Pat O'Brien's and the Camellia Grille.
Destin is a water-centric destination with lots of options for groups when it comes to off-site events, recreation, teambuilding and dining. Event venues, both over-looking and directly on the water, are found throughout HarborWalk Village, Destin Commons and Okaloosa Island.
Smaller groups can network on the Nathaniel Bowditch, a 54-foot classically designed schooner; larger groups can mingle on a glass-bottomed dolphin-watching boat. For recreation or teambuilding activities, jet-skiing, parasailing and deep-sea fishing abound in this area, which calls itself the "World's Luckiest Fishing 
The Emerald Waters of Destin |
Village." Our group thoroughly enjoyed an early morning deep-sea fishing adventure; afterward, we brought our fresh harvest to the Lucky Snapper in HarborWalk Village for a "cook your catch" lunch.
Event venues range from the Gulfarium, with its dancing dolphins, to private spaces in restaurants along the main beach route and within Destin Commons, a shopping and entertainment "lifestyle" center that features the Hard Rock Cafe and more than 80 other restaurants and retail shops.
Golf and spa have become almost staples for incentive groups. Destin's Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club has been named by Golf Digest as one of the top 200 courses in North America and one of the top 15 "Places to Play" in Florida.
It's easy to add a group spa experience to the agenda – the Emerald Grande offers The Spa at Emerald Grande, and the nearby Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center is home to the Royal Palm Spa. The Palms is a sleek, upscale resort property with 416 guest rooms and 6,400 square feet of meeting space. The resort's contemporary style blends seamlessly with the Polynesian influence of renowned Trader Vic's Restaurant and the expansive lagoon pool surrounded by permanent private cabana rooms that can be used for breakouts or group get-togethers.
From a planner's perspective, the area's southern hospitality, fresh seafood and variety of accommodations, venues and activities provide a wide choice for all types of groups, with the backdrop always being the white-sand-edged emerald seas.
Ellen Thomas is editor of the VISIT FLORIDA Meeting Professionals Program. |
Encounter 
