Less than a mile from Rosemary Beach is Inlet Beach. It is at the end of 30A, back on U.S. 98. Here you'll find The Terrace Restaurant. It's not much to look at (I zoomed by 20 times before giving it a shot), but they offer fantastic food with an elegant touch. Two other eateries around the Phillip's Inlet Bridge with simple, inexpensive, and tasty food are Spicy Noodle (pasta and pizza) and Jolly Roger Grill (seafood and gumbo).

Dining in Destin can be as hit-and-miss as at any other beach destination. One spot not to skip is the great breakfast place and bakery, The Donut Hole. There are two locations--one in Santa Rosa Beach and one in downtown Destin. Be sure to try the crabmeat Benedict. A new area in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort called The Village of Baytowne Wharf is full of restaurants (get a pass at the resort gate on the bay side, and ask for directions). If you try only one eatery here, make sure it's the Acme Oyster House, which serves up delicious grilled oysters and huge po'boys with sweet potato fries.

Shopping--
Everything Under The Sun From antiques to outlets to just good junk, you can't go very far without finding something to buy. Palace and Alvin's Island rank as the Panhandle's souvenir shop kings, but there are numerous others, too, especially on the strip in Panama City Beach. Antiques shops and art galleries (some fine and others not so fine) tend to cluster at either end of 30A. Maybe the area's biggest draw is the Silver Sands Factory Stores, where the art of outlet shopping can be explored to the fullest with more than 100 retailers. (See next page for my 10 favorite local shops.)

Things To Do--Just for Fun
Anywhere on the Emerald Coast you'll find beautiful beaches that make for perfect lounging and relaxing. But if you want something more active, you've got plenty of options. The area's two big water parks, Shipwreck Island in Panama City Beach and Big Kahuna's in Destin, are warm-weather, family-based attractions that offer all-day passes for fun away from the surf. (Note: These parks don't open on a regular basis until the end of May.) Deep-sea fishing is outstanding all along the coast. In fact, it's a hard choice between the harbor in Destin and the marinas on St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach. Port St. Joe Marina not only features fishing charters, but it is also a good resource for area dive charters, snorkel outings, and ecotourism trips. Port St. Joe offers horseback riding along the surf as well. Finally, nearly every major beach has opportunities to ride the waves in a catamaran or shoot across the ocean on a personal watercraft. (Visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com to scout out more area activities.)

Fun is relative for those who want to enjoy a glass of wine at sunset on water's edge. This is a place where, on a clear day, sunsets rival the ones you see in Key West. Biking? You'll find 19 miles of trails along the open road of 30A and plenty of shops that rent wheels. The big-time teenage/adult party spot is Panama City Beach with its Miracle Strip amusement park and other family-style entertainment, such as miniature golf, miniature race cars, and skee ball. Destin offers more of the same. Believe it or not, on 30A you can even visit a gossip parlor named Miss Lucille's for lots of talk with coffee, desserts, and libations.

Florida's Emerald Coast has been a special place for my family for generations past, and, I hope, for generations to come. It may only be a 95-mile stretch, but the opportunities for fun are limitless.