Planning a Day at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island

Okaloosa Island, a dividing plot of land between Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida, is home to beautiful natural beaches, dunes, beachfront lodging, family activities, and the popular Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. The Boardwalk offers eclectic shopping, fresh seafood dining, exciting entertainment, stunning ocean pier views, and public beach access and amenities. A historic landmark, the Boardwalk was constructed in the 1930's as a resort destination with restaurants, gambling, and an amusement park. A decade later, the original Boardwalk (then named "Tower Beach") was destroyed in a massive fire. The resulting reconstruction provided a more tame destination, focused on public use with the option for dining, shopping, and entertainment. There are plenty of things to do at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, so let me help you plan a day at this famous Fort Walton Beach hot spot! (read more...)

This is why you are not getting the best deals for your vacation

Every year we get travelers asking us how they can get exclusive deals for their next trip. The truth is, we never hold back our offers and actively promote them on-site, email and social media. The problem that most face is that they are just not ready to book yet. Just like anything else you buy, making an early purchase will save you money (sometimes a lot of it). Yes, you may find last minute deals when hotels don't fill their rooms, but when you are talking peak summer season on the Gulf Coast, this happens rarely. Next time you see a great deal, but you are weeks or months away from your trip, keep these tips in mind.

1) If you are not ready to buy when good deals are available, buy anyway and make sure you can move the dates around for limited or no fees. Sometimes it is much cheaper to pay $50 to move dates around than pay another $250-300 for the same room at a later date.

2) Did you know that some travel agencies offer flexible payment plans? It doesn't hurt to ask if you can't afford to pay the deposit at the time of booking. If you see a great offer and pay day doesn't come for another 2 weeks, ask and you may receive a lower deposit amount.

3) If the deal expires before you get paid, ask the agent if you can extend the promo for them or book it on a courtesy hold. This is not an option if you book online, but letting us know what your needs are can help get what you want.

The main theme here is it doesn't hurt to ask for flexible options if you need them. We want your business and will do our best to get it! Happy booking in 2015!

Visit a Louisiana Plantation and You'll See This...

Oak Alley Plantation

I had the chance to visit Plantation Country this past week. Plantation Country is a region Northwest of New Orleans that has several Plantations strung along the Mississippi River. Some of the Plantations are open for tours and events, but most are private and still in operations (Sugar cane farming). Back in the 18 and 19th century, Plantations owners were near celebrities and very wealthy. Most of the families had lavish lifestyles and had more money than they knew what to do with! This allowed them to build incredible homes that travelers get to tour and appreciate to this day.

During my visit, I went to three different plantations: Laura Plantation, Oak Alley Plantation, and Houmas House. Each Plantation has its own unique story and different things to see. Oak Alley Plantation was my first stop. I was met with 200+ year oaks and well manicured grounds. We took a tour of the house and learned about the Roman family, who occupied the home during the 19th century. After the tour, we stopped for lunch and ordered some gumbo, which was absolutely delicious. Before leaving, we met with a civil war historian that gave us some insight about how Oak Alley fared during the war. Due to a corrupt union general, most of the plantations were spared at the cost of being taxed heavily to use shipping ports. Before we left, we made sure to take plenty of photos because it's insane for someone to not take photos of this incredible place!

Laura Plantation was our second stop, which is one of the few original Plantation homes still standing. When I say "Original", I'm talking more so about the architecture. The typical plantation homes you see in modern media are actually not what most plantations looked like in Plantation Country. The Greek architecture was brought to New Orleans from the Northeast as men studied in colleges and brought the ideals back to the region. Laura plantation has a deep French history and their tour guides even offer French speaking tours. The part I enjoyed most about the tour is the basements where the family had a wine distribution business during early 19th century. It was said to be one of the first in the region to distribute fine French wines throughout the South.

My last stop during the trip was at Houmas House. This plantation is notably one of the most lavish of them all with incredible grounds and gardens. I can't imagine the cost of keeping up this place because it's so big. The tour guide was very informative and we learned a great deal about the history of Houmas House. The most interesting fact was that the land was sold by the Houma Indian tribe for only $150 (300,000 acres) in the the late 1700's. We had lunch on-site and the meal was excellent. As always, don't forget to bring a camera or else you are just missing out on some incredible memories.

You Will Regret Not Booking These Extraordinary Low Rates During Black Friday

It's that time again, BLACK FRIDAY. I'll be honest, I could care less fighting aggressive shoppers for a half-off blender at Walmart, but I'm no stranger to a great deal. This year, we have some incredible deals on 2015 lodging that need to be taken seriously. Why do I say that? 50% off during Spring and Summer is just ridiculous considering the whole area will be 100% sold out! Popular resorts such as Sterling Shores in Destin and Calypso in Panama City Beach are booked up weeks in advance at full price, but starting 11/29 you can take advantage of 50% OFF.

Our top offer for Black Friday weekend is 50% OFF activity gift cards. They can be used on over 150 tours and attractions we offer. There is only a 500 limit on the gift cards so don't wait until the last minute to buy! Here is a running list of all of our BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY offers.

Seascape Villas Black Friday Promo - Up To 50% OFF 2014-15 Stays!

Nov 19, 2014 09:47 am | Destin

BLACK FRIDAY SALE STARTING 11/26 through 12/5. 

11/26 through 03/10: BOGO + FREE 8x10 beach portrait, 2 FREE dolphin cruise tickets, and 50% off Golf!

3/11-8/31: 30% off all stays regardless of length of stay or 5+ night stays 35% off plus $50 resort credit, FREE Beach Service, 2 FREE dolphin cruise tickets, and Free 8x10 beach photo.

Blackouts: July 1 – July 8 ONLY 10% off PLUS FREE Beach Service, 3/15 – 3/30 NO Resort Credit

50% OFF Laketown Wharf Panama City Beach - Black Friday Sale

Nov 19, 2014 09:47 am | Panama City Beach

BLACK FRIDAY SALE 11/19-12/1

50% OFF travel dates 11/28/14-12/31/15 with minimum 3 night stay. Black Outs Dates: March, May 23-May 26, July 2- July 7, Sept 2- Sept 7, Nov 4- Nov 8.

Black Friday &Cyber Monday @ Sterling Resort Properties: 50% OFF 2014-15!!!

Nov 19, 2014 09:47 am | Destin/PCB

BLACK FRIDAY SALE: 11/28-12/1

50% OFF Sterling Beach Properties in Panama City Beach and Destin with travel dates 11/28-12/31/15. Minimum of 3 nights required. 

Properties Included: 
Splash Resort -PCB
Calypso Resort - PCB
Laketown Wharf - PCB
Sterling Breeze - PCB
Sterling Beach - PCB
Sterling Reef - PCB
Sterling Shores - Destin
Sterling Sands - Destin
Huntington By The Sea - Destin

Black Outs: March 20-April 4th (Sterling Beach and Sterling Breeze ONLY), April 23- April 27 (Calypso, Sterling Reef, Splash and Sterling Breeze ONLY), May 22-May 25, June 5- August 16, Sept 2- Sept 7 (PCB Properties ONLY)

Why It's Worth Hiring A Destin Photographer For Your Next Family Portrait

Over the past several years, TripShock has sold thousands of beach photo packages along the coast. Although the price can be more than most families can afford, the real cost is losing the opportunity of taking home a vacation memory that lasts a lifetime. I go to the beach often and always see families trying to get the perfect group shot without professional help. I'm not an expect by any means as my photography knowledge is limited, but its unfortunate that these families will not achieve their desired results using timers, make-shift tripods, and my most favorite - asking the guy walking by to snap a few photos.

Hiring a photographer may seem like an expensive service, but it's really not. Most photographers have a variety of options that fit almost any budget. On TripShock, Destin photographers offer packages starting from under $99, which is no more than a nice meal for 4 at a local restaurant. If this next vacation or getaway is a rare occasion, it's even more of a reason to make sure the moment is captured just right.

Here is what the photographers have to say.

1- Hire a photographer to find the best landscapes for your photos
Locations like Destin and Panama City Beach have beautiful beaches, but local photographers can find the best locations that offer incredible backdrops.

2- Hire a photographer for their expertise and capture techniques
A photographer will make sure everyone in the group is posed to perfection. It's also good to consider the candid moments during a photo session, which a great photographer will capture.  

3- Hire a photographer because they can edit photos
A photographer spends more than half of their time editing photos. Don't let a strand of hair or a bird flying by ruin another photo.

4- Hire a photographer because you're on vacation!
This is my favorite point of all. You are on vacation so let someone else do the work! Some people will get very upset if their photos don't turn out right since they only have limited time to get it right. There is no need to have this added stress.

Military Museums On the Gulf Coast

Next time you're visiting the Gulf Coast, stop by one of the many popular military museums. There is so much history to be told about how the Gulf Coast helped shape the wars of our past. From New Orleans to Fort Walton Beach, there is story to be told in each city. Here are a few stops that you can't miss on your next trip.

Pensacola Naval Air Station - Pensacola, FL

Fort Pickens - Pensacola Beach, FL

Air Force Armament Museum - Fort Walton Beach, FL

World War II Museum - New Orleans, LA

USS Alabama - Mobile, AL