As we leave the dreary dog days of summer behind and enter crisp autumn, a getaway to the Emerald Coast of Florida is most refreshing during shoulder season. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort boasts pristine beaches, shopping, dining, golf courses, a marina and the new luxury Hotel Effie for a beautiful seasonal escape in the slower yet affordable travel months – without the tourist crowd!
Wake up to comfortable temperatures in the low 70s, grab a warm drink and pastry at Hotel Effie’s quaint coffee shop, and take a peaceful stroll through the resort’s 24,000 acres of nature trails and beach. End the day at one of the area’s many restaurants to indulge in coastal fall flavors and visit The Village of Baytowne Wharf for live entertainment.
Fall Florida Flavors
Ovide at Hotel Effie combines Gulf Coast flavors with French influence for a refreshingly elegant dining experience. Visitors can indulge in seasonal treats across the resort with a Floridian take on fall flavors. Kellie Thorn, whose mixology experience has spanned almost 20 years, created the “Apples to Apples” cocktail available at Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge at Hotel Effie with apple brandy, apple cider honey syrup, angostura bitters, cardamom bitters, lemon juice, and garnished with a cinnamon stick and lemon wheel. The Marina Bar & Grill created an iced “Salty Cider” — a tribute to the emerald green waters and salty air in Sandestin. With ingredients like fireball, cider and salted caramel, this drink livens the senses with fall — best enjoyed on the dock by the bay.
Fall for Seasonal Events
The Village of Baytowne Wharf, the resort’s central dining and retail venue, will host its 13th Annual Baytowne Beer Festival on October 8-9 featuring craft brewers and beer along with live music. Event and ticket information can be found here. Hotel Effie provides a welcome gift sponsored by Grayton Beer. Guests who wish to visit at the end of the month can join in some family-friendly fun October 31 on Trick or Treat Street, ending the night with fireworks.
Stay in Paradise
NEW – Hotel Effie maintains southern hospitality at its core as it is named after owner Thomas Becnel’s grandmother Effie. It features four culinary concepts by acclaimed Chef Hugh Acheson, a luxury spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the only hotel rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Guests can witness the hotel’s charm at every nook, from coastal artwork on display by Deb Paradise and Brendan Parker to the quartz design details inspired by its white-sand beaches. Water views and beach days are enhanced by the comfortable weather to lounge or workout outdoors. Spa Lilliana offers restorative treatments and facials like the Vitamin Sea Radiance Facial to create a rejuvenating experience for visitors from cold areas.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort provides the full Florida experience in one place; it is ideal for those who want to avoid tourist crowds but still want to get away to someplace warm during the fall months. The resort is situated in Miramar Beach on the Gulf Coast, inviting guests to experience 2,400 acres with more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 20 swimming pools, a 226-slip marina, a fitness center and spa. Recently opened Osprey Point provides quick access to the ocean for guests to easily unplug.
