Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation's Festival of the Arts is one of the Southeast's premier festivals and showcases more than 100 artists from across the U.S. The Festival is a celebration of art, music, food, and family fun and features a…
The Emerald Coast is filled with unforgettable scenes—from sugar-white beaches and emerald waters to sunset dinners, dolphin sightings, coastal wildlife, and spontaneous moments that define a perfect day along Northwest Florida’s shoreline. Now At the Beach magazine invites you to…
INLET BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2026) – The Sonder Project is pleased to announce its inaugural golf tournament, the Sonder Open, which will take place on Monday, March 9, at Camp Creek Golf Course. Golfers, community leaders, and local businesses…
Navarre native Whitley Simpson, a board-certified physician assistant at Coastal Skin Surgery and Dermatology, knows sunshine is a way of life for Emerald Coast residents. As spring and summer approach and we are beckoned to long days of boating and…
BAYTOWNE ON ICE FEB. 1-8 Keep the winter wonderland spirit alive with a visit to the ice-skating rink in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin. baytownewharf.com PENSACOLA DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN FEB. 7 One of the premier 15K races in…
After completing 30 years of service in the Air Force as Chief of Surgery and Surgical Quality Officer at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Dr. Elizabeth Sager wasn’t ready to retire her passion of changing lives. Instead, she brought her…
When Stephen and Summer Kole started brewing kombucha in their kitchen back in 2016, it wasn’t with business plans or branding in mind—it was out of love and curiosity. “We enjoyed drinking it, so we began the journey of self-taught,…
With an influx of information coming to us from all directions, many of us face decision fatigue. This might be especially apparent at six in the morning while standing in front of your closet. The term “capsule wardrobe” came into…
European honeybees are the most commonly known pollinators and are returning from their hives to our local landscapes as the days lengthen. While not native to this continent, honeybees are beneficial to the environment and critically important to agricultural production.…
Tucked along Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola, Blue Morning Gallery is a local treasure. It’s a place where creativity feels approachable, and art leads to a smile. Unlike traditional galleries, Blue Morning is entirely artist-run. There’s no owner, no paid…
In the opening scene of Nose, a 2021 documentary following the creative process of Dior perfumer François Demachy, Demachy stands amidst fields of green patchouli in Indonesia. There’s nothing fancy here, no laboratory or sparkling bottles, just a nose and…
In our first 2026 issue of Emerald Coast Magazine, I am writing this letter to you, our loyal readers and supporters, with optimism for the year to come and a huge sense of gratitude of what has been. Talking with…
1 It can speak to your atmosphere and help set your desired tone. One of the goals of interior design is to create a cohesive mood, and your ceiling can be a compelling component in that mission. Painting it a darker…
Holistic wellness is trending in 2026—for the body, mind, spirit, and the home, too. Fitness-minded folk are making room for exercise at home in newly imagined and carefully curated spaces. “We’re not really calling them home gyms anymore,” says local…
I’m an avid traveler, which comes with risks—illness being one of them. I’ve come down with COVID-19 four times, usually due to a plane full of coughers or a stagnant theme park queue. My first brush with the virus, though,…
There’s something magical about Bali. As many of the free spirits who move there can attest, wellness comes naturally in this Indonesian province, evidenced by its profusion of plant-based cuisine, abundance of biophilic design, and deep harmony with the natural…
Nurturing full-body wellness is not a one-size-fits-all approach. And with the constant changes in health and wellness trends, it can be hard to find practices that fit our needs and lifestyles. In this piece, four contributors from Emerald Coast Magazine…
During the summer of 2022, Kevin Laliberte, a 41-year-old retired chief master sergeant who served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, loaded up his truck with surfboards, firewood, and a plan. He was on his way to Grayton Beach…
She is only 9 years old. She progressed to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent at 7. She makes an impact on everyone she meets with her contagious energy and passion for movement. She is Eseniia Mikheeva—an up-and-coming dance star…
This February, the streets of Panama City and Panama City Beach will once again transform into urban seas where giant floats from local Mardi Gras krewes sail the streets, their pirates, wenches, and dazzling royal courts sending beads and trinkets…
Whether on social media or in the grocery store, you’ve noticed it: Protein is everywhere. It’s now a featured component in all types of foods, from powders to chips to coffee and more. Unlike many food crazes that come and…
For those who are plant-based or gluten-free, it can be challenging—but ultimately rewarding—to sift through endless restaurant menus and reviews to find the best options for a meal. The best-case scenario: a delicious dish that doesn’t compromise your needs and may…
With countless ways to exercise by land and sea along the Emerald Coast, paddleboarders to pickleball enthusiasts are seeking the latest and greatest gadgets. From wearable technology to athletic-enhancing accessories, 2026 brings a host of health-oriented, fashion-forward investments. Omorpho G-Vest …
Take a look inside a local gym, and you will likely see a national trend playing out in real time: more women lifting weights than ever before. In the past decade, a growing number of women have shifted their focus from…
Known for their early approaches to spa therapy, ancient Greeks and Romans had an affinity for “taking the waters” in bathhouses, freshwater pools, and sea baths. Some thousands of years later, the Regency Era revived an ocean-forward approach to wellness…
When Angela Pearson began working as a nurse practitioner in the field of dermatology in 2014, she knew she had found her calling. “I have always, ever since I was very young, been interested in skin care, hair care and…
Whether you’re an art aficionado or simply an admirer, LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival has sights to behold. Ranked the No. 3 fine art festival in the nation (including No. 1 in Florida) by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the 2026 event…
SEASIDE, FLA (Jan. 26, 2026) — Bud & Alley's Waterfront Restaurant, the iconic Gulf-front gathering place known for its legendary sunset celebrations, marked its 40th anniversary by gathering its entire staff for a celebratory toast on the rooftop deck, honoring…
Even the slightest shift in temperatures makes trading in our chilled cocktail glasses for a cup of the hot and soothing a decadent affair. Fire up your bar carts, and cozy up with these three winter warmers. Winter Blues If…
The holidays are so tightly tied to memory—the scent of your grandma’s pumpkin pie baking, the taste of the brined turkey seasoned with dad’s secret recipe, or your aunt’s cornbread stuffing that always sends you back for thirds. In a…
Freeport’s streets burst with color and history in the form of massive painted concrete anchors—each landmark telling a story. The Anchored in Freeport project transforms the city’s maritime symbol into a permanent public art installation. For a town shaped by…
Boasting hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine, protected wilderness, Franklin County is heaven for hikers. Within Tate’s Hell State Forest, visitors can traipse among ancient, 150-year-old dwarf cypress trees, native pitcher plants, and coastal scrub ecosystems that populate the…
Since 1954, the family-owned Magnanni luxury brand has remained dedicated to its heritage and shoemaking traditions. Founded in Almansa, Spain, much of the company’s operations still take place in the area with footwear now manufactured in both Spain and Portugal,…
Taking in the fall weather the last few months and celebrating the holidays has got me feeling nostalgic for one of the hardest seasons of my life. It was fall 2021 when I first applied for a job at Emerald…
Across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties, an average of 12.5 percent of residents are experiencing food insecurity, according to numbers reported by Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study. A 2025 annual report from the Florida Council on…
Brittany White, an aesthetician at Aqua Medical Spa in Panama City Beach, meets a lot of people who are this close to loving what they see in the mirror. They’ve done the workouts, watched their diet, and made progress, but…
There’s something undeniably magical about a good croissant. Flour, butter, water, milk, yeast, sugar, and salt combine to transform into fluffy, flaky, and impossibly light confections. But croissant production is no simple feat, rather the result of a multistep, labor-intensive…
Melli Pappas is a passionate advocate for literary accessibility. A proud mother, grandmother, and owner of The Book Rack in Fort Walton Beach, she’s always loved to read for herself and with her kids. “Both my parents were huge readers,”…
Sarah White is an ardent curator of holiday aesthetics. She is known to have a minimum of five Christmas trees throughout her home during the winter holiday season and has an ever-growing collection of ornaments and nutcrackers. Much of her…
After nearly three decades of commanding the kitchens of prestigious properties such as the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the Boca Raton Resort & Club, and even serving as the executive chef for the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park,…
Between Pensacola’s iconic beaches and historic facades lies a city in motion, where every block offers a new layer of discovery. Wander down 12th Avenue and hear the hum of vinyl spinning in a local record shop. Step into a…
ANNIE Nov. 28-Dec. 21 Join your favorite red-headed orphan Annie, Daddy Warbucks, and the eternally grumpy Miss Hannigan for this feel-good story of finding your forever home. With hits like “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “It’s a Hard…
There’s nothing like a good prompt or theme to get a writer in the spirit of storytelling. It’s no wonder I was immediately drawn to the idea of dinner and a story. Founders of Emerald Coast Storytellers, Kristy Holditch and…
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) launched a calendar photo contest at the beginning of 2025 as part of the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative. The contest invites amateur photographers of all skill levels to capture the natural beauty and ecological heritage…
Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, I can remember the excitement of the 2002 Winter Olympics being held in my hometown. The location decision took place seven years prior, after many failed attempts. The city’s developmental preparation for the…
In the Mix There’s no need to hire a sous chef for your cooking endeavors thanks to the Thermomix TM6 ($1,649). This all-in-one multicooker offers 28 functions (including chop, blend, steam, knead, sauté, grind, whisk, sous vide, and slow cook)…
A new Gulf Coast cruise will take passengers from historic Pensacola to the vibrant streets of New Orleans—and vice versa. The seven-night, eight-day voyage offered by American Cruise Lines will charter trips in March and December of each year. The…
At Traditions Workshop in Fort Walton Beach, the past and present coexist. Antique tools and old, weathered machinery, some dating back more than a hundred years, sit comfortably alongside power tools of the twenty-first century. But this isn’t a museum—the…
Sequins and silk. Jewels and glitter. Sweaters and stockings. The holidays are a special time of year when our styles level up in panache and pizzazz. Holiday gatherings with friends, family, and coworkers keep social calendars booked with dinners, gift…
While we may be in the sunshine state, Northwest Florida is sure to experience a few chilly days throughout winter. If you’re coming down with a case of the winter blues, you can now easily fly south for winter thanks…
