Emerald Coast Magazine - June-July 2025

Anglers Hook Winning Catches at 2025 ECBC

The 23rd Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) returned to Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort from June 18-22, 2025, bringing together 78 elite sportfishing teams for a week of high-stakes competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. With…

New Fort Walton Beach Welcome Sign

The City of Fort Walton Beach congratulates Christina Donahoe of Christina Custom Art on her winning design for a new downtown Fort Walton Beach entrance sign. For her design efforts, Donahoe was presented with a check for $5,000 during a…

Comfortable In Your Own Skin

With locations throughout the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Georgia, Dermatology Specialists and Aqua Medical Spa is one of the largest and most trusted dermatology practices in the Southeast. Offering comprehensive dermatology to include everything from Mohs surgery to BOTOX, their…

Tales of Old Florida

Old Florida is synonymous with Sunshine State nostalgia. The phrase indicates a bygone era of small-town coastal living and simpler, less crowded times. Today, the Emerald Coast is a hot spot for tourism—our beaches are bustling, and our economy is…

Florida Cocktails

Carrie Honaker was traveling abroad, on board a barge in Southern France, when she unexpectedly received an email from Cider Mill Press.   The publishing company was looking to recruit Honaker to author a compilation of cocktails made at bars…

The Garden

A close cousin to the cafeteria and inspired by the nearly bygone era of the mall food court, the dining hall boom has carved out space for communities to gather and for local entrepreneurs to thrive.  “You really get the gamut…

Some Kind of Nirvana

Old Florida is synonymous with Sunshine State nostalgia. The phrase indicates a bygone era of small-town coastal living and simpler, less crowded times. Today, the Emerald Coast is a hot spot for tourism—our beaches are bustling, and our economy is…

Building the Beach

It was just after developer and co-founder of Sandcastle Resorts and Hotels Frank Flautt had purchased a 10-acre beachfront lot that would house the future Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa that he placed a call to his friend…

Sea Style

Maria Galati Hill spends her days how most of us wish we could—on yachts.   While there is some play involved, the majority is work, as her family owns the respected yacht brokerage Galati Yacht Sales.   When her grandparents,…