Good morning, Destin! In today’s edition: Airport bear encounter, SS United States reef backlash, Winter Wonderland snow day, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Wild encounter during inspection: A black bear roaming an Okaloosa County airport was spotted by deputies, then scrambled up a fence and fled to the woods. The Sheriff’s Office shared a photo — see the photo and details.

Tourism dollars fuel controversy: Okaloosa County’s plan to sink the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef faces pushback from New York officials, while Councilwoman Gale Brewer seeks landmark status — get all the details.

Curious climber retreats to woods: In a foggy airport encounter, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office shared a photo of a black bear on the airfield after a deputy’s spotlight ended its airport roam — see how it unfolded.

Pricey state land deal: Destin residents packed a Dec. 30 town hall to oppose a Holiday Isle park plan, citing a 53-slip marina with no parking and zoning issues — get all the details.

Early design details emerge: Okaloosa County hosted a town hall with residents and officials on Holiday Isle park plans for the state owned site, saying the marina will stay with parking and amenities planned — see what improvements are proposed.

Winter Wonderland @ The Village of Baytowne Wharf | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Baytowne Wharf is importing the stuff we usually see in Publix freezers, with real snow piling up for a family-friendly morning. It’s free, festive, and mercifully close to coffee, so bundle up, let the kids go feral, and enjoy a Florida “powder day.” — see the event listing.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🌅 Acrylic Painting – Landscapes/Seascapes @ Arts & Design Society ADSO | Thursday (1/15) at 9:30 AM – Trade scrolling for brushstrokes in a four-week, double-session acrylic class focused on landscapes and seascapes. The instructor guides you through several paintings, no experience needed. Think calm skies, moody waves, and the satisfaction of making something that isn’t another spreadsheet.

🧩 Helen’s Puzzle Swap @ Niceville Public Library | Thursday (1/15) at 10:00 AM – Got a closet full of puzzles missing the thrill? Trade up to four like-new, smoke-free gems at Helen’s weekly swap, then gossip about edge pieces while you sign the clipboard. Come Thursday, leave feeling smug, organized, and one jigsaw richer.

🧘 Sun Soul Stillness: Revival Retreat @ Sun Soul Stillness | Thursday (1/15) at 3:00 PM – Need a reset that does not involve rearranging the garage? This mellow Sun Soul Stillness revival retreat leans into breath, quiet, and unhurried movement, the kind that unknots shoulders and minds. Come for the calm, stay for the guilt-free nap, and leave actually lighter.

🍷 Sip, Savor, and Salud: Intro to Spanish and Portuguese Wines @ Shoppes at Paradise Isle | Thursday (1/15) at 6:30 PM – Save the flight to Madrid for another day. This guided tasting tours the great wine regions of Spain and Portugal, with approachable education, generous pours, and zero pretension. Sip, learn, and leave smugly confident ordering Albariño, Tempranillo, and a Douro red.

🎳 MEC Breakfast & Bowling @ Club LA | Friday (1/16) at 8:30 AM – Breakfast from Scratch Business Kitchen, then bowling at Hurricane Lanes, all benefiting Mentoring Emerald Coast and tomorrow’s local leaders. Register a team or roll solo, sponsor a lane for shameless logo love, and call it guilt-free networking with strikes.

🚶 Hey, Girl! Walk @ Crab Trap | Friday (1/16) at 9:00 AM – Destin’s friendliest beach walk is meeting at the James Lee Park and Crab Trap pavilions, then strolling a mile down Scenic 98 and back. Think fresh air, easy conversation, and steps that actually count. Strollers, friendly pups, and your best gossip welcome, before the beach chairs multiply.

🧘 New Year Nervous System Reset & Open House @ Cocoon 30A – Wellness Lounge and Co-working space | Friday (1/16) at 5:00 PM – New Year at Cocoon 30A means one thing, convincing your nervous system to unclench while you snoop a very pretty co-working space. Think guided reset, and a peek at their state-of-the-art wellness amenities, then maybe actually finishing that project you keep side-eyeing.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Destin report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 71°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 69%

Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 58°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind 15 to 20 mph.

Most popular house this week

Set on nearly 1.5 acres with 385 feet of Choctawhatchee Bay frontage, this Mediterranean-inspired estate feels like its own peninsula, with cypress-lined privacy. Massey-Ledo Studio Architects paired arched openings and wrought-iron details with generous windows framing full-panorama sunsets. Five bedrooms and five baths join a wine room, cedar-lined closets, integrated sound, a Thermador kitchen, a signature sunken bar, and a first-floor steam room.

Manicured gardens, a fountain, and a bayfront pool link to brick-paver paths and a sunset patio. The deepwater dock adds Tru-Flow decking, a 42-by-17-foot slip with lift, two jet-ski lifts, and dredged access, plus a 2021 concrete tile roof, a Generac generator, and Ring cameras.

Take a peek inside →