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Hey Destin, hope your week’s off to a good start! In today’s edition: Neon Jellyfish painting, new JetBlue flights, a Mac N Cheese Festival, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Heritage meets ocean adventure: Destin shines on the Emerald Coast with pristine beaches, charter fishing, and family fun. Explore 1800s fishing roots at the Destin History and Fishing Museum, plus snorkeling and shopping — read the full story.
New routes and added flights: JetBlue will start Fort Lauderdale to Dallas flights on March 12 and twice-daily Fort Lauderdale to Orlando on May 21, with LaGuardia increases and Florida network including Destin/Fort Walton Beach — get all the route details.
National luxury team extends reach: Coldwell Banker Realty announced Dawn McKenna Group has expanded to Destin and 30A, adding agent Bonnie Hall to serve Emerald Coast clients, with a Santa Rosa Beach office to follow — see the new office location.
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 its 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.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Students giving back locally: Fort Walton Beach High School Air Force JROTC will host a Community Appreciation Pancake Breakfast on January 17 at Magnolia Grill, raising funds for the cadet program and the Air Force Enlisted Village, with pancakes, smoked sugar sausage, coffee, and orange juice. Get all the details.
Dial in your swing: Bring your crew to Destin Golf Club for an indoor round on ProTee VX simulators, with crisp ball data, slow-mo impact replays, and four bays so no one just stands around. Veteran-owned and low-stress, it’s ideal when the weather, or your slice, won’t cooperate.
Better bath energy: If your bathroom shelf needs a glow-up, Magnolia Soap & Bath Company handcrafts plant-based soaps, scrubs, body butters, and shampoo bars in craveable scents, all made locally. Treat yourself to an easy pick-me-up that turns weekday showers into a tiny spa moment.
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).
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📆 Around town this week
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This week
🧘 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.
✂ Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting @ Saltaire Apartment Homes | Thursday (1/15) at 3:00 PM – Nothing says small-town excitement like a shiny ribbon and free cookies. Swing by Saltaire Apartments in Santa Rosa Beach for the ribbon cutting, take a peek at the new digs, sip something light, and pretend you are just browsing, not mentally redecorating the model unit.
🍷 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.
This weekend
📖 Storytime @ Crystal Beach Plaza | Saturday (1/17) – Storytime is back, and yes, the kids think books are magic. Bring the little ones for cozy tales, wiggly giggles, and a blessed stretch where someone else does the reading while you savor a coffee, a breath, and their happy faces. A classic, beloved.
🐙 Neon Jellyfish @ Painting with a Twist | Saturday (1/17) at 12:00 PM – Neon Jellyfish is inviting all ages to a bright, booze-free paint sesh, so yes, you can survive an evening without your chardonnay. Bring the kids, your steady hand, and a sense of humor, and remember, 24 hours’ notice gets you store credit.
🎸 That Arena Rock Show @ Club LA | Saturday (1/17) at 7:00 PM – That Arena Rock Show is cranking up the anthems we grew up shouting in our cars. It’s partially seated, so you can protect the knees, then stand for the big choruses. Expect big hooks, bigger hair, and zero judgment for air guitar.
🍳 Sunday Breakfast @ American Legion Destin Post 296 | Sunday (1/18) at 8:15 AM – Sunday morning at the American Legion Post 296 means a proper cooked-to-order breakfast, not some tiny brunch. Eggs, omelets, and hot coffee, all handled by folks who know their way around a griddle. Come hungry, linger with neighbors, and call it your Sunday ritual.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Destin report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 59°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 62°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 21%
A slight chance of rain showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
This house is wild
This 4-bedroom Mediterranean-style residence, built in 2021, sits in a gated lakefront community minutes from Destin beaches. Polished concrete floors anchor the main level, with LVP upstairs. The chef’s kitchen pairs custom cabinetry with quartz and granite surfaces and premium appliances. A light-filled layout opens to a private courtyard and an expansive waterfront sun deck for easy outdoor living.
Upstairs, a versatile second living area works as a media room, office, or retreat. Dual laundry rooms, including one inside the primary closet, elevate function. Zip System sheathing, hard coat stucco, a pre-plumbed generator connection, and two-zone HVAC enhance resilience. A two-car garage and Calusa Bay views complete the picture.
Take a peek inside →
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