Spring Break 2016

SANDESTIN ANNOUNCES FOCUS ON FAMILY FUN FOR SPRING BREAK
Programming to Include Numerous Daily Complimentary Activities and Events

Miramar Beach, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2016) – Complimentary daily activities, weekly events and friendly competitions are part of a new family-focused programming initiative for 2016 spring break announced today by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The resort’s plans will span a five-week period coinciding with spring breaks throughout the Southeast from early March through late April.

“We wanted to take a more positive and family-friendly approach to spring break and inform potential visitors that Sandestin and South Walton are great places to have a wholesome and fun spring vacation,” said Robert Kallmeyer, resort director of operations. “Every day, the resort will have significant programming with the majority of it being absolutely free. Plus, the Village will offer nightly events they typically offer in the summer and other select times of the year. Sandestin will be the place to be for spring break for families in 2016.”

Some of the weekly free resort guest activities at the 2,400-acre resort will include: beach yoga, croquet on the Grand Lawn, daily ice cream social, putt putt challenges, sand castle building, pie eating contests, magic shows, photo scavenger hunts, beach volleyball tournaments, beach Olympics, family cooking classes, family fishing tournaments and more. Weekly family events for purchase will include daily breakfast buffet, Tuesday night Luaus and Friday night Pirate Dinners followed by a movie at the marina.

The Village of Baytowne Wharf will offer nightly events for spring break including Sunday night cinema, Hydroflight Mondays, Boomin’ Tuesdays with fireworks over the lagoon, Wednesday Night Concerts and Magical Thursdays.

Visitors can plan their 2016 Spring Break now and receive up to 25 percent off accommodations. For more information, go to Sandestin.com/SB2016 or call 866.91.BEACH. Use promo code: SB2016. Offer is good for travel from March 11-April 10, 2016.

A Letter from the Sheriff
WALTON COUNTY PREPARING FOR SPRING BREAK

As Walton county officials prepare for the annual influx of college students for Spring Break, authorities are hoping to prevent a repeat of the sex and alcohol fueled madness that plagued Bay County in previous years.

Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. issued the following open letter to students, parents and visitors as his agency gears up to make sure all have a good time but maintain a respect for the law and property of others.
Dear College Student,

We hope your 2016 spring semester is off to a great start! As we inch toward the month of March, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to pass along some information regarding Spring Break.

For some years now we have had the opportunity to interact with college students from all over the country while they visit the Emerald Coast.

This year we want to encourage those visiting Walton County, Florida to do so responsibly and to have a good time. However, if you possess alcohol while under the age of 21 or violate any other Florida law during your visit, you will be arrested and taken to jail.

Also, keep in mind our jail is located approximately 40 miles from the coast. Those breaking the law will be charged, transported, and booked into the Walton County Jail in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. This entire process could make for a very long day.

We want you to enjoy yourselves, have fun, and make great memories. If that’s your intention while visiting our county, you won’t be seeing much of us. However, if your intention is to break the law or impede on anyone else’s good time you will be dealt with accordingly.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Jr.

From a frat boy blog ....

Two weeks ago, we reported that Panama City Beach banned alcohol on its beaches in the month of March to thwart unruly spring breakers from soiling their good name and turning their resort town into a hedonistic drug, alcohol and fornication fest. Then last week, we recommended seven alternative spring break destinations to PCB, one of which being just down the road: Destin, Florida. Destin, the quaint, quiet, family-friendly vacation spot is not known for the wild behavior you typically see in Panama City Beach.

Today, we received a snarky as f**k letter from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, with the intent to let us — and all of you — know that if you’re thinking of booking your spring break trip to Destin next March, you m****f****ers better think again.

Below is that salty letter we received via email.




Edit: The Patrick Kane reference was just pointed out to me. This guy’s too good.

So snarky, right? I love this letter. Such attitude. They get the point across, too. It was effective. All beach-bound spring breakers have officially been put on notice. The virgin beaches of Destin, Florida will remain virgin as the Walton County Sheriff’s Office has thrown away the key to its spring break chastity belt.

You demented college kids are still free to act like caged horny alcoholics who are set free on the beach for one week per year, but you’re not doing it in Destin, and you’re not doing it on the watch of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

Thanks for including the Alabama and Atlanta public school spring breaks since they do generate a lot of visitors to South Walton beaches.

Thanks for including the Alabama and Atlanta public school spring breaks since they do generate a lot of visitors to South Walton beaches.

The most during Spring Break by far.

Facing the unknown: March bookings, hiring drop ahead of Panama City Beach Spring Break

With March and a more-tightly regulated Spring Break looming, reservations at many hotels and condos are down more than 50 percent compared to the same time last year, causing some establishments to significantly cut back hiring, managers and owners said.In many cases, room rates are being slashed,but owners say the reservations still are a tough sell.

In the wake of a slew of new laws passed by city and county officials to “tone down” the celebration, including a ban on drinking on the sandy beach, business owners who depend on spring breakers fear the traditional spring breakers are finding other locations to visit this year.They could be right.

SEASIDE® To Incorporate Guidelines for the Spring Break Season

Spring break attracts thousands of young people to South Walton who are all looking to have fun with their families in Seaside. Our goal is to provide that fun and family time together in a safe, enjoyable environment while also facilitating a genuinely, positive experience.

To help with this during the weeks of Spring Break, Seaside has established the following guidelines:

1) Beach access is limited after 9 p.m. to adults over 21 or to youth accompanied by a parent.

2) No backpacks allowed on the beach.

3) No flags allowed on the beach.

Seaside’s Courtesy Team members are available to assist if needed at 850-231-6177.

SEASIDE® To Incorporate Guidelines for the Spring Break Season

Spring break attracts thousands of young people to South Walton who are all looking to have fun with their families in Seaside. Our goal is to provide that fun and family time together in a safe, enjoyable environment while also facilitating a genuinely, positive experience.

To help with this during the weeks of Spring Break, Seaside has established the following guidelines:

1) Beach access is limited after 9 p.m. to adults over 21 or to youth accompanied by a parent.

2) No backpacks allowed on the beach.

3) No flags allowed on the beach.

Seaside’s Courtesy Team members are available to assist if needed at 850-231-6177.

SEASIDE® To Incorporate Guidelines for the Spring Break Season

Spring break attracts thousands of young people to South Walton who are all looking to have fun with their families in Seaside. Our goal is to provide that fun and family time together in a safe, enjoyable environment while also facilitating a genuinely, positive experience.

To help with this during the weeks of Spring Break, Seaside has established the following guidelines:

1) Beach access is limited after 9 p.m. to adults over 21 or to youth accompanied by a parent.

2) No backpacks allowed on the beach.

3) No flags allowed on the beach.

Seaside’s Courtesy Team members are available to assist if needed at 850-231-6177.

1st, kudos for trying to do something Seaside.

2nd, so based off the arguments some are making against Private Beach Rights, let's just assume Seaside actually owns it's beach and let's assume "someone" like the sheriff's office will actually enforce the "rules".

What prevents me from walking along the waters edge with a backpack and carrying a flag ?

Please explain.

I've said all along, "Be careful what you wish for" PCB. In my humble opinion, banning alcohol on the beach is not the answer. Pure and simple enforcement of the current laws, i.e., underage drinking, public intoxication, etc is the answer. I think come Apil 1st, there are going to be so many businesses, as well as their employees really hurting! Also, what about the "respectable, law abiding" families that go to PCB, mom, dad and the kids? Mom & Dad just want to sip a beer and watch the kids play in the sand. It's too bad those bed tax paying folks won't go to Bay County anymore. So, OK, maybe some of those folks will fork over the higher prices and give Walton County their tax dollars, but as a 30A business person we probably won't probably won't see much of it. I know what a struggle it is to run a business that is so dependent on tourists, we all are eating Ramen noodles in February just praying that March gets here soon! My sympathy goes out to all the PCB folks who will have to still eat those noodles until May. On the flip side, 30A is screaming for workers, let's import some of those hungry PCB employees!

I think PCB simply got tired of the reputation of being the home of irresponsible behavior, embarrassing national publicity and boys and girls gone wild. Good for them. The trade off making money vs. enabling an atmosphere of immoral and illegal behavior has finally turned the tide.
Mom and Dad sipping a beer on the beach didn't drive this.
Being dependent on that definition of tourism is just not worth it.

46 College Students Spending Spring Break Building Houses With Habitat

Santa Rosa Beach, FL (March 4th) –While many students will be enjoying relaxation and fun on our white sandy beaches and other spring break hot spots, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, FL proudly welcomes their college spring breakers or as they call them, volunteers. With a well deserved break from classes and the stresses of college life, four campuses from across the United States are bringing students to our area to volunteer their time and efforts to support our local community and Habitat's great cause.

Campuses from Penn State University are coming back for their 11th year. Habitat also welcomes back Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville and Tennessee Wesleyan for their second year and California University of Pennsylvania will be joining for the first time. Collectively, 46 students are donating their time and energy to making a difference to the lives of our local families. These students will be completing several important projects to Habitat homes such as sheet rocking, installing vinyl siding, laying sod, along with major clean up and reorganization at Walton County's Habitat for Humanity's building thrift store located on County Highway 393 S.

"We are honored to welcome and host these students that are spending their time making a difference," say Teresa DesGranges, Executive Director of Walton County Habitat for Humanity. "These students are trading in beer and shots for hammers and nails and we couldn't be more grateful."

Habitat for Humanity has completed 39 homes in Walton County with another two homes currently under construction. They are also proud to feature one of their homes in this year's upcoming Okaloosa/Walton BIA Parade of Homes. To learn more or to get involved please contact the Administrative Office at 850-660-1681.

It's on!

There was a letter to editor today that made a great point. While our local sheriffs are arresting college students for drinking a beer on the beach the Florida legislature wants to allow them to carry guns on campus.

Read an article about Panama City Beach being pretty quiet this year. But the party has moved to Panama City where there are clubs away from the beach. Also crowds have moved over to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

On channel 13, the other night, they showed some of the nightclub scene in Panama City. There were no white "students" to be seen. And none of them looked like "college kids".

Just heard WaterColor Publix is a mob this afternoon.

Even the New York Times noticed that business is way down in PCB, but for the most part it looks like the problems are, too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/u...ml?rref=collection/sectioncollection/us&_r=0i