Parking problems in Destin

This past week saw us break in our “Chaos Oasis,” have enough rain to almost overflow our pool and see tourist season get into full swing but the biggest news in Destin was about parking.

Between the City of Destin and Harborwalk Village, they are in a race to see who is the biggest a-hole. The City went and put up no-parking signs on a side street behind McGuire’s. The problem is the signs went up at 3 pm and there were cars from McGuire’s employees already parked there. You guessed it, they came by and ticketed those cars that parked legally when they got there but became illegal after the signs went up. McGuire’s management paid the fines but that was about as low as you can get by the City.

Then last Friday, Harborwalk started charging $10 a car to park in their lot and parking garage. There was no warning to the public. At least the local businesses were aware this was going to happen but it sounds like many of their employees were not notified and were surprised to have to pay. I have heard that Harry T’s is going to discount folks if they show their receipt for parking so some of the shops are getting proactive.

Parking is a big problem in that area. I fully understand charging to park as many of the private lots already do that. But at least let people know ahead of time. And what the City did was ridiculous. So I guess they get the award for biggest a-hole. What all this is doing is run off more of the locals that want to come to the harbor.

Rain, rain and more rain fell last week in Destin. I feel bad for folks that were here on vacation. We had over an inch of rain one day, a half inch a couple of days with lower amounts all the other days. I am glad to say we are finally starting to dry out.

This past weekend we had our musician friend Brent Burns come over from Alabama to play a couple of days at the Chaos Oasis. Luckily the rain stopped in time. The pool temp was down to about 82 degrees due to all the rain but we still got in the water…for a short dip or two! LOL  It appeared everyone had a great time as we showed off our remodeled Casa and partied to Brent’s original music!

Sunday was Father’s Day. Sunshine Cindy’s Mom and Dad came over and I grilled filet mignon steaks for each of us. We actually bought them at Destin Ice Seafood house. They carry Buckhead Beef and it is some of the best beef around. It was a great day celebrating with her Dad.

One of the cool things about living here on the coast is all the wildlife we get to see. Over the last few months there have been several Osprey nest show up on the top of power poles along the open stretch of highway between Fort Walton Beach and Destin on the island. In one of the nest I have been able to see small heads pop up but now those heads are getting bigger. It looks like they are close to leaving the nest. Just this morning I saw 3 or 4 other Osprey’s just hanging out in some of the other nest. Pretty cool.

I see the old Panini Pete’s next to the Waffle House is going to become an Executive Car Wash. This is like the third one in a few months to be built around here. Do we really have that many dirty cars in Destin?

This Friday the Emerald Coast Parrot Head club will be meeting at Hooters in Destin. The phun starts at 5:30. Come out and Party with a Purpose with the Parrot Heads. See ya next Monday!

Destin Steve