Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday to spend on the Emerald Coast. The food options are endless and incredible! You can order a family style meal to take back to your rental from many grocery stores and restaurants. Due to COVID concerns, this option is now offered by many more establishments than in previous years. Many restaurants offer a full dining service with a special Thanksgiving menu, but it is hard to ignore the tremendous buffets available. In true coastal style, many of the buffets offer a seafood options in addition to Turkey, Ham and Beef stations. In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, many accompanying dishes showcase ingredients freshly harvested from the Gulf. Build your own take out box is another option being offered by some of the buffets.

The lighter crowds and milder temperatures create the perfect conditions for shopping over Thanksgiving holiday. The stores and shops are already beautifully decorated and ready to serve the holiday out of town guests. Many offer locally crafted and/or sourced products that create truly unique gifts that friends and family will cherish forever.

The Gulf is always amazingly beautiful, and the climate is mild during the holiday season. You might need a light jacket or hoodie in the evenings, but it is far from unpleasantly cold. Some areas along the Emerald Coast allow beach fireplace services at night. For a fee, the service will provide everything needed (including the necessary permit) to have a private campfire on the beach. 

If you are lucky enough to spend the holidays on the Emerald Coast, you are lucky enough!