DESTIN — What Emerald Coast residents have known for years has been confirmed with the Travel Channel’s online poll for the Best Family Beach of 2013.
The Destin area received 43 percent of the votes cast for the best beach destination for a family. Also in the running were the Outer Banks, N.C., Paradise Island in the Bahamas and Cape Cod, Mass.
“This didn’t just happen,” said Dan O’Byrne, director of Okaloosa County’s tourist development department. “The focus on the family is in our DNA. Our attributes are self- evident from our accommodations, our beaches, our people. We’ve been the family vacation spot for decades.
View the final results for the TravelChannel.com voting >>
View a reader submitted photogallery of the Emerald Coast >>
“It’s us. It’s who we are.”
TravelChannel.com left voting up to its viewers to choose the best beach for a family vacation. It isn’t just the sugar white sand; there also is the atmosphere of surrounding towns and businesses.
“It’s our culture,” said Jamie Hall, director of marketing for the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village in Destin. “The community and the activities we offer are far and away more comfortable for visitors with families than many other resort towns.
“This is obviously a dream come true. We’ve always treasured our little community, but to be recognized in an international format will certainly do wonderful things for the community and the Emerald Coast.”
Local attractions listed by the Travel Channel were the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, Kelly Plantation Golf Resort and Sandpiper Cove.
“I’ve been here 20-plus years,” said Dave Urie, the fishing pier’s manager. “I’ve seen kids fishing on the pier that now bring their kids to fish, and that’s not just the locals. I’ve had tourists come down year after year.
“What sets us apart is first, the white sand. I’ve been everywhere and there’s nothing like it. The second part are the people. We’re tourist friendly.”
Destin Mayor Sam Seevers said the news was a surprise, although she already knew the Emerald Coast reigns supreme for its family-friendly atmosphere.
Seevers said the way Destin has kept that atmosphere is by requiring hotel guests be at least 25 years old and by marketing to families.
“We maintain a certain clientele of folks coming to our area by having a lot of the good family businesses in our community that are family-owned, with great local restaurants and beautiful beaches,” she said. “We are the best beach. I greatly appreciate all these publications taking note of how great our beaches are, but I don’t need a tabulation to tell me that.
“I already know that we have the best beaches, and I take great pride in that.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.