By Christopher Manson
The holiday savings at Ecco Motors proved so appealing that Santa had decided to ditch the ol’ sleigh. Now through December 31, Ecco offers $500 off all Sierra LSV models. Sleek, stylish and built for performance, it’s “the perfect present for under the palm tree.” Ecco Motors is located at 147 Professional Place in Miramar Beach. Call 850.837.2600 or visit eccomotors.com. For sales and custom builds, visit their Destin location at 36058 Emerald Coast Parkway across from Regatta Bay.
Mr. Claus liked what he saw at Electric Cart Company in Santa Rosa Beach, too. Located at 5426 U.S. Highway 98 West, Electric Cart Company’s showroom boasts test drivable carts, both gas and electric. Call 850.622.2000 or visit electriccartcompany.com.
Destin’s McCaskill & Company offers a variety of fine jewelry gift ideas that will add some sparkle to the holidays, from pearl necklaces and earrings to diamond engagement rings (now, there’s a Christmas to remember). Custom-made pieces from top jewelry designers are available, too, plus lots more. Located at 13390 Highway 98 West. Call 850.650.2262 or visit mccaskillandcompany.com.
Your Christmas party wouldn’t be complete without some exquisite sweet treats from Smallcakes in Destin. Cookies start at $15 per dozen. A half-dozen brownies with your choice of toppings (fudge, peanut butter cream cheese, and vanilla buttercream rolled in mini M&Ms) are $21. Cakes range from $25 to $400 with gluten-friendly options available. Located in City Market, 36150 Emerald Coast Parkway. Call 850.842.9002 or visit smallcakesdestin.com.
Deck your home in holiday greenery with festive pots, stylish planters and more from PCBeach Pots & Planters. The Panama City Beach retailer offers everything you could imagine to make your space merry and bright. Located at 12405 Panama City Beach Parkway. Call 850.960.7687 or email pcbpotsnplanters@gmail.com.
For the people on your shopping list that love to eat – and who doesn’t, really? – pick up a gift card for $25 (or more!) at some of our favorite restaurants: AJ’s (locations in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island and Grayton Beach), Tailfins (Destin Harbor), Auston’s on 98 (Miramar Beach), The Boathouse (Destin Harbor), Fudpucker’s (Destin – check out their one-of-a-kind gift shop, too), Crispy Cajun Chicken (Destin), FUBAR Pizza Bar (Okaloosa Island), and the Saltwater Restaurants family of irresistible eateries – Surf Hut (Miramar Beach), The Crab Trap (Destin and the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk), Rockin’ Tacos (Okaloosa Island Boardwalk), AL’s Beach Club (Okaloosa Island Boardwalk) and Floyd’s Shrimp House (Okaloosa Island Boardwalk).
If you missed Hotworx Destin’s Black Friday deals, you can still gift a monthly membership to that special (and certain to be grateful) somebody. The 24-hour infrared fitness studio is located at 4489-C Commons Drive West. Call 850.468.9679 or visit hotworx.net/studio/destin.
At Beverly Hills Day Spa, 30-minute massages – Swedish, aromatherapy, prenatal, deep tissue, hot stone, reflexology and more – start at $50, and that’s just one of many spa services available. Purchase an instant gift certificate at beverlyhillsdayspa.com. Located at 114 Palmetto Drive Suite 6 in Destin. Call 850.654.8544 to find out more.
Other looking good / feeling good options include gift cards from Coastal Protein & Energy (facebook.com/coastalprotein) . . . Bluewater Plastic Surgery in Niceville – and coming in January 2026 to Watersound (bluewaterplasticsurgery.com) . . . and Niceville’s Gulf Coast Dental – who can turn down a teeth whitening treatment? (gulfcoastdental.com)
Judging by the lovely tree photo posted on their Facebook page, Blue Bay Lifestyle Co. is serious about this whole Christmas thing. Check out a wide selection of men’s and women’s apparel, shoes, accessories and gifts, including such quality brands as Vuori, Liverpool Los Angeles, Hobo Bags, Maui Jim Sunglasses, and more. Located at 27 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach. Call 850.374.8236 or visit bluebaylifestyle.com.
And while you’re in the neighborhood, stop by Run With It to satisfy the running/walking aficionado on your shopping list. 850.243.1007.
Lisa Turpin offers private personal training, a/k/a health and well-being enhancement. Look for Lisa Turpin Fitness on Facebook, call 850.974.2005, or email Lisa.Turpin8r@gmail.com.
The arts and culture lover in your life will appreciate a Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Membership, starting at $75. Benefits include free access to Concerts in the Village, discounts on Festival of the Arts merch, and members-only ticket pricing. Help keep the arts thriving by calling 850.650.2226 or visiting mkaf.org.
More live entertainment options include tickets to studio6twenty5’s production of The Nutcracker, December 19-21 at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium ($15.99-$30.99 at studio6twenty5.com) . . . Emerald Coast Theatre Co.’s Murder on the Orient Express, coming January 15 through February 1, 2026 (emeraldcoasttheatre.org) . . . The Ground Up Project’s Second Annual Wacky Tacky Ball, set for January 31, 2026, at Destin’s Emerald Grande, promises ridiculous fun for a worthy cause (facebook.com/thegroundupprojectinc) … Act4Mystery offers gift cards good for any of its comedic murder mystery shows on the Emerald Coast (act4mystery.com).
For those who could use a post-holiday charter boat fishing trip – which would be everybody, right? – check out the deals being offered up by the Destin Princess and Destiny charter boats. Visit destinpartyboatfishing.com or call 850.753.8667. Discounts for seniors, military and children.
Speaking of post-holiday fun, who could resist a gift card for a home cleaning from Sparkles Cleaning Service? In addition to residential cleaning, Sparkles offers commercial, vacation rental, and move in/move out cleaning. Visit sparklescleaningflorida.com for more info.
Finally, it’s never too early to begin planning next year’s big holiday celebration. The Alice: A Gathering Place, located at 109 Calhoun Avenue in Destin, offers an expansive and breathtaking space for weddings and other “elevated” events. And, for really good girls and boys, an “intimate celebration package” ($750). Learn more at the-alice.com.
