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Even if it weren’t a weekend-long stand up paddle boarding party on a lake, this event would have us hooked from the getgo. The name is epic: Party Island on Lady Bird Lake. Sign us up. The cherry on top is that it is, in fact, a collection of SUP-lovers looking to have a good time with fellow water mongers like themselves.  

Do you have to be a paddle board pro to enjoy Party Island? Hell no. The point of Party Island on Lady Bird Lake is not to perfect your paddle stroke. And it’s certainly not to gear up your board with your favorite rods and bait for a fishing excursion. The point of Party Island is all in the name.

When planning a group or multi-family vacation in Destin or 30A, the vacation home options are seemingly endless. Just like the varied natural features you’ll find throughout the area–pristine beaches, coastal dune lakes, state parks, and more–vacation homes across Northwest Florida beaches range in size, price, amenities, beach access, and more.

As you start to plan your group getaway to Destin and 30A, there’s a lot to consider. With thousands of beach homes spanning the 30+ miles of beaches from Holiday Isle in Destin all the way to Inlet Beach on the East end of 30A, it’s important to cut through the clutter by focusing on the features that are most important to your group.

Coming to the Emerald Coast and not hitting the beaches would be like a baseball game without the hot dog, a movie with no popcorn, the surf without the turf.  You get the idea. A visit to Florida's Gulf Coast wouldn't be complete without a trip to our sandy shores. But don't overlook the fun to be had shopping in Destin and on 30A. We've got everything from quirky beach shops and expansive antique malls to funky boutiques and novelty shops. Here's the lowdown on some of our favorites!

It's hard to imagine you'd ever get tired of exploring the Alabama Coast. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are a mecca for vacationers, whether traveling to the area for the first time or returning annually (as many do) to enjoy the scenic wonders. If you've been here, you already know it's a water playground loaded with activities for the whole family. Maybe you've spent time paddleboarding or kayaking in Lake Shelby, explored Bayou St. John on a pontoon boat, or seen the sights from above parasailing over the Gulf of Mexico. If you love what's above the water, wait until you see what's below.

When it comes to max relax goals, it doesn't get much better than floating along a river without a care in the world. Go on, close your eyes, and envision the cool water brushing along your bum, the carbonation of your favorite frosty beverage going down like silk, and the rays of sunshine giving you questionable tan lines. That's right, river tube floating is the staple of a good old, blue-blooded, American summer, and we're here to give you an epic tubing bucket list for your #tubinggoals.

One thing we can tell you about BOTE’s general design philosophy is this: We’ve never been the types to “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.” On the contrary, everything we do—everything we’ve ever done—from a product standpoint and from a design standpoint has always been and always will be highly intentional and deeply considered.

Call it the curse of the creative, the price of particularity, the malediction of the meticulous—whatever you want to call it, this much is clear: we’re design freaks. We believe thoughtful design not only brings a product to life, but it brings the life out of the product. From the outset, inventive design and innovative function go hand in hand.

After all, our SUPs and kayaks are designed to be best-in-class, top-of-the-line watercrafts extraordinaire. Why shouldn’t they be stylish as hell, too?

If you’ve never considered celebrating Easter at the beach, maybe now’s the time to give it a try. You’ll find plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy and every reason to bring your annual traditions with you. Better yet, lose the sweaters and boots, grab your swimsuit and flip flops, and create some new Easter traditions in Northwest Florida this year!

We can all agree that our personal homes are so much more than four walls and a roof over our heads. It’s where we share our successes, laugh about our missteps, and feel most like ourselves over any other place.  So when vacationing to the beautiful coastline of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL, why settle for anything less in your beach house rental?