Food Traveler Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 106

Winter Southern Style Henderson Park Inn Discover a hidden gem for your next winter getaway. W hen winter’s chill sets in and you’re looking for a warm winter getaway, you probably think of Florida, the nation’s “sunshine” state and home to international cultural landmarks like Miami Beach… notable locations like the Everglades…and world-famous attractions like Disney World and Sea World. What you might not think of are the emerald waters and snow-white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast. If like many of us, getaways are few and far 104 FOOD TRAVELER | WINTER 2013 between, what if your next trip was sans kids? If this sounds ideal, welcome to DESTIN, Florida…one of America’s most beautiful beaches, and home to the Henderson Park Inn, an adults-only upscale boutique hotel, recently named the most romantic hotel in North America. National Geographic Traveler named Destin a favorite for fall travel… and Good Morning America has paid attention to this landmark beach, too, naming it one of America’s top ten beaches. Destin serves as a prime travel destination for those seeking a year-round comfortable coastal climate with lots of winter activities. Visitors can enjoy everything Destin has to offer including trophy deep sea fishing, upscale dining, and shopping and entertainment. Destin is one of the best new places for golf in the U.S., and it’s no wonder--Henderson Park Inn offers 25 golf courses within 15 Miles. Destin is a nature lover’s paradise as well with nine eco-friendly parks and getaways. The largest and most popular of these parks has over a mile of the most beautiful beach in Florida and, you guessed it, is home to Henderson Park Inn. This gulf-front retreat is nestled perfectly within the fine sugary-white beach dunes and quietly tucked away on the east boundary of this 200 acre preserve. Featuring local flora such as sand pines, scrub oaks, and dune rosemary, the park’s more than a mile of undeveloped beachfront is accessible for hiking, swimming, fishing and biking. While Destin isn’t normally known for a “quiet” vacation, although it was once a sleepy fishing village, it’s now a bustling tourist destination during the peak of summer but the pace changes in the fall and winter and the Inn offers a charm and tranquility that can be hard to find in some other nearby seaside locales. With nothing for over a mile on one side,