The fall season has an abundance of fun things to do for the entire family. I constantly see Segway Tours in the downtown Pensacola area. One of the fun Segway offerings from Emerald Coast Tours is the Haunted History Tour which runs thru Halloween. This one hour tour showcases Haunted Downtown Pensacola. Be thrilled and chilled by the tour guides as they share the most macabre side of Pensacola History. You can contact Emerald Coast Tours at 850-417-9292 for details.

As long as you are here for Halloween, you should treat yourself to the Pensacola Little Theatre's rendition of The Rocky Horror Show. Always a crowd pleaser, this show runs thru November 5th. PLT invites you to do the Time Warp; you can dress up as your favorite character, and shout out comeback lines. Pensacola Little Theatre is the oldest continually operating community theater in the Southeastern United States. www.pensacolalittletheatre.com

Perdido Key is home to the 32st Annual Frank Brown Songwriters Festival. Described by promoters as the granddaddy of Gulf Coast songwriters festivals, this event offers more than 200 Grammy award-winning songwriters and also up-and-coming stars performing their original songs and talk about the stories behind the music. You can enjoy the beaches, seafood and eleven days of original music. Admission is free at many venues, but some may ask for a small cover charge. Call 850-492-7664 for more information.

Fall is festival season here on the Gulf Coast. Next weekend, November 4-6, will find the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in full swing in Seville Square Park, Pensacola. This three-day, juried art show draws several hundred painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen, and other artists. Live musicians provide entertainment in Fountain Park with Zydeco, bluegrass, jazz, blues and classical selections. The Children's Arts Festival is next door in Bartram Park, featuring numerous hands-on artistic opportunities provided free of charge. The Children's Festival is open Friday for children with special needs from selected schools and is open to everyone on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Food and beverages are available.

My marathon days may be over, but you can still sign up to participate in the12th Annual Pensacola Marathon. The line up is November 13, 20166:30 am at Veteran's Memorial Park located at 200 S 10th Avenue, Pensacola. The race begins and ends at Veteran's Memorial Park on the beautiful Pensacola Bayfront and winds its way along a 13.1-mile circuit of the city for the half marathoners and a full 26.2 loop for the full marathon. The course features running through historic neighborhoods, the downtown district, bands, and loads of cheering Pensacolians. The finish line is next to the only replica of the National Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Pensacola Marathon is also a Boston Qualifier for you still needing to qualify.

Give us a call if you need more ideas to get busy over the next few weeks 850-437-5618.

Residents of the Emerald Coast know that the fall is the best time to hit the beach. October on the Gulf Coast has been a well-kept secret for residents here for as long as I can remember. Offering mild sunny days, cool nights and generally rain free, we have marveled why the tourists opted to leave early as we enjoyed miles of quiet beaches, restaurants with no waiting and a lack of weekend traffic.

Visit Pensacola reports that hotel bookings are up this fall in Pensacola Beach and the average room prices are up as well. The beach occupancy rate has increased over the past year and resulted in a three percent increase in fall room prices. We see the same trend with condo rentals and vacation home rentals on area beaches. Local rental companies report their properties have largely been booked this fall and are indeed busier this year than in previous years. This trend is not limited to Pensacola Beach; we see the same thing from Perdido Key to Destin.

Visit Pensacola sponsored an annual tourism study that reported visitors to our area are staying longer and spending more money while they are here. This study also noted that the draw of tourists that come to our area has expanded in the last couple of years to include some cities in the Midwest. Steve Hayes, president of Visit Pensacola, has been promoting our area to international tour companies interested in Florida vacations. Mr. Hayes reports that we are becoming a popular destination for the international market because of our beaches, history, and our Southern hospitality.

Local campgrounds are popular destinations as visitors arrive to enjoy the natural beauty in a more hospitable environment. Watersports continue to be a draw as the Gulf water temperature is still warm and inviting. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier has reported an already busy fall season that has shown no signs of slowing down. October has also become a popular month for destination weddings at local beaches as the chances for accommodating weather is good.

This increase in fall traffic has been felt off the beach as well. Festivals, sporting events, and cultural venues all report record numbers. The Destin Seafood Festival and the Pensacola Seafood Festival occurred on the same weekend, and both reported record attendance. As you might imagine, seasonal employees are benefitting from this extended fall season as well.

Finding a home that is perfectly maintained and has multiple amenities can be a tiresome and difficult thing to do. Occasionally, opportunities come your way. As a buyer, knowing when to step forward and go after that opportunity is key.

Kingswood Estate's in Cantonment Florida, residents take pride in their community. They recently completed an overhaul of the subdivision entrance, and the main road was recently repaved. Each home has an abundance of curb appeal.

That is especially the case with the newest home available, 1800 Knights Circle. The all brick exterior is surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and an extremely well-maintained lawn. The huge backyard is completely privacy fenced and features a large in-ground pool with super quite energy efficient pool pump Polaris pool sweep. The two-car garage has access to the attic which had flooring installed for extra storage space.

The interior of the home is updated and move-in ready. The carpets are less than a year old and all rooms were repainted including the garage. The little touches set this home apart, from the gorgeous contemporary new kitchen backsplash, the touch faucet sink, resurfaced cabinets to the new shower heads, comfort height toilets and exhaust fans in the bathrooms. A new 50-gallon water heater was installed, and the heat pump replaced two years ago. The master suite has its patio entrance, and the master bath features a cathedral ceiling, a huge walk-in closet as well as a second closet, dual vanities, separate shower and a relaxing jetted tub. There are two guest bedrooms and a beautiful fireplace rests in the center of the open living and dining area.

In addition to over 1,700 square feet of living space, the home has a 180-foot sunroom with gorgeous French doors opening to the spacious patio overlooking the pool. After only a few moments in this immaculate home, it will be obvious that the owners have taken a lot of pride and love into making every inch a perfect place to live.

Call Kim Gibbons at Emerald Coast Realty to schedule a tour, 850-437-5618.

See listing detail page for 1800 Knight Circle, Cantonment, FL 32533.

If you are searching for an investment opportunity near Downtown Pensacola, take a moment to consider multi-family housing. There are numerous benefits to this type of property. It is a great way to create consistent cash flow month after month. There are multiple tax advantages, simpler access to financing, and while growing your rental property portfolio.

A fantastic new opportunity at 2221 W Strong Street in Pensacola just became available for sale. Three separate dwellings located on a double size corner lot, close to the heart of the city and historic downtown. There is a 1,200-square foot home with four bedrooms and two baths. Just past the main home is a two-story apartment duplex. The upper level has two bedrooms, one full bath, and 900 square feet. The lower level has one bedroom, one bath, and 543 square feet.

There is ample parking space, two large storage areas and a partially fenced back yard. The main house and upper apartment have both been HUD approved.  All three rentals have existing leases through the end of 2017. Give Miriam Rowland at Emerald Coast Realty a call to set up a showing for this fantastic opportunity, 850-437-5618.

This property listing at 2221 W Strong St, Pensacola FL 32505 was sold by Emerald Coast Realty.

Portofino Island Resort can easily claim to be the most famous luxury resort on Pensacola Beach. It combines luxurious accommodations, the natural beauty of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and a huge variety of family friendly activities.

Ever dream of owning your slice of paradise? With the newest condo available for sale at Portofino, that dream can become a reality. With an established rental history and one of the best and most popular property managers on the beach, Premier Island Management Group; this condo is sure to be the perfect vacation home investment.

This unit comes fully furnished and ready to move right in! You will love the two spacious bedroom suites, a huge open living area with dining room and the beautiful galley kitchen. Enjoy breathtaking views, with miles and miles of coastline of the Gulf of Mexico from your private balcony.

Seize this great opportunity before it is gone. Call Kim Gibbons today, 850-437-5618.

See the listing detail page for Portofino 1005 Tower Two.

It is no surprise that so many people choose to flock to Gulf Breeze Florida each year. Gulf Breeze offers its residents a prime location within close driving distance to Pensacola Beach, the arts and cultural events in historic downtown Pensacola and a seemingly endless choice of popular dining, shopping, and entertainment establishments.

Waterfront subdivisions are among the most popular residential destinations in Gulf Breeze. This house at 4000 Bay Pointe Drive is in Bay Woods, a few miles outside of Gulf Breeze Proper, and the subdivision's residents enjoy a peaceful community resting on the bay with no association restrictions.

With the appearance of a countryside English manor, this captivating estate offers over 100 feet of waterfront overlooking East Bay and Escambia Bay. It is a boaters dream with water access, a private pier, dock and boat lift. Professional landscaping lines the rolling grounds and a huge screened porch and open cobblestone patio add even more outdoor entertaining space.

The interior of the home is very spacious with four bedrooms on the upper level including a master suite and a guest bath. The main level is expansive with a generous family room, den, living room, formal dining room, kitchen with pantry and breakfast area, a huge foyer and spacious laundry room. There are multiple sliding glass door entries to the 10 x 20 screened porch and over 500 square foot patio overlooking the garden area and water.

The gem of the estate is the rear of the home. Imagine sitting on your patio surrounded by gorgeous landscaping, listening to the water lap up on the sea wall of your backyard. Enjoy a picnic at the end of your private pier while reeling in a Spanish Mackerel or Red Drum, both commonly found in Escambia Bay. You could bask in the sun from your boat as it sets off from the pier into sparkling waters at sunset or an afternoon of water sports.

Abundant curb appeal and endless possibilities help turn this picturesque home into your very own dream estate. Give Kim Gibbons a call to envision the dream for yourself, 850-437-5618.

See listing detail page for 4000 Bay Pointe Drive, Gulf Breeze FL 32563.

In the midst of the worst recession our country has experienced, a group of developers moved forward with plans to create an upscale new community in the northwest area of Escambia County near the Navy Federal campus. Widely panned as doomed from the start, the community is now regarded as the crown jewel in a rapidly growing part of town.

Homes located in Nature Trail are surrounded by nearly 750 acres of naturally wooded land that was previously a portion of the Tree Farm Plantation. 450 acres within Nature Trail is managed in conjunction with the Nature Trail Conservancy. The Nature Trail Conservancy Trust is a non-profit organization that was established to ensure the preservation of the land. Homes and lots in Nature Trail are subject to a sales transfer fee that is used to fund the Trust. The Trust promotes land stewardship to perpetuate the environment integrity that the developers of Nature Trail originally envisioned.

In the years since Nature Trail was established many other subdivisions have taken root in the Greater Beulah area. Communities such as Huntington Creek, Quail Ridge, Jaxson Estates, Upland Woods, and Woodlyn Meadows have joined others in the area that offer new homes priced from the $150,000 range to over $600,000. The area has become a mecca for new construction.

Plans to build an elementary and middle school in the central part of the county have been implemented to accommodate the growth. The new elementary school will be constructed adjacent to Ransom Middle School and will hold 800 students.

The planned construction of a middle school is slated to have a capacity of 1,100 to 1,300 students. Escambia County plans to relocate students from Woodham Middle and to rezone other students from Ransom Middle to the new middle school.

Local Option Sales Tax money is being used to fund the project which is scheduled to be ready by the 2018-2019 school year.

Much of the growth in this part of the county is a result of the expansion of the Navy Federal Credit Union. Already one of the largest employers in the greater Pensacola/Escambia County metro area, Navy Federal continues to grow. The Nine Mile Campus has experienced rapid expansion that spurred the Florida Department of Transportation to widen Nine Mile Road.

The area housing Nature Trail, Navy Federal and other upcoming communities are conveniently located off of Nine Mile Road and offer easy access to grocery stores, shopping, the mall, hospitals, downtown Pensacola and Pensacola International Airport.

On the outskirts of Gulf Breeze Proper is the prestigious community Villa Venyce. The location is optimal because of the short distance to area shopping and dining as well as attractions and cultural activities.

The house is nestled on a quiet, peaceful cul-de-sac at 999 Coronado Court. It boasts over 2,200 square-feet of  living space, including three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge great room and an open kitchen and dining area, as well as a sunroom. It is obvious that this home has been well loved and well maintained. The living area has gorgeous hardwood flooring, high arched ceiling, and a beautiful fireplace.

The kitchen is expansive with a great deal of counter space, gorgeous cabinets, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. The split floor plan provides privacy to the master suite which features a huge master bath with dual vanities, a separate shower, water closet and his and her walk-in closets. The gorgeous yard has beautiful landscaping, a stone step path, a yard building, privacy fence, well-manicured shrubbery and yard irrigation system with well. This home has been refreshed with new carpet, and new paint.

Gulf Breeze is on the Fairpoint Peninsula between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. It is a prosperous community, vibrant with parks and numerous recreational facilities and activities. With 18 miles of waterfront, a low crime rate and being known for its superior schools, it is no surprise why living here is such a popular choice among so many.

Call Miriam Rowland at Emerald Coast Realty to schedule an appointment, 850-437-5618.

See listing detail page for 999 Coronado Court, Gulf Breeze FL 32563.

Fall in Pensacola brings cool evenings and crisp sunny days with milder temperatures. After a long hot summer that was all about the beach or beach traffic now is the time to branch out to all the other great destinations our area offers. Fall brings us a busy season of festivals and events that showcase our love of food, fun, fitness and family. There is something for everyone for the next month or so. It is time to get out and enjoy the local offerings. Here is a partial list of some of our favorites:

Pensacola Seafood Festival and Pensacola Seafood Festival 5K Walk/Run. The Seafood Festival runs from September 30 thru October 3rd in Seville Square Park, Pensacola. The festival features both regional and local seafood dishes and offers a children's area with activities and fun for the kiddos. The festival also offers local entertainment in Fountain Park as well as vendors and local artisans displaying and selling arts and crafts in the square. The 5K Walk/Run is on October 1 and starts at 130 E. Government St in Seville Quarter. The course runs through Historic Downtown Pensacola and goes around the Seafood Festival. A great end to a fun run.

Santa Rosa Island Triathlon.  October 1, 2016, this year's Annual Santa Rosa Island Triathlon has sold out 1,250 athletes to compete in the Pensacola Beach event. This race includes a 600-yard swim, and an 18-mile bike race and a 3.1-mile run and is a listed nationally renowned sprint triathlon event.

Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival. September 29 - October 2, 2016, See dozens of songwriters perform their songs in a variety of Pensacola Beach venues. Schedules and other information is available at pensacolabeachsongfest.com.

Taste of Gulf Breeze October 7th. This is the opening event for the Gulf Breeze Community Expo is a competitive culinary adventure. The event offers samples of appetizers, desserts and beverages as participants vie for votes for the Golden Spatula Award. Gulf Breeze Community Center

57th Annual Pensacola Greek Festival. October 7-9, 2016 Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 1720 W. Garden Street, Pensacola. Food/Culture/Entertainment - need I say more? Pensacolagreekfestival.com

35th Annual St. Rosa of Lima International Fall Festival. October 7-9, 2016. This festival features three days of international foods, carnival rides, arts and craft, vendor exhibits and a farmers market. Call 850-602-7495 for details.

Flora-Bama's Oktoberfest October 8th.  The Flora-Bama's Gulf Coast take on the German Oktoberfest featuring Brats, Sauerkraut, music, dancing and yes, of course, German beer.

Fenner Ride in Milton.  October 15, 2016. The annual Fenner Ride attracts hundreds of cyclists a year who come to the event to ride through Blackwater State Forest with options of 100, 62, 40 and 18-mile tracks. The Blackwater State Heritage Trail is an incorporated part of the ride.  Fenner Ride starts at 8:00 a.m. and will end at the Milton Community Center 850-433-5437.

Pensacola Beach Art and Wine Festival. October 23, 2016, at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. The Pensacola Beach Art and Wine Festival promises to bring local artists and the best wine offerings together in one place. Admission to the festival is free, but participation in the progressive tasting is $30 a person or $50 for two.

Just a short drive through West Pensacola through beautiful landscape and quiet neighborhoods put you in front of 108 Carrier Drive where you can realize a fantastic opportunity to own a beautiful family home at an attractive price.

With just over 1,400 square feet of living space, this home has plenty to offer. The living area features a beautiful trey ceiling, large windows with plantation shutters and opens up to the separate dining area. The well-appointed kitchen has tons of counter and cabinet space perfect for any chef. This house has a separate laundry room and a huge two-car garage. The garage has two separate stacks of oversize shelving offering plenty of storage space and comes with storm shutters. There are three bedrooms including the 14 x 20 master suite with a spacious walk-in closet. The master bath has dual vanities and a private commode and bath area.

On the rear of the home is large covered patio perfect for family gatherings and cookouts. The patio connects to a 12 by 14 sunroom not included in the main living space.

What a great opportunity to find a beautiful home in West Pensacola located in a nice neighborhood only minutes from N.A.S. Pensacola, Perdido Key, and Lost Key Golf Course. In the heart of the Blue Angel and Bailey School District, this move-in ready home is waiting for its new family.

Contact Kim Gibbons, Emerald Coast Realty (850) 437-5618 to see this wonderful home for yourself.

See the property listing detail page for 108 Carrier Drive, Pensacola, FL 32506.