As you may know, we’ve recently announced our Spring 2020 Emerald Coast Collection and you can start shopping the presale at various boutiques on Monday, January 13!
This collection was inspired by our summery vacations as children on the Emerald Coast and Rosemary Beach, Florida, and the many memories we’ve made as kids that we now can share with our own.
We asked one of our friends, Lauren, who grew up in Destin, Florida and moved back post-college, to answer some questions offering her local mom’s perspective for this blog post. Her daughter modeled for our very first collection and for our Spring 2020 one, too!
Read on to find why she loves the Emerald Coast, some of her favorite things to do, and so much more!
(Lauren’s daughter modeling our first collection)
What was your favorite part of growing up on the Emerald Coast in Florida?
Always living by the water and the beach! I still get excited every time I see a pod of dolphins swimming!
What brought you back to this area post-college?
I met my husband at the DFW airport while we were both living in Texas. We were flying home for the holidays because we had both grown up on the Emerald Coast and after a year of dating, we made the decision to move back home and start our lives together in Destin. We have been living happily ever after ever since.
Favorite hidden gem on the Emerald Coast?
O’Steen Beach
Favorite kid-friendly activities in Destin, FL?
Thrills Laser Tag & Arcade
The Gulfarium
Rock Paper Scissors at Seaside
Favorite kid-friendly restaurants in Destin and around the Emerald Coast?
The Local Market
La Paz
Boshamps
Harbor Docks
(Lauren’s daughter sporting some of her favorite Christian Elizabeth & Co. pieces)
Go-to date night spot in Destin?
Camille’s
Girls night hot spot in Destin?
Chan’s Wine World
What is a favorite local Emerald Coast activity you did here as a child that you now get to do with your daughter?
Go to the beach and collect seashells
Best spa in Destin?
The Salamander Spa at The Henderson
(Emily and Lauren with their kiddos in Destin)
3-5 must-see Emerald Coast activites, if you have never been here before:
The Gulfarium
The Destin Seafood Festival
The Mattie Kelly Arts Center does outside concerts in the spring and summer!
Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park
The Track: Family Fun Park
And riding up and down 30a seeing all of the fun spots it has to offer
Your overall local fave (could be a place or a thing or a memory):
We do the South Walton Fire District’s Polar Plunge every year and then go to Camille’s beachside cafe for black-eyed peas and collard greens. It’s my favorite memory, but also my favorite tradition for our little family.
A favorite memory we have had together since we have known each other pre-kids or pertaining to CE&Co.
Sooo many to choose from, but my favorite memory pre-kids would be celebrating the marriage between Alex and Emily in Aspen. After kids would be my sweet Sophia modeling the Seaside Collection shortly before she turned one and then recently her wearing the “Back to School” dress for her first day of Pre-k.
What makes the Emerald Coast the best vacation spot for families?
The beaches! Our sand is like powdered sugar and the water is the prettiest color of emerald green you’ve ever seen.