Many of our Ocean Reef Resorts guests choose one of our fabulous distinctive residential vacation rentals near the beach in order to have all the comforts of home and the valuable option of having a kitchen available for "dining in". After all, for only a portion of the price you would pay for everyone to dine out at some fancy restaurant, your group may buy lots of fresh seafood and other special goodies locally with the added enjoyment of preparing it together. Staying individually in an expensive one-room hotel room that has a microwave oven and an "Honor Bar" refrigerator doesn't quite cut it. This is particularly true when you are including extended family members to join you on vacation who can help share the cost of food or when a party buffet may be planned for an event like a beach wedding. Our Ocean Reef Resorts beach homes and luxurious condominiums come complete with a full kitchen and in all sizes. You may choose whichever one best meets your needs whether it be a cozy romantic rendezvous for two or a big place that can sleep multiple friends and family members for a planned event. The following is a quick look at three Destin vacation rental homes we offer that have big gourmet kitchens, can provide enough sleeping quarters for everyone, and happen to be a perfect place for entertainment.

The first home for your "culinary review" is Conch Cay which is a five-bedroom vacation home in the prestigious gated beachside residential community known as Destiny by the Sea. Up to eighteen overnight guests may enjoy that fun fantastic, family feast you all may be preparing for your next big reunion. This home has recently completed an extensive total renovation which included brand-new fashionable furnishings, a lovely private freshwater swimming pool surrounded by a courtyard patio, and of course a new state-of-the-art kitchen. Just so you know, the private clubhouse with its oasis-like swimming pool and the semi-secluded beach is just a short stroll away. In spite of its elegant look, this home was designed for laid-back entertainment at the beach since it has a big eat-in kitchen that features two gleaming granite-topped "islands" for dining. It is an open spacious area that encourages the enjoyment of company, entertainment, good food, and favorite beverages. There are twelve round-topped, wooden bar seats throughout including eight on one island and four on the other. Another eight additional diners may be seated at one of two tables on the breezy columned covered balcony that looks down upon the opulent palm-decked neighborhood surroundings. The stainless steel appliances include two extra wide ovens, one conventional, and a large microwave on top. There are plenty of creamy cabinets for tasty provisions as well as a wide side-by-side refrigerator with a convenient automatic ice maker. Whether you're just serving drinks and savory seafood appetizers or getting everyone to join in for a family feast, this coastal kitchen will truly serve all of your needs.

One of the newest and most luxurious homes Ocean Reef has to offer faces the jewel-toned waters of the gorgeous gulf and is appropriately called Magnolia Sands. It gets this name not only from the magnolia white sandy beach nearby but also because it affords the grace of true southern hospitality. This home with five bedrooms was just recently completed with the finest furnishings, fits, and finishes. It is comfortably contemporary with a subdued tropical down-home flair. The gracious spacious coastal kitchen opens into a large room with exposed beams and a unique oyster shell fireplace that sits beside a big beamed wood dining table. Here there are seats for eight with views of the gulf which is just steps away. Four more raised wooden seats face the big creamy vanilla-colored granite-topped bar nearby. The large open gourmet kitchen defines the phrase "modern amenities" since it includes brand-new stainless steel appliances ensconced within decorative custom cabinetry. There is a large side-by-side double oven on one side with a range as well as a separate microwave version under the kitchen island. Besides the modern amenities in the kitchen, you will find new flat-screen TVs mounted in every bedroom including two in the Bunk Room, one for each berth. There's also a comfortable Media Room with a massive wide-screen Home Theater. The lavish interior is complimented by an expansive patio around a 15 x 35 foot sparkling pool. Here you can enjoy a refreshing dip and create your own grilled surf-n-turf feast poolside in the outdoor kitchen! This one also includes a gas grill with stainless steel cabinetry and a long black granite countertop to serve your favorite tropical beverages. This wonderful new beach home away from home will satisfy all of your culinary needs and create wonderful memories "to savor" for many years to come.

If you are looking for a distinctively modern beachfront home that looks like something you would see featured in Architectural Digest magazine that has a "space age" kitchen to match, you have found the right place at The White House. This gorgeous coastal home has six bedrooms with room for eighteen lucky guests since it sits right on the pure white beach in the exclusive enclave known as Holiday Isle in Destin. It has received much acclaim for its awesome architectural design since a literal wall of floor-to-ceiling windows takes full advantage of the beachfront location. This includes the amazing kitchen since the glass walls provide vivid vistas of the jeweled waters which can also be seen throughout this spectacular home. The 21st-century coastal kitchen has a long sleek white countertop that runs the entire length of the room that serves to frame the bottom of these wonderful watery views with cabinetry. In the center of the room is a bi-level white Breakfast Table that has four shiny chrome bottomed bar seats accented with black tops and a connecting kitchen island. Floating above this ensemble are five cobalt blue tubular lighting fixtures. Nearby is the oven and super wide stainless steel, side-by-side refrigerator with of course an automatic icemaker on the door. Immediately adjacent to the kitchen is the open dining area that can seat up to ten under a multiple clear glass globed chandelier which suspends down from above. A spiral staircase leads to the upstairs quarters where there is another kitchen of sorts. This one has a giant Wet Bar with a side-by-side refrigerator and ice maker. The adjoining bonus living area, separate guest quarters as well as immediately accessible open decks and balconies makes this a great home for entertaining. Once you have steamed that shrimp or whipped up those tasty treats in your new space-age kitchen you may enjoy serving them outdoors. You may do so while overlooking the shimmering white sand and the emerald-hued gulf on one of the decks or downstairs next to the covered swimming pool that has plenty of chairs for leisurely lounging. Your family and friends will feel like some of the lucky celebrities who have actually stayed at The White House by spending your beach vacation in this awesome home.

Here at Ocean Reef Resorts, we encourage you to "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" in one of these beautiful homes with their equally as beautiful coastal kitchens!