Perhaps you have already reserved your special family beach vacation rental with us here at Ocean Reef Resorts, or are about to do so. After all we represent a huge host of some of the finest, most distinctive, privately owned luxury condominium and single family home rentals found anywhere in Northwest Florida. We are the go-to rental company because our wonderful properties include everything from large beachfront mansions, to a charming comfortable cottages, to luxurious high rise condominiums. These vacation rentals extend from Destin all the way down Scenic 30A in South Walton and on into Panama City Beach. Ocean Reef Resort guests know they have definitely come to the right place due to our wide variety of property selections, the cleanliness of our offerings and the friendly assistance from our professional staff who can provide special concierge services. Now that your vacation to your "home away from home" is on the itinerary, you may want consider a unique mode of transportation. We have a special relationship with two local golf cart rental companies that may provide just what you need, The Electric Cart Company in Santa Rosa Beach and Dixielectriccar of Destin.

Imagine humming along quietly with the salty breeze in your hair as you, your family and friends glide along on a sensational sunny day while meandering past the vivid jewel toned waters and natural splendor of Scenic 30A in South Walton.  You have the cooler and picnic basket packed for the day and are ready to relax at one of the sugar white beaches along the way. Maybe you are taking a leisurely tour from village to village visiting some art galleries, doing some boutique shopping or enjoying some fresh seafood along the way. Perhaps you are staying on the grounds at one of our fine properties in Sandestin and have decided to all take a serene sunset drive through this gorgeous resort on the way to Baytowne Wharf for an evening of entertainment. Many guests here use their carts to scoot down Grand Boulevard for dining, to catch a movie or even do some grocery shopping at Publix. In Miramar Beach you might be taking in the scenery as you head down Scenic Gulf Drive which parallels the coast on the way to one of the beach side restaurants there. Maybe you are staying in Destin and want to head down to Harborwalk Village to experience the action around the marina. No matter where you are staying or where you all want to go, this form of transportation is the way to do it. In fact, it has become increasingly popular over the past several years with a number of our Ocean Reef Resort guests since the journey "to and from" is about as much fun as the destination itself! Today some of our properties actually include a complimentary golf cart for use so be sure to check the descriptions and attributes, or just ask our staff about them.

This has become a big part of the Floridian lifestyle to such an extent that the state of Florida passed laws making such Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) legal to use on all highways and roads that have a speed limit of 35 mph or less. It looks like big SUVs are being replaced by LSVs around the state especially in resort areas and in small villages. It's not just for golfers anymore since "Baby Boomers" in particular have embraced this form of leisurely transportation not only for themselves but also for their children and the Grand kids. They can feel good about this mode of transportation as well. Besides being a lot of fun, LSVs are quiet, clean, do not emit gas fumes and are environmentally friendly since these vehicles are all electric.

The Electric Cart Company was established as a father and son enterprise in Santa Rosa Beach on Highway 98 in 2008, located about half way between Destin and Panama City Beach. They take great pride as a team by being involved with every customer and also provide a 10% discount to all Ocean Reef Resort guests as a part of our Reef Rewards program.  As this form of transportation has become more popular it has diversified with many makes, looks and models. In fact like the others, the Electric Cart Company differentiates and rents regular golf carts or what are called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and the aforementioned Low Speed Vehicles, (LSVs) In order to be "Street Legal" these vehicles must be able to go up to 25 mph, have headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, night reflectors on all sides, a three point seat belt system, interior and exterior mirrors, a parking brake and a vehicle identification number. These vehicles are best used for short trips since the average total range when fully charged is not more than sixty miles. They may be recharged within two to eight hours depending upon the voltage connection and amount of charge needed. Many of our guests plug in these vehicles at night or when they return from a fun excursion when it is not in use. These vehicles which come in a wide variety of colors and designs seat two, four and up to six passengers or a "six pack" as some locals like to say. The Electric Cart Company is creating a name for themselves as the area's largest dealers of Street Legal LSVs. They will deliver and pick up golf carts as part of their rental service from Destin all the way to Panama City Beach. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance with a $100 deposit with a minimal rental period of two days at electriccartcompany.com or by calling 850.622.2000.

Dixielectricar of Destin is located next to the Super Walmart in Destin on Highway 98 and has a warehouse collection at 116 "A" on North Holiday Road in Miramar Beach. They also offer a wide variety of Low Speed Vehicles and are the exclusive representative of E-Z-Go , a Textron Company which was a pioneer of golf cart production years ago when these vehicles were just used for golfing. E-Z-Go was founded in Augusta, Georgia in 1954 and became a part of Textron in 1960. Golfers are well aware of this brand since they are used on the top ten golf courses in America according to Golf Digest Magazine and have been endorsed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Textron also manufactures Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopters so they are known for their manufacturing expertise. They also carry other brands of LSVs and have a fairly wide selection. These include a brand called they recently received an international award called the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence. This award gave them a world class designation for performance and total enterprise operations.

It is always our pleasure here at Ocean Reef Resorts to keep you abreast of all the latest Floridian lifestyle happenings which include special events, entertainment, dining and places to go while staying with us here in one of our Destin Vacation Rentals. Low Speed Vehicles and Golf Cart Rentals in Destin are all the rage and have now become such a big part of the Florida scene it has become a mainstay. It gives new whimsical meaning to famed poet Ralph Waldo Emerson's words, "life is a journey not a destination." Here in our part of Florida another way to put it might be half the fun is getting there!