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My family and I just returned from a wonderful week-long vacation in Destin, Florida. As it was our son’s senior year spring break, we wanted to take a final vacation together before he heads off to college. If you’re planning a trip to Destin, Florida, then keep reading for all of our travel tips and recommendations.
Why Destin Florida?
We chose Destin a bit by elimination.
We wanted a “new to us” place to visit and a place we could drive to. We wanted a beach and sunshine and we wanted to bring our dog.
The Florida panhandle is extremely popular with people from the Midwest. It’s a “quick” trip, about 12 hours by car and you can make this trip pretty affordable based on your financial situation.
The beaches in Destin are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen. The sand is so fine and white and offers a stunning contrast with the turquoise ocean water.
There are plenty of hotels and rentals available and lots of activities to keep everyone entertained.
Where to stay in Destin?
There are lots of places to stay in Destin. We technically stayed in Destin, but right on the edge of the Miramar border. Our condo/house rental was located on the Scenic Highway 98, right across the road with a direct ocean view.
What we liked about the location
- Beautiful view and access to a private beach
- Walking distance to several restaurants
- Centrally located (the Scenic Highway is about 5 miles and we were right about in the middle)
- Able to drive a golf cart to most places
- Quiet location at night (no nightclubs nearby)
What we didn’t like about the location
Our rental was a single-family home but there were tons of enormous luxury houses around us. It was obvious that several families got together to rent these mansions for Spring break.
In our opinion, this created a vibe that we did not particularly care for. Lots of privileged teenagers driving around on golf carts and blasting music like they owned the place.
Our friends stayed at a condo complex in Miramar Beach (Sandestin-Baytowne) and their experience was quite different. I would probably opt for that area if we decided to go back.
Where to eat in Destin Florida?
If you are a fish and seafood lover, Florida is the place to go to make your tastebuds happy.
We ate tons of fresh fish, crab, and shrimp.
Even though we had access to a full kitchen, on this trip we decided to eat all of our meals out. We enjoyed most of the restaurants we tried with the exception of a few that I did not list below. Here are our top recommendations:
- Capt. Dave’s on the Gulf: We had dinner there twice. The food was very good and you get to dine with an outstanding ocean view. The fish was cooked to perfection and the service was great. I recommend the crab stuffed flounder. $$$
- Austons on 98: Excellent sports bar to enjoy a few beverages and lunch while watching a game. The smoked tuna dip appetizer was delicious. $$
- Camille’s at Crystal Beach: Best place to get sushi according to a local. The fish was so fresh and we loved the ambiance at the restaurant. $$
- Surf hut: We loved this lunch place. It’s located directly on the beach with a beautiful ocean view. The fish tacos were amazing. Make sure to get a strawberry mojito with it! $$
- Beach Camp pub: This one is located in “downtown Destin Florida”. We enjoyed a dinner here after a dolphin sunset cruise. I enjoyed a white wine lemon sauce pasta and seafood dish that I don’t see on the regular menu. It was delicious. $$
- Kenny D’s: Fun lunch spot with outdoor seating. The food was good enough and it was within walking distance from our place. They also offer karaoke at night and other entertainment. $$
- Pazzo Italiano: If you need a break from all the seafood, check out this delicious Italian restaurant. I had the eggplant Parmigiano, so good!! $$
What to do in Destin Florida?
The main attractions in Destin are its pristine beaches with white, extremely fine sand and beautiful turquoise water.
People gather to simply relax or swim, or play volleyball, frisbee or other beach games. I’d say during our time there, the surf was very rough. We even had a double red flag day where you weren’t allowed in the water at all. I don’t think this is the norm for the area.
Renting a golf cart to get around is another popular activity. We tried it and it was a lot of fun. Simply driving on the Scenic Highway felt like an adventure, even if we were just going to the grocery store. We paid $500 for six days of rental and we felt it was worth the investment.
On one of the first evenings, we did a sunset dolphin cruise. We saw so many dolphins! Our friends had found a deal where we only paid $20 per person for 90 minutes of dolphin watching. It was so much fun!
On a rainy day, we went to do a bit of shopping at both the Silver Sands Premium Outlets and the Destin Commons outdoor mall.
I highly recommend spending an evening at the Baytowne Wharf. This place is so entertaining, especially if you have kids. They have a bungee trampoline, arcades, zip lines, fireworks, shopping, restaurants and much more.
Destin also offers what most beach vacation towns have such as mini golf, parasailing, fishing, snorkeling, boating, and lots of restaurants and nightlife options.
Must have for the trip
Before we end this article, let me share the MVP of the things we packed for this trip.
Food & Drinks related
- Small cooler (super convenient to bring refrigerated items to and from vacation). You want something small enough to easily carry to the beach. This one is very similar to the one we’ve had for years.
- Tumblers are useful to allow you to bring cold beverages to the beach or pool. We use them for water as well so that we don’t waste tons of plastic bottles.
- Reusable baggies. Rentals never have ziplocs! And there are always some food items to bring back that we need baggies for. Pack your own!
- Coozies for drinks that don’t quite work in a tumbler.
Beach fun
- Beach bag that can fit all of the necessities AND is water resistant. This one is a bit similar to the one I have and has super fun patterns. I love it!
- Beach towels if they aren’t supplied by your rental. I bought these a few years back. They are compact for packing but super absorbent!
- Beach toys or balls. We once again forgot our beach football and had to buy a new one. Don’t make the same mistake.
- Beach chairs. We like to take our own even though our condo offered some because they always seem broken at rental locations. If you have the space, I highly recommend that you take your own.
Clothing & Accessories
- Sunglasses, I know this goes without saying but I wanted to give a shoutout to these “look for less” that I got last year. Still love them!
- Stylist cross-body bag/purse. I was able to use this one with all my outfits, dressy or casual. It is small but was perfect for what I needed.
- New favorite linen shorts. I have them in apricot, but I’m pretty sure I’ll give them in more color.
- New ribbed tank top. Same as above, I got the black one but already have the grey/blue in my cart for my next order.
- New sandals that I am totally obsessed with. I have them in mocha. They are super comfortable, with no break-in period.
In conclusion
Our family enjoyed our time in Destin Florida. We would definitely go back but probably stay in a complex that would shelter us a bit more from the teenage crowds. Destin has a lot to offer and if you are looking for gorgeous beaches in Northern Florida, that is the place to be. I hope this was helpful.
Bon voyage!
Cat xx