Destin, FL in April - beach weather?

[Tattylou]

How is the weather in Destin, FL in April for the beach? (Keep in mind we live in Massachusetts, where the ocean is pretty much always cold.) Thanks!

 

[DisneyOma]

How is the weather in Destin, FL in April for the beach? (Keep in mind we live in Massachusetts, where the ocean is pretty much always cold.) Thanks!

Yes, it's beach weather in pretty much all of Florida in April Well, after I googled "Destin Florida weather in April" I see that it averages 76'F in April.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We've done that area for Spring Break lots of times and have found the weather to be sort of hit or miss. Some years it was fantastic and sunny, other years it was cool and windy. We are from KY, so not quite as used to cold as you are from Mass. When we went last year, we ended up only being able to go to the beach 2 days because of bad weather.

 

[Tattylou]

We've done that area for Spring Break lots of times and have found the weather to be sort of hit or miss. Some years it was fantastic and sunny, other years it was cool and windy. We are from KY, so not quite as used to cold as you are from Mass. When we went last year, we ended up only being able to go to the beach 2 days because of bad weather.

This is helpful. We usually go down to St Pete beach and that is plenty warm. I'm looking at options that are a little cheaper to fly to for next year. What else is there to do there besides the beach for kids? We do want beach days though.

 

[DisneyHardin]

This is helpful. We usually go down to St Pete beach and that is plenty warm. I'm looking at options that are a little cheaper to fly to for next year. What else is there to do there besides the beach for kids? We do want beach days though.

We are mostly beach people, but on the dreary days we generally hit the outlet mall or do other shopping. I believe we’ve gone to a movie on a rainy day before too.

 

[Tattylou]

We are mostly beach people, but on the dreary days we generally hit the outlet mall or do other shopping. I believe we’ve gone to a movie on a rainy day before too.

I'm with you - my preference is the beach ...or Disney

 

[nd5056]

This is helpful. We usually go down to St Pete beach and that is plenty warm. I'm looking at options that are a little cheaper to fly to for next year. What else is there to do there besides the beach for kids? We do want beach days though.

Check out the Harborwalk Village . They have Fat Tuesdays Parade thru the Summer, but it starts later in May.

 

[catfan98]

Destin has lots of things to do - the beach of course (personal fave), the outlet mall, Harborwalk, Destin Commons, mini golf, go carts, tons of restaurants, just to name a few things. There is an air force armament museum in Fort Walton that is really neat and worth a trip if you haven't been there. It is free, they run off of donations and they have several planes and helicopters along with neat memorabilia. You can also drive to Pensacola Beach (they have a naval museum) for the day or to Panama City Beach for the day. We love the Destin area, we go every year, my FIL actually lives in Fort Walton Beach. This year is an exception for us, though This year my husband talked me into going to Orange Beach. We have been there before and I am excited for it...but I will miss the Destin area, lol.

 

[Tattylou]

Destin has lots of things to do - the beach of course (personal fave), the outlet mall, Harborwalk, Destin Commons, mini golf, go carts, tons of restaurants, just to name a few things. There is an air force armament museum in Fort Walton that is really neat and worth a trip if you haven't been there. It is free, they run off of donations and they have several planes and helicopters along with neat memorabilia. You can also drive to Pensacola Beach (they have a naval museum) for the day or to Panama City Beach for the day. We love the Destin area, we go every year, my FIL actually lives in Fort Walton Beach. This year is an exception for us, though This year my husband talked me into going to Orange Beach. We have been there before and I am excited for it...but I will miss the Destin area, lol.

Thanks for the ideas. Have you ever gone in the spring? Or can you ask FIL what the April weather is like typically?

 

[catfan98]

Thanks for the ideas. Have you ever gone in the spring? Or can you ask FIL what the April weather is like typically?

We have went on spring break 3 times (always the first week of April for our school system). We have had weather both ways. Twice it has been sunny, warm, and beautiful. In 2016 it was windy so it was cooler, but still nice. The water isn't super warm, but it's not frigid either. The further into April you get, the warmer it will be.

ETA: We have also been in May, June, July, August, and October. We usually end up going a couple times of year...sometimes 3, because we stay with FIL sometimes so we have free lodging, lol. The area really is beautiful and I encourage anyone who hasn't been to give it a try!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Love Destin!!!!
Def.. NOT warm enough for me until May.

 

[nd5056]

Regardless when you're out there, don't forget to grab a bite & a beer at the McGuire's Irish Pub , it's a must! Our kids just loved their fried Reuben Eggroll

 

[Wendy31]

April weather in the south is funny. Different weeks can be cool, warm, or hot depending on the year, & a lot depends on when Dogwood Winter & Blackberry Winter come through.

We went to Pensacola last April for our anniversary, so we were there around the first weekend (7th-9th) which just happened to coincide w/ a little cold snap. It was chilly everywhere in the south, &, if I remember, the very next week, it got warmer.

It was sunny & plenty warm enough to walk on the beach, but I didn't think it was warm enough to actually get in the water - although some people were. And I thought the water was really cold.

At night, I wore a thin sweater w/ my outfit & was fine though.

However, since it felt "cool" to me, I didn't use any sunscreen (because I completely just lost my mind & decided I wanted to get a start on my summer tan), & I always wear sunscreen. We walked up the beach to some firefighter contest, stood outside watching the contest, ate lunch outside at the Tiki Bar by our resort's pool, sat in chairs on the beach that afternoon... and I came home w/ the worst sunburn of my life. I was miserable & slept that night w/ cold washcloths on my arms. I've been going to the beach all my life & so knew better!

 

[catfan98]

Regardless when you're out there, don't forget to grab a bite & a beer at the McGuire's Irish Pub , it's a must! Our kids just loved their fried Reuben Eggroll

Yesss!!! They have some seriously good food! And the ambiance is great! It is a must do every trip!!

 

[nd5056]

Yesss!!! They have some seriously good food! And the ambiance is great! It is a must do every trip!!

Speaking of Destin & food, don't forget Back Porch & Donut Hole Bakery Cafe And one just must have a fresh fried seafood from the Dewey Destin Seafood shed

 

[catfan98]

Speaking of Destin & food, don't forget Back Porch & Donut Hole Bakery Cafe And one just must have a fresh fried seafood from the Dewey Destin Seafood shed

Yes!! 4 words - red velvet cake donut. We also enjoy Lulu's for the ambiance - love sitting on the bay, listening to Jimmy Buffett. And Stewby's in Fort Walton Beach is GREAT and cheap. It's inland and small, but so good.

You're making me hungry, lol!!!!

 

[tink1970]

I live about an hour away from Destin and agree that the weather here in Feb/Mar/April is predictable in its unpredictability. Today the high is in the 60s (so I'm in a sweater) whereas last week was in the 80s. I'm thinking if you're from Mass you'll find the weather warmer than there; also the water should be warmer, as well. The only damper is if it rains which is always possible. Usually it doesn't rain nonstop for a week but it's Florida so it could.

Regardless when you're out there, don't forget to grab a bite & a beer at the McGuire's Irish Pub , it's a must! Our kids just loved their fried Reuben Eggrol

This made me laugh...I live about 1/4 mile from the "original" McGuire's and haven't been there forever. We don't appreciate what's in our backyards, I guess!

 

[Tattylou]

I live about an hour away from Destin and agree that the weather here in Feb/Mar/April is predictable in its unpredictability. Today the high is in the 60s (so I'm in a sweater) whereas last week was in the 80s. I'm thinking if you're from Mass you'll find the weather warmer than there; also the water should be warmer, as well. The only damper is if it rains which is always possible. Usually it doesn't rain nonstop for a week but it's Florida so it could.



This made me laugh...I live about 1/4 mile from the "original" McGuire's and haven't been there forever. We don't appreciate what's in our backyards, I guess!

If it was 60s right now my kids would be in t-shirts and begging to wear shorts too lol. We've been dealing with 30s and storms recently. I would need a sweater for 60s tho.
Thank you!

 

[nd5056]

...

This made me laugh...I live about 1/4 mile from the "original" McGuire's and haven't been there forever. We don't appreciate what's in our backyards, I guess!

We never appreciate our own back yard enough

I must ask, have you even stopped at the Joe's Destin Pizza on 98 in Miramar Beach? Right between Bad A** Coffee and DQ? Unfortunately, I just learned it's permanently closed now. We were vacationing almost next door last year and I stopped to order a pizza to go. While waiting I saw the guy attend a small smoker on the side of the building, he was smoking wings in it. I just had to have them and they were amazing! The pizza was great too, different, like rustic style. Had a chat with the guy and his wife, they were all about the quality of the food they serve. Seems like they didn'thave the cooking for masses or the business/financial skill to survive...

 

[tink1970]

We never appreciate our own back yard enough

So true! I honestly can't remember the last time I went to our gorgeous beaches...I've been to Barcelona's more recently

I must ask, have you even stopped at the Joe's Destin Pizza on 98 in Miramar Beach? Right between Bad A** Coffee and DQ? Unfortunately, I just learned it's permanently closed now. We were vacationing almost next door last year and I stopped to order a pizza to go. While waiting I saw the guy attend a small smoker on the side of the building, he was smoking wings in it. I just had to have them and they were amazing! The pizza was great too, different, like rustic style. Had a chat with the guy and his wife, they were all about the quality of the food they serve. Seems like they didn'thave the cooking for masses or the business/financial skill to survive...

That's too bad-I hate to hear of quality and care in product not being appreciated. TBH, although Destin is only an hour away, I have everything I need here (except the shopping-which is very good there) and it's just not worth fighting 98 traffic to get there. I'm spoiled living here-very little traffic IF you stay away from the beach traffic during spring break and the summer.