Destin, Florida

[Gagirl69]

We are planning a trip to Destin this summer. I would love some recommendations of places to stay, good places to eat, things to do, etc. This is our first trip to the area. I've looked at vrbo.com but I would like to hear where the diser's stay. It will be 5 of us going. Thanks so much!!

 

[fredflintstone]

I guess it just depends on how much you want to spend. We have stayed at the Hilton for a marriage retreat that had a kids suite...it was awesome! The kids loved it...it was right off the beach! We didn't pay for it, so no clue how much it was! It was awesome being right off the beach! Then my girlfriends and I went on a girls weekend trip before our friend started Chemo and we were on a tight budget! haha So all 5 of us just stayed in a pretty inexpensive hotel about 3 blocks from the beach...close to all the shopping and outlets...it was ok...we just needed a cheap place to sleep! I will find out the name of the place today. We love going to eat at FUDPUCKER's...that is my kids favorite place as is Cheeseburger in Paradise! Both are awesome and fun places to eat. My kids are big Buffet fans haha so they loved Cheeseburger in Paradise...but at Fudpuckers...it is really entertaining, you can see and feed baby alligators outside...and you can get your pics with them...They have a website..check it out! They have really good outlets down there...Coach and Dooney & Bourke so if you are one of those girls...save some money for that and look for a Coach coupon! haha We also went to this hole in the wall restaurant right off the beach and the service was kind of crappy but the food was good. We went when the sun had already set and so the partyers were there in full force...so that could have been why! You will stumble across a lot there...We love Destin.....You just drive down the road and you will find things to do! I will talk to my friend and find out the names of the hotel and restaurant we went to and get back with you. They have things for everyone. They have a more pricey shopping area, and then the more "common" folk shopping...I say this cause I am the common folk here! Gotta run kids to school, but will be back with some more info!

I am jealous! We are thinking of moving down to that area...or closer to Disney World in a few years!!

 

[Kies99]

We are planning a trip to Destin this summer. I would love some recommendations of places to stay, good places to eat, things to do, etc. This is our first trip to the area. I've looked at vrbo.com but I would like to hear where the diser's stay. It will be 5 of us going. Thanks so much!!

Wow, what is it with Destin all of a sudden??? Seems like everyone's going there!

Well, let's begin....My parents live in Regatta Bay which is right next to Destin Commons. When I go down to visit, I stay here: http://www.vrbo.com/51106 (though I'm a little biased...I know the owners...MY FAMILY!).

There is a ton of stuff to do...you'll just need to do a little bit of driving.

Okay, first thing you need to know is there is one main road and one lesser road in and around Destin. The main road is the 4 lane Highway 98. It runs right through Destin. You'll have Fort Walton (and Pensacola) to the West and Panama City to the East. The other road you should know about is 30A. 30A is a 2 lane road that runs from 98 to Panama City. Go to www.30a.com for good information.

98 will have most everything on it. Some of the things "to do" are:

Gulfarium: http://www.gulfarium.com/
Big Kahunas Waterpark: http://www.bigkahunas.com/
Silver Sands Factory Stores: http://www.silversandsoutlet.com/index.aspx
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort: http://www.sandestin.com/
Baytownewharf (at Sandestin): http://www.baytownewharf.com/
Harborwalk: http://www.harborwalk-destin.com/
Destin Commons: www.destincommons.com

There is a large Air Force and Navy contingent along this coast so you'll see and hear a lot of fighter jets. If you're into this, check out the Air Force Armament Museum in Fort Walton (http://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/index.shtml) or if you are in the mood for a drive (hour or so), hit the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola (http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/).


Don't forget there are Dolphin cruises (though we tend to skip those as you usually can see the dolphins from the beach). There are also sailing cruises like the Nathaniel Bowditch (http://www.bowditchsailing.com/) as well as lots of fishing charters. We do recommend you rent a pontoon boat at the harbor and head over to Crab Island. It's actually a sandbar that everyone pulls up to and drops anchor on. Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD8MGbyjRzA.


Now, if you drive past Sandestin towards Panama City and hang a right onto 30a, you'll drive down a less "developed" part of the area. Lots of housing and such, no real high-rises like in Destin. You'll come across some really nice towns as well with shopping and restaurants.

Watercolor Resort: http://www.watercolorresort.com/
Seaside Florida (Where the movie The Truman Show was filmed)http://www.seasidefl.com/
Grayton Beach: http://www.graytonbeach.com/
Rosemary Beach: http://www.rosemarybeach.com/

For food, I recommend either Another Broken Egg Cafe or The Donut Hole (I like the one that is down 98 past SanDestin towards Panama City). For Lunch you can hit Pompano Joes which is right on the beach in Destin or The Lucky Snapper which is at the harbor. For the kids I recommend Fudpucker's (http://www.fudtv.com/). Funky place with live aligators you can feed. There are two places I recommend for dinner. Number 1 on the list is Dewey Destin Seafood (http://www.destinseafood.com/index.htm). THIS IS A MUST! It is a shack on the beach and the kitchen is a trailer in the back. There are two piers that jut out into the harbor with picnic tables. The food is outstanding!

The other place I recommend is Louisiana Laginappe: http://www.thelouisianalagniappe.com/

I could keep writing all day about Destin and the surroundings, but will keep it to this for now. If there's anything else you'd like to know, feel free to PM me.

 

[okeydokey]

You must get a donuts at the donut hole. Best sour cream donuts I have ever had. Also, Maguires is a great Irish Pub. They brew their own beer and root beer, food is just great. Go early for happy hour beer prices.

Lodging is very expensive. VRBO is your best bet.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We have stayed at the San Destin Golf and Beach Resort. It is fairly reasonably priced, sign up for their e-mail and postcard program, I have gotten some great summer rate offers that way. I got a 2 bedroom condo for $140/night, it has 1 queen bed, 2 sleeper sofas, a kitchen and kitchenette, a king bedroom and 3 bathrooms. This is a really nice resort community, just up past the Outlet mall and it has it's own shopping and dining district, which has some great places to eat.

Suzanne

 

[ckmommy]

We have stayed at the Hilton--which is very nice. It is right on the beach and the suite that we were in had bunkbeds for the kids, 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa.

We have also stayed here:
http://www.oceanreefresorts.com/rental/house.html?ID=285&User=ORR5409&Avail=&Stay=

Loved having all the room and being able to make all of our meals!! We stayed here with my sister and her husband plus 3 kids, my parents and DH's dad. Plenty of room.

 

[Straitlover]

I've never been, but I was watching House Hunters last night, and it was people buying a condo there. They ended up at Tops'l. I see on VRBO there is more than one Tops'l; I didn't notice which one they were at. But it looked like a really nice place! I would have no issue staying there. They had easy beach access, nice pools, tennis courts, etc.

 

[srgibbs]

We live about 4 hours from there and go for a week every summer. Destin has gotten very crowded with lots of Condos and smaller beach room without renting chairs and being right next to the next family. I highly recommend the 30A area down towards Rosemary Beach. It is more expensive but is wonderful. A good place to stay that is reasonable but nice is called the village of South Walton in Seacrest beach. It is VRBO and you can get some great deals. Has an incredible pool only negative is it is across from the beach. Great Bike riding and some unique restaraunts and shopping.

 

[polkadotminnie]

We love to eat at Harry T's (yummy crab soup)!

 

[Gagirl69]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. Keep them coming. A hotel will not work for us. We are staying for a week so a house or condo will be better. We all need room to spread out. We want to spend around $2000 for house/condo for the week.
I've noticed some of the villas or houses come with a golf cart. That would be a great perk. From what I understand they are street legal. We could just drive it to the beach if we're not staying right on it.
Fudpuckers sounds great. I know my 8 yo will love that. I'm going to go look at some of the sites ya'll provided.
Thanks!!! DISERS ROCK!!

 

[bnf2]

Thanks from me for all the info too! We are going to Destin for the first time in August. We're renting my friend's parent's condo at Seascape- saw that resort on House Hunters last night too! Have heard great things about it... but to us anything near the beach sounds great!

 

[clj1410]

I've never been, but I was watching House Hunters last night, and it was people buying a condo there. They ended up at Tops'l. I see on VRBO there is more than one Tops'l; I didn't notice which one they were at. But it looked like a really nice place! I would have no issue staying there. They had easy beach access, nice pools, tennis courts, etc.

I watched that to, i was so jealous.............

 

[edk35]

My husband is from the Pensacola and I am from Dothan AL. which is about 1 1/2 hours from Panama City. I grew up going there. I am very familiar with Destin, Ft. Walton and Panama City. We went to Ft. Walton 3 summers ago and rented a 1st floor condo right on the beach. Our boys LOVED THAT TRIP. My dad took them fishing on one the many peers they have throughout those gulf coast beaches. It was the most relaxing, carefree summer trip. They absolutely loved spending hours and hours on the beach. There are lots of restaurants/beach shops/strip malls and shopping malls. There is the usual mini golf, arcades/water slide places and a gulfarium that was kinda neat too.
http://www.gulfarium.com/ It is NO SEA WORLD but worth doing.

We just like sleeping in, going to bed late, rented some movies, lazy beach/pool days. It was one of our favorite vacations.

 

[edk35]

You must get a donuts at the donut hole. Best sour cream donuts I have ever had. Also, Maguires is a great Irish Pub. They brew their own beer and root beer, food is just great. Go early for happy hour beer prices.

Lodging is very expensive. VRBO is your best bet.

We love McGuire's. There is one in P'cola where my dh is from and I spent many a Friday night there in my single days.... SO of course we had to go to the one in Destin when we were there 3 summers ago. OH and I just remembered...this really brought back memories....anyway....our wedding party and family spent the evening at McGuire's after our rehearsal dinner...WAY BACK IN DEC. 88. So just seeing someone else post about McGuire's really sent me down memory lane. THANKS

Here is the website for both.


http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/

 

[Beckypooh1972]

We went to the Destin area a few years ago and are thinking of taking a May trip there and we'll save our Disney trip for December. Our only concern is we are so used to really action packed Disney vacations we are wondering if we can find enough to do (besides go shopping) in Destin. The Gulfarium is nice but it's no Seaworld! The restaurants in the area are yummy though if you like seafood which we do. We may still go in May just to have a low key, cheaper vacation since our kids have never been to the beach. OP, if you end up going have a great time and if you get a chance to take a dolphin cruise, GO, it is really cool!

 

[ckdsnynt]

We rented a house from my friend in Destin sweveral years ago and took our little gd. She loved the beach but really enjoyed eating breakfast every morning beside the pool at the house!

We loved Fudpuckers too! Fed the alligators there! DGD tried to eat their food on the line while I wasn't looking. Took the cruise to see the dolphins. Dgd thought the dolphins wanted her to swim with them when they came up to the boat and she tried to climb over the side of the boat (she was two at the time!). Needless to say, by the end of the week, her grandad and I were two very tired people! But what precious memories. The sand was so white and fine, like powder. The water was so clear (but full of jellyfish!)! The shopping was fantastic! Think I will book me a week at Destin too!

 

[scrdofbugs]

I have stayed in several areas near Destin but our fav is
Orange beach. It is quieter than the Destin area but with that quietness also comes less touristy things to do. We go for the beautiful beach and quietness so it works for us. This is the hotel link that we stay at and love. http://www.islandhousehotel.com/

 

[edk35]

We went to the Destin area a few years ago and are thinking of taking a May trip there and we'll save our Disney trip for December. Our only concern is we are so used to really action packed Disney vacations we are wondering if we can find enough to do (besides go shopping) in Destin. The Gulfarium is nice but it's no Seaworld! The restaurants in the area are yummy though if you like seafood which we do. We may still go in May just to have a low key, cheaper vacation since our kids have never been to the beach. OP, if you end up going have a great time and if you get a chance to take a dolphin cruise, GO, it is really cool!

We were worried a bit that summer we went for the same reason...however OUR KIDS LOVED having a low key, laid back, no schedule vacation. I think everyone should do that from time to time.

 

[mecook61]

I can be in Destin in 1.5 hours, so we're down there at least every other month all year long for shopping/eating, and more frequently during beach weather. We've stayed the last three October school breaks at Majestic Sun, which is part of the Seascape Resort. If you saw the HGTV Househunters show on Thursday night, 1/28, it was the 3rd place they went. It is across "old 98", a two-lane road from the beach, but there is NOTHING in front of you to block the view. They have deeded access. We've stayed twice on a 5th floor in the same condo and twice on the 7th floor. A-701 is my favorite. It's a corner unit, so it has windows in the kitchen dining room, and den; the balcony is called a "wraparound" so you can really watch that eastern sunrise or the western sunset. 3br with master on the front with balcony access. Leave the kids to the back with 2 bathrooms. One bedroom has one bed and the other has two. (no twins) You could sleep 8 in beds and never use the sofa bed and plain sofa. We've never slept in all the beds, but with teenager girls (we take one with our one), they each have a bath. All of us "women" can shower and get ready at once! It's on VRBO-that's how I found it. A favorite seafood restaurant is The Crab Trap also on Old 98. Located on the beach, always crowded, always good. Cheaper, but still good is Gilligan's. Gilligan's is way down in "Destin proper" on the harbor, getting near the Eastpass Bridge. I've never been to Pompano Joe's or Whale's Tail. WT is actually part of Seascape, and within walking distance, but we haven't been. Ariel Dunes I and II are part of Seascape and sit behind Majestic Sun. They are high-rises (for real) and still have awesome views. They come cheaper since they are further from the sand. What it looks like most folks do (and a friend did). They take the vehicle with beach toys/chairs/whatnot to the parking area beside the road early in the morning. They can walk, unhindered, later to the beach. Supposedly there's a shuttle you can take, but my friend said it must only run in July since it wasn't running last June when she was there. The Silver Sands Outlet Mall is maybe a mile away. Destin Commons is a popular outdoor mall with eateries like Hard Rock & Johnny Rocket's. The Bass Pro Shop is there for your man to visit while you shop. RAVE theater with 14 theaters is great, but expensive. Hope you have a good trip, wherever you wind up.

 

[PinkRhombus]

We won't go to Panama City any more because it's so built up now....Destin is getting that way.

Right now, we stick with Pensacola Beach. It's much quieter. But still has a lot of stuff around...and Super Wal-Mart on the other side of the bridge.