Destin or Panama City, FL - Fun activities?

[vettechick99]

We are heading to Seaside, FL next week for our annual vaca down there, but I'd like to hop in the car and visit the area attractions. Destin is a few minutes to the west, Panama City to the east.

What do you like to do down there? Any restaurants to recommend? Any good shopping? I know there is a Coach outlet that I'm dying to visit!

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Bumping this up....

I just LOVE that area!!!

How is it now, after the Hurricanes???
How are those beautiful white beaches?

I sure wish it were me heading down there.
We are hoping to vacation at Sandestin next Spring!!

 

[rascalmom]

We stayed in Panama City Beach a few years ago - there was a little restaurant right on the beach called Sharkey's. Claim to be the world's largest Tiki bar. Food was good & the drinks fun. We were there for lunch, but I bet the place would be fun at night.

I've been to Destin too, but it's been too many years to make any recommendations.

 

[vettechick99]

Thanks rascalmom! You know I love me a tiki hut!

Bumping this up....

I just LOVE that area!!!

How is it now, after the Hurricanes???
How are those beautiful white beaches?

I sure wish it were me heading down there.
We are hoping to vacation at Sandestin next Spring!!

I love the area, too. Be sure you take a trip over to Seaside for an afternoon. It's just so darling, I wish I could live there! It reminds me of a small Celebration in its Stepford-ish ways. Rosemary Beach (about ten minutes east of Seaside) is very cute, too.

Anyway, after the hurricanes of 2004, Seaside had lost a lot of their boardwalks (or whatever you call them!), but had them already repaired a few months later when we visited. They were still working on painting them, but I'm sure that's done by now. The storm surge also washed a ton of sand onto roads, but overall that area got off easy. The beaches still look great!

I'm not sure about the rest of the area, but I'll let you know next week!

 

[lemondog]

Silver Sands Outlet Mall in Destin is awesome! They have a lot of really high-end shops. Plan on spending a whole day there.

There are lots of mini-golf places and things like that. The one we usually go to is Big Kahuna's on the main drag in Destin.

Our fave restaurant is called Louisiana Lagniappe's. It's inside a condo community called Sandpiper Cove, but anyone can go to it. Great food!

Have fun!

 

[kayeandjim00]

If you like go carts they have a huge track at PC if I remember correctly. They also have a water park and an amusement park. Lots of yummy food. We went to one great seafood place and I can't think of the name but it was in a huge boat looking thing if I remember correctly (not particularly helpful I know )
Have fun - I think the beach is soooo relaxing!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

We go to Destin every year for spring break. Like the above poster said, the Silver Sands outlet mall is great. Great coach store and a nice Dooney & Bourke too. I also love the Bannana Republic there. Some of the places that we like to eat (which have nice, fun bars I might add ) are: Pompano Joe's, Fudpuckers, The Crab Trap....hmm..I know there's more but I can't think. I'll ask my hubby when he gets home and post again. Oh one more place I thought of is called the Back Porch.

Have a great time! I love Seaside. It's so relaxing!

 

[Melisa1]

I second the Back Porch restaurant - yummy!!!!!! Right on the beach and really good seafood!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Okay, here's a little more information. Go to Sandestin Village of Baytowne Wharf. It's a quaint little shopping/dining area that's real fun. One place we ate at a couple of times is called Hammerheads Bar & Grill. They have live entertainment nightly. Also McGuires Irish Pub. Awsome burgers! I think they have recently moved into the Sandestin Village as well.

If you have any other questions I could help you with, feel free to ask!

 

[DisneyArk]

We usually vacation in this area. You've gotten some great ideas. I also love The Back Porch.

Have you eaten at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach? It's really cool. It's a fun atmosphere and they have live music. They only offer about 6 meal choices each night, but the food comes right out when you order. BTW - Grayton Beach is between Seaside and Destin.
Here is a site with some info...
http://www.graytonbeach.com/redbar.html

Have a great trip!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, since Sandestin was mentioned again,

We are looking forward to Vacationing at Sandestin next spring, if we can snag a time-share week!!! And I am so looking forward to the Village at Baytown Wharf.

From what I have been hearing, the BBQ place there is GREAT!!!

And, for the best dancing/nightclub, Check out The Door.

Both of these places have web sites.

Go check out Sandestin.com Then just follow the links.

 

[lillygator]

Honey - a nice cooler, sand and sun is all you need!!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

You're talking to the pro here when it comes to shoppin' in Destin!!

DH and I go on a date every saturday night. When we do, we drive over Midbay bridge from Niceville and head to the Commons right there off the bridge! WONDERFUL shopping, plan on spending a lot of time and a lot of money there. Also, head across the street in both directions, across Danny Wuerful Way over to where Bed, Bath, and Beyond is located with other great shops, and across HWY 98 to Linens N Things, Best Buy, and those stores are located. Plenty of places to eat while you shop...HAVE A BLAST!!!

 

[Pugdog007]

I'd avoid PCB at all cost and opt for Destin instead. The last time I was in PCB... will be the last time I see PCB. It was early Summer a few years ago, and the whole place had been taken over by teenagers, including some gangs that didn't look very friendly. Drinking, drugs, traffic so bad you can't go anywhere in any direction, "boys" screaming vulger things to girls that looked all of 12. Not the PCB I grew up visiting sadly. I think Destin is still ok though - and family oriented.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I'd avoid PCB at all cost and opt for Destin instead. The last time I was in PCB... will be the last time I see PCB. It was early Summer a few years ago, and the whole place had been taken over by teenagers, including some gangs that didn't look very friendly. Drinking, drugs, traffic so bad you can't go anywhere in any direction, "boys" screaming vulger things to girls that looked all of 12. Not the PCB I grew up visiting sadly. I think Destin is still ok though - and family oriented.

I totally agree with this! When we were kids, we went to PCB every year and it was wonderful! Now, however, it's a nightmare (at least at spring break time). I will add too that Destin at spring break is bumper to bumper traffic and long waits at restaurants as most do not take reservations. Each year we go we think it's more crowded than the year before.

BTW, when are you guys going vettechick? We'll be in Destin from the 8th to the 15th. A huge group of us are going. We're renting a house in Destiny by the Sea with 4 other families and a bunch of our other friends are getting condos near by. If we're there at the same time, we could try to hook up for some cocktails!

 

[vettechick99]

BTW, when are you guys going vettechick? We'll be in Destin from the 8th to the 15th. A huge group of us are going. We're renting a house in Destiny by the Sea with 4 other families and a bunch of our other friends are getting condos near by. If we're there at the same time, we could try to hook up for some cocktails!

I wish we were going to be there at the same time! We are leaving in exactly 2 hours from now. We might arrive to Seaside in darkness, but we'll wake to sun and sand!

By the way, I did a search for that neighborhood and it looks great! I know you all will have a blast!

Do a trip report for us, why don't ya?