Destin Questions...

[arthur06]

I was looking into going to Destin for about 5 days in January. The weather doesn't seem to be overly warm for the most part. The 2016 weather was upper 50's to low 70's most days. That would really limit the amount of water activities that we could do. Is there enough going on that time of year that makes it worth while?

Also, I would like to stay at the Emerald Grand at Harbour Walk. Is that something that I can rent from an owner? Where would I go about finding that information?

Any input or advice would be great. We have never been to that part of Florida. We tend to spend most of our time in Orlando.

 

[brandimm]

We went in March for spring break and let me tell you the water was freezing. I would imagine in january it would be much colder. And the only place I was able to find the Emerald Grande was to make a reservation through bookit.com

 

[KarenAylwood]

My in laws have two condos in that area that they rent- one in Fort Walton Beach and the other in Destin (Holiday Isle). We've been to both and love them both. Our family has only been in the summer/early fall but my parents have gone down to use my IL's condo and they went in early February. It was nice but yes, it was a bit cold some days but nice enough to walk the beach most of the time. There are restaurants and stuff but yes, the main attraction in Destin is the beach. They said it was a nice relaxing vacation and did a lot of walking/sitting on the beach but I also think they had a good week.

I'm not sure what you're looking to do. When we go down it's all beach and pool for us, which with colder weather probably won't work out. There are a lot of older people that go down in the winter and rent for months when you can get a condo for a month for less than the price of a week.

My MIL rents their place in Destin on VRBO and the other one in Fort Walton Beach has to be rented through the building itself. It looks like it's on VRBO: https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/north-west/destin/mid-destin/emerald-grande I have used HomeAway to rent on Nantucket and it looks like the Emerald Grand is on HomeAway too: https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3672004

 

[dreiwhit]

I went to Panama City Beach (about 45 minutes east of Destin) for a conference around New Years. It was COLD, especially when you got by the beach and got a breeze off the ocean. There's no way you could do any water activities unless they are indoor and heated. We did walk on the beach, but it was cold, windy, and we were bundled up in heavy jackets, hats and gloves.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I live near Destin and January is generally our coldest month. Highs usually in the 60s and lows in the 40s or 30s. Water temp is the coldest it is all year and it is definitely not beach weather. If you just want to escape a snowy climate and enjoy some sun, that you could do. But I wouldn't count on water activities.

 

[Arich01]

I too live near Destin January is pretty cold (for us) and is such an odd month in my opinion. One year the temperature can be very mild, the next we literally have ice! I don't normally get in the water until late April or early May, but I live here and can wait until the water is nice. Destin has some great restaurants, but not a whole lot in the area of entertainment. There is plenty of shopping, but I'm sure you can only do that for so long. If it were me, I'd visit in early May (Spring Break is over and schools let out first week of June) or in September after summer crowds are back home. The weather is great and the water is nice and warm!

 

[dreiwhit]

If it were me, I'd visit in early May (Spring Break is over and schools let out first week of June) or in September after summer crowds are back home. The weather is great and the water is nice and warm!

I was on a business trip to Destin in mid September one year. The crowds were gone and the weather was very nice. No waiting in line at McGuires!

 

[Arich01]

I was on a business trip to Destin in mid September one year. The crowds were gone and the weather was very nice. No waiting in line at McGuires!

We LOVE McGuires! I have been going there for about 20 years (we would make the drive to the original in Pensacola before the one in Destin opened) As much as we like this restaurant, we won't go during summer and spring break because of the horrendous wait!

 

[jklmw]

Sandestin is our favorite. Look into stay sandestin. January is cold for Destin. Destin is beautiful!!! Have fun

 

[Marie17]

Another for Sandestin. Seagars at the Hilton is usually very good.

 

[Marie17]

Panama City Beach is about 45 minutes from Sandestin - I think it would be about an 65-70 minutes from Destin (and of course the traffic should be much better during that time frame). We used to live in Ft. Walton -- still go down just to play the nostalgic course of Goofy Golf.