Sandestin or Pensacola for one night?

[luvavacation]

Instead of traveling through Atlanta to get to Orlando, I thought this time we might try something new and go to the Florida Panhandle for our overnight on the drive to Disney (only about a 30 minute difference for us from our home up north according to Google maps).

I have never been to the Florida panhandle, and no one I know has, either. I would bet someone here has been there, though!

So, which one would you recommend for the night? We would also have our dog with us, if that matters. I really want to walk the beach with my dog in the early morning, watching the sun rise, as I have seen other people do on the beaches we have been to. Is there a better view of the sunrise from one or the other town?

Yes, I know I am strange, but I just love the thought of walking on the beach with my dog as the sun comes up! The earlier the better! After all, since when are vacations for sleeping? I will do that when I get home!

 

[free2div]

sanddestin has nicer beaches but I dont know if they allow dogs on the beaches. I live in Panama City Bch about an hr from Destin. We have beautiful beaches here to and is on the way to Orlando. I think they have just started letting people bring dogs to our beaches. Beach Comber by the Sea is a nice little place to stay for the night here. Not too big like those condos along the beach.

 

[taylor3297]

Sandestin would be my pick or Destin. I am not sure about dogs on the beach since we never take ours.

Panama City Beach is nice too. A little more touristy. I agree with the other poster, Beachcomber by the sea is a not place to stay.

 

[free2div]

NO Destin is now more touristy and then again he depends on what time of year you come down. Guess I am partial to our beaches but we havent had any oil this year and Destin and Pensacola have.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The OP is considering Pensacola, not PCB, right....

I know that Sandestin is lovely....

I haven't been to Pensacola, but all the TV coverage seems to show the whitest, broadest beach.... flatter and wider than Sandestin.

PS: I would avoid PCB.... Been there and Destin.... There IS a big difference!!!!!

OP, you really should check the regulations about dogs on the beaches of these different areas.....

The beaches near Port St. Joe/Cape San Blas are definitely dog friendly.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I don't know how current this is...
but I just found this on destin-ation.com

Okaloosa County, Bay County and the City of Destin do not allow pets on the beach.

South Walton County allows only property owners of South Walton County to obtain beach pet permits 850.892.8156.

The beaches South of Panama City (such as Alligator Point in Franklin County) are less regulated regarding dogs on the beach. Franklin county does have a law requiring that dogs either be on a leash or under the owners control. Self regulated good dog behavior is the general accepted rule of the beach.

 

[Heard02]

Sandestin!!!

 

[sparklynails23]

I've never seen pets on either of those beaches, but I think you would be more likely to get away with it in Pensacola. Not sure if any of the hotels accept pets, though.

 

[luvavacation]

Thanks for the information!

Ok, this "No dogs on the beach" is new to me! Every beach we have ever been to, I have always seen people walking their dogs, especially at sunrise. In Naples, I even saw an older woman with her Golden that must have been trained to find buried shells, because the dog would run ahead of her and dig up shells that the low tide had left behind, and she would collect them.

My dog and I love to take long walks, and whenever I walk a beach and see others with their dogs, I always wish she was with me. I didn't know there were laws against it. Knowing this certainly will narrow down my options.

Please, keep the recommendations coming though, it all helps with planning for a place I have never been!

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Thanks for the information!

Ok, this "No dogs on the beach" is new to me! Every beach we have ever been to, I have always seen people walking their dogs, especially at sunrise. In Naples, I even saw an older woman with her Golden that must have been trained to find buried shells, because the dog would run ahead of her and dig up shells that the low tied had left behind, and she would collect them.

My dog and I love to take long walks, and whenever I walk a beach and see others with their dogs, I always wish she was with me. I didn't know there were laws against it. Knowing this certainly will narrow down my options.

Please, keep the recommendations coming though, it all helps with planning for a place I have never been!

In Pensacola we don't allow dogs on the beach because people don't clean up after their dogs. We have some of the best beaches in the US and they want to keep them that way. Since you have a dog it will be hard to find a hotel for him/her to stay in. You might want to board him and then take him to a dog beach close by. Now, I have been to Destin, Orange Beach and Pensacola. The beaches all have sugary white sand, so that isn't an issue. Destin and Orange Beach are more busy & touristy. Pensacola is more calm and relaxing.

 

[luvsJack]

I like Pensacola. We go two or three times each summer (only 3 hours away) and LOVE Pensacola. Lots of fun, gorgeous beach and water, and not too crowded. I love it for a day to relax from our busy lives.

My niece goes for a week to Sandestin every year. They rarely go in the Gulf and only to the beach to make pictures(and from their pictures, the white beach in Destin looks just the same as thewhite beach in Pensacola)--spend all their time in the pool. Says the beach is too crowded.

There may be a big difference in cost too.

I would think that you could contact the chamber of commerce or visitor's bureau for either area and find out about the dogs.

 

[Mimi1965]

Pananma City and sandestin both have really amazing shopping venues-
Sandestin's is cool (inside the community of Sandestin) with shops and restaurants

I havent seen dogs at any of those beaches either