Destin FL Vacation

We love Destin! You will have so much fun!

"The Back Porch" is a very casual favorite. It's always crowded, but don't let that turn you away- go to the back and enjoy a drink on the beach while you wait and people watch.

For nicer dining, you MUST go to Louisiana Lagniappe! It is wonderful food and the service is fantastic. (www.thelouisianalagniappe.com for directions) The dress code is a little more formal, but worth it!

Harry T's Lighthouse is another good place for casual dining. Reasonable prices for food, friendly folks there.

One place I would NOT recommend is FudPuckers. Total tourist trap and the food is horrible, the service is even worse. Take your kids to see the 'gators, have a drink and then LEAVE.

Places to stay... well, unfortunately, tourism is so big in Destin that any gulf front locations are going to cost a bit more.

The best way to find a place to stay in by using Vacation Rentals by Owner, www.vrbo.com. We have used this website extensively and for locations all over the United States. We have NEVER had a problem.

Just be careful with the lingo while you are looking: gulf VIEW means that you are NOT on the water, there may be a service road to cross.

"Steps from the beach" will mean that you have to haul your stuff a few blocks and hope there is space open at the public beach.

You may want to save yourself the hassle and go with gulf FRONT properties. They will have a private beach, beach service and a lot less hassle. It may stretch your budget a bit, but if you cook breakfast and lunch at your condo, you can save money.

You may want to consider a place with a pool as well- it's nice to have a place to go when the water in the gulf is too choppy to swim. It's also nice to go to a pool and cool down in the afternoon!

Have fun planning and have a GREAT time in Destin!

We stayed at Sandestin in a stand alone cottage on the Bayside. It was nice that it was stand alone, very quiet/calm, and less expensive on that side. The Sandestin shuttle could take us to the beach in a matter of minutes or over to the Wharf, which is particularly fun at night. My niece and nephew were 11 and 14 at the time and loved the zipline at the Wharf. We also enjoyed the live music there, and it's a family atmosphere. They also have bikes, kayaks, golfing, tennis, etc. and a certain amount is included in your stay. The nice thing about staying on property was that the kids were old enough to hop the shuttle and go places themselves as they wished and be safe. So, it gave them some freedom. The downside is that it is kind of pricey, especially if you don't use one of their promotional deals. However, the cost of food and recreation offsets some of that. While there, we also went to the outlet mall, down the coast for a dolphin cruise on a Super Blaster power boat, and miniature golfed.

Last year, I found it was much cheaper during the summer high tourist season to go further down the FL coast to Ft. Myers Beach (Gullwing Resort - fablous) We were planning to go to Sandestin again this year, but we decided to go down to Siesta Key (which saved a few $ but prices were much more comparable to Destin).

<3 Destin <3 My sister's and their kiddos and our mom and brother are all in Destin as I type this!!

You may have slim pickins since you are booking late but you never know, you could find a condo for cheap that someone gave up last minute.

www.vrbo.com is a good place to start

My family stays at Ciboney Resort. Its right across the street from the beach and has a kitchen and the price is right. (We've stayed there for years. Tried other condos and even a house a few miles from the beach and nothing compared to these condos. Now we know just to book here)

Right down the road is Pompano Joe's (sp?) great place for families, beautiful and on the water. Also, Alvin's Island is a fun place to pick up souvenirs and stuff (also right down the road). I dont know a lot about the town because we never go there when we visit. We are always at the beach, Pompano Joe's or making meals at the condo.

HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Call the Chamber of Commerce in Destin, that's your best bet for ALL the info you need! I LOVE Destin, but have only been a few times & never spent the night. BUT I am a true believer in C.O.C. info they have never let me down in any situation/questions I have had about a particular town/area...Have FUN!!!!

VRBO.com is a great source to find an affordable condo. There are TONS of condos on the beach. Destin is very busy, if you are looking for more laid back, try Sandestin, Blue Mtn Beach, or Greyton Beach areas. They are just past Destin and not nearly as busy. We have gone to the area yearly since I was a kid. Favorite restaurant: The Back Porch (blackened mahi mahi, yummy). Also good is Anglers, it's right on the Destin Pier, so you can walk out to the end and back while you wait for a table. Sexton's Seafood Market is a great place to get whatever you want if you are going to be cooking in. Snorkeling or dolphin tours are always fun. Here's a link to a good source for things to do:
http://www.emeraldcoastfl.com/
Have fun!