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Replies: 30
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1st Rounder [611]
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Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 6:44 AM
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Thinking about taking the family on vacation in May, anyone have any suggestions or recommendations, greatly appreciated.Have heard great things about the area.
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Orange Blooded [2868]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 6:51 AM
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Have vacationed in the area a couple times. Love the beach. Plenty of good restaurants. Last time stayed at a beach rental in Santa Rosa beach. A little less crowded but still close to everything. Really loved going to the navel museum in Pensacola and watching the Blue Angels practice.
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110%er [5512]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 6:52 AM
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Pics of navels?
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Varsity [229]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:14 AM
[ in reply to Re: Destin Florida ] |
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I agree Santa Rosa is a better option than Destin and the naval air museum is great, they aren't really close to one another. Thats a 1. 5 - 2 hour drive.
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Varsity [229]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:17 AM
[ in reply to Re: Destin Florida ] |
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I agree Santa Rosa is a better option than Destin and the naval air museum is great, they aren't really close to one another. Thats a 1. 5 - 2 hour drive.
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110%er [7700]
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My family and I love Destin
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Feb 8, 2024, 6:55 AM
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We have stayed at the Silver Shells Resort for about 7 years now. Don’t let the name fool you - it’s not just for seniors.
It is right beside Henderson Beach State Park - which kind of lessens the crowds.
If you stay there, you HAVE to eat at the Back Porch. The restaurant is on the beach and the food is great!
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All-Conference [406]
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Isnt there a seafood place called Pompano Petes
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Feb 8, 2024, 7:46 AM
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in Destin. Went there many years ago…..fun time
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Orange Blooded [3213]
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Re: Isnt there a seafood place called Pompano Petes
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Feb 8, 2024, 12:22 PM
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Pompano Joe's. I used to live next to it.
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All-In [40100]
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Some of if not the most beautiful beaches and water in the area.
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Feb 8, 2024, 7:54 AM
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Only problem is some of it is very crowded which is why we started going to Navarre. At the right place though you can’t beat Destin. A bit pricey too just because of supply and demand. Agree with above who said Back Porch, some of if not the best grilled fish I’ve ever had. Blackened can be a bit salty and I like salt, the goldened fits my palate quite nicely. Can be hours wait in the evening so occasionally we will go for a lunch.
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Varsity [229]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:10 AM
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We used to go in the 80's and it was great. Now its just traffic jam from he!!. I guess if you go before school so before Memorial Day or after schools back in so after Labor Day it might be OK.
You may want to check 30A / Rosemary Beach area.
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Orange Blooded [3901]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 1:12 PM
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We used to go in the 80's and it was great. Now its just traffic jam from he!!. I guess if you go before school so before Memorial Day or after schools back in so after Labor Day it might be OK.
You may want to check 30A / Rosemary Beach area.
Rosemary Beach is great but you better be well off financially to afford to take the family there.
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Varsity [229]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:19 AM
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Check when the gay pride beach weekend is. We had some friends take their young family unknowing it was gay pride week. After 2 days they had to pack up and go home. The hotel apologized profusely and said if they knew they were a family with kids they would have warned them.
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All-In [27344]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:21 AM
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It's a great place. The marina is nice and deep sea trips are pretty cheap. You can pretty much walk up any day and jump on a charter. I hopped on a party boat that was headed to snapper fish and ended up bringing home a bag of king mackerel and reeling in a nice wahoo, but theye wouldn't let me keep the wahoo.
Oh and Whataburger!
Message was edited by: RunJumpCatch®
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Head Coach [753]
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Re: Destin Florida
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:25 AM
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Traffic won't be too bad in May as long as it's before Memorial Day. After that it's nuts 
The seafood is outstanding. Don't go to Boschamp's, waaay over priced, or anything on the Boardwalk at the mouth of the harbor. King mackerel will be showing up in May, but the cobia run is not nearly what it used to be.
The Naval Air Museum in Pensacola is first rate, and you might be able to catch a Blue Angels practice. Hwy 30A is nice, pricey and a bit crowded by that time, but worth a side trip probably. And yeas, the beaches are that white. I got in an "argument" with my niece when she was four over whether or not they were made of sand or snow.
Enjoy your trip!
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Standout [308]
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Snorkel Spot - Public Access
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:45 AM
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There are many "excursions" that are offered for snorkeling in Destin, but most take you off a beach that has a public access point. This is a great place to spend the day, plus if you bring your own gear, you can swim out to where the charters take their snorkelers to watch them feed the fish. (Most anchor only like 30 yards off the beach.)
Check Google Maps: O'Steen Public Beach Access (Free street parking as first come. Get there early.)
Super Pro Tip... Watermelon is like crack to fish. If your kids aren't good swimmers, you can swim out with a piece of watermelon and they will follow you back to the beach! Be warned, you will have DOZENS of fish all going after the melon in your hand. The farther out you go, the bigger the fish you bring back!
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Standout [308]
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Re: Snorkel Spot - Public Access
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Feb 8, 2024, 8:56 AM
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It can be easy to miss, so I included a screenshot of the access point.
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110%er [9184]
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any idea how the weather and water is there in early april
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Feb 8, 2024, 9:50 AM
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Was thinking of taking the kids there for spring break
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Varsity [229]
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Re: any idea how the weather and water is there in early april
Feb 8, 2024, 9:58 AM
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Great idea. They can binge drink with coeds.
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Rock Defender [54]
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Walk-On [117]
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Re: any idea how the weather and water is there in early april
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Feb 8, 2024, 10:29 AM
[ in reply to any idea how the weather and water is there in early april ] |
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We were just in Destin last month--mid January. We stayed in a high rise right on the beach. All of the pools and hotubs were open and heated where we stayed. We have been in March and the crowds aren't bad, but I hear some refer to it as "sardine beach" in the summer months.
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Hall of Famer [22367]
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A little nostalgic look at Destin.
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Feb 8, 2024, 10:01 AM
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When I was 9 years old, 1960, we lived in Demopolis, Alabama. Destin was due south, closest beach to our house. We would go down about once a month and spend the weekend. Two mom-and-pop motels. One restaurant. Miles and miles of the most beautiful sand beaches anywhere. (We called it sugar sand.)
Looking back on it now, it is a shame that the state of Florida didn't buy 10 to 20 miles of that area and make a state park out of it.
I don't mind the commercialization. I'm not a tree hugger who thinks Florida should be a pristine as it was in 1900 and all development is bad. I'm just saying how nice it would be if along that stretch of hundreds of miles of beaches and condos on the Gulf of Mexico, if there could be a 20 mile stretch of pristine beaches the way I remember it from 1960.
Have a great vacation. Enjoy.
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110%er [8278]
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Re: A little nostalgic look at Destin.
Feb 8, 2024, 10:07 AM
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I agree with you Bret. I live in PCB in a quiet little community right across from St. Andrews St. Park. I wish the Park were 3 times a big because that would mean quite a few high rise condos wouldn't be there. Oh, and I get nothing but respect from all of the FSU fans, as long as I remain silent.
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Rock Defender [54]
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31A if you can find a cool VRBO
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Feb 8, 2024, 10:09 AM
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Sometimes, owners and HOAs are a pain in the neck along through there.
But, the beaches are great. And a lot of owners have street-legal golf carts.
Head over to Crab Island at the Choctowhatcee Bay inlet if you have access to a boat. Lots of fun if the tides are right.
And Dewey Destin's also on the bay is a dive but the seafood is good, and cheap.
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CU Guru [1117]
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Thoughts from a "Local"
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Feb 8, 2024, 10:27 AM
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We live here in Pensacola so we frequent Destin a good bit. I will agree early May is better than anytime between Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
Destin has plenty to do but taper your expectations thinking this place is the "Myrtle Beach" of the Gulf (that is actually Panama City Beach). The Gulf and the Bay are breathtakingly beautiful. Plenty of good food! Just don't expect a good price at the Marina.
Other options in driving distance of Destin...
I second the nomination for Navarre!! A nice beach town that is located perfectly between PCOLA Beach/PCOLA and Destin.
Things to do for: PCOLA - Naval Museum is a must! Niceville/Valparaiso, Florida, - Air Force Museum. Panama City Beach - Pier Park.
Also, pay attention to the Naval Museum Blue Angels schedule. During the week they schedule practice. The practices are easily seen from the Naval Museum or Fort Pickens.
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1st Rounder [611]
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Re: Thoughts from a "Local"
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Feb 8, 2024, 10:42 AM
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Thank you for all the recommendations and advice, my son graduates from the Citadel on the 4th, then has to go to Ft Sill for Army school, Daughter just graduated high school, figured we’d take a little family trip down there to enjoy a little bit of the gulf, looking forward to it is a understatement. Thanks again Go Tigers!
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All-In [31315]
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Re: Destin Florida
Feb 8, 2024, 10:29 AM
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Went down to Panama City but would have liked to have drove on out to Destin. Heard it was a great beach. Enjoy!
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Orange Blooded [4059]
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Check the status of red tide
Feb 8, 2024, 11:08 AM
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Not sure it makes it that far north, but it is now a frequent problem from Tampa south. It can be serious. Kills marine life, up to porpoises and sea turtles. Burns the eyes and skin, making swimming uncomfortable, if not impossible. Red tide could destroy a vacation.
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All-In [30460]
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Club LA has great music
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Feb 8, 2024, 11:17 AM
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Both national touring acts and the best tribute bands in the country
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Heisman Winner [111650]
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You might as well be vacationing in alabama.
Feb 8, 2024, 12:29 PM
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110%er [9032]
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Re: Destin Florida
Feb 8, 2024, 12:40 PM
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we stayed on the beach at santa rosa
did the naval museum
kids loved the big kahuna water park
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Orange Blooded [4461]
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Re: Destin Florida
Feb 8, 2024, 12:48 PM
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Our family stayed at Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort last year and really enjoyed. Few mikes up from Destin. Quieter Great beach and several golf courses on the grounds. Also scrips the street using underground tunnel they have a great Bay Area with restaurants retail few activities. This is still on the same property. If rent a condo on the beach try to get one that comes with a golf cart. This is most helpful in getting back forth from the beachside and bayside. We flew into the local Destin Fort Walton Beach airport.
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