Vacation experts (Destin or San Destin?) (2 Viewers)

[Mr. Blue Sky]

There is an Italian place in Destin called Fat Clemenza that is pretty decent.



Also, no love for Navarre Beach? That’s fine, i guess I’ll continue to have it all to myself.

 

[antipop]

Once the Aviation museum opens to the general public again,

i have been there several times and i still want to go every time we are in Pensacola...

and i am not even a plane or war guy

 

[sammymvpknight]

i have been there several times and i still want to go every time we are in Pensacola...

and i am not even a plane or war guy

I went through aviation training at NAS Pensacola in a prior life...so it's extra special to me. It's my favorite museum in the country. I've gone dozens of times and I think that each time I go I find something new and interesting.

 

[efil4stnias]

My wife's family owns a home in sandestin. If you like golf and the beach I highly reccomend Sandestin.

Try and eat at the ocean club, best dining in the area. The Hilton resort is Sandestin is incrediably nice.

Sandestin also has a little village of shops resturants and bars that make for an enjoyable night life.

Baytowne is the place just across the highway.

We have been regulars at the Hilton Sandestin for 16 years. Its not the same as 10 years ago. You stay here for access to beach primarily.

I second Ocean Club and would add Seagars for a good steak.

 

[efil4stnias]

I went to New Grayton/Seaside for the Gustav evacuation. I will never go to Destin again after that. Grayton Beach/Seaside is definitely the way to go. Much, much nicer, more secluded, less touristy. Only bad thing is that means more $$$!

There is a record shop in Seaside that my oldest and i love to visit - found some good, old records and tee shirts.

 

[dtc]

As far as beach vacations go in driving distance from New Orleans, Destin has the best varity of resturants. I wouldn't go just for the food, but if your are going to the beach anyway and enjoy eating out, Destin is one of the best places. Not to mention the beachs and water are so much nicer, too. I find Destin has pretty much everything you could want. If you just want to bum it up at the beach, Pensacola or Gulf Shores are cheaper alternatives. If you are like me who likes being at the beach but prefers to have all the amenities, too, then Destin is the best place we have found.

Barto, what kind of food do you like and what didn't you enjoy about the first time you went. Maybe I could make some suggestions.

From NOLA, live in PCola and lived in Destin for years.

Coming from NOLA to Destin or San Destin looking for food is like going to NOLA looking for Applebees or a butcher and asking for tofu.

There was a post above that perfectly summed it up. If you like beaches, sand, crowds, shopping and overpriced mediocre food. Destin is ok and SanDestin better. 30A would be more of the same with higher prices, less crowds and better golf.

 

[superchuck500]

Want to get some input from you, or other posters , who are familiar with South Carolina beaches.. ive never been to any of them.. but i, for some reason, always thought Myrtle Beach was kinda the Biloxi or Galveston of the east coast, ie kinda trashy.. of course that’s just my perception.. BUT since I’m now in Nashville and love to play tennis- i really want to check out Hilton Head Island.. i know it’s a golf Mecca, but i hear there are a lot of good places to play tennis as well.. from what i understand though, none of the east coast beaches can compare with SW Florida or the panhandle in terms of the soft white sand and the warm turquoise water.. are they more like the yeloowish sand and cold water you find in East FL or California? Not a fan of that type of beach too much.. Thoughts?

I've been in Charleston for almost six years and been to most of the beaches in SC. Definitely east coast, Atlantic Ocean beaches. The sand is darker and a bit more coarse than the Gulf and the water is cooler and darker than that beautiful FL panhandle water. It can still enjoyable in the summer (it's cold otherwise) but you don't actually go for the "beach" itself . . . you go to be "at the beach".

Myrtle has really grown, it's quite large now. It's amped up and cheesy as hell. Hilton Head is the nicest, but it can be sort of sterile IMO. Kiawah is nice too, much smaller than HH but pretty and nice places to rent, and plenty of golf and tennis. Isle of Palms and Folly Beach are cool because they're 20 to 25 minutes from downtown Charleston.

 

[Yoweigh]

no love for Navarre Beach? That’s fine, i guess I’ll continue to have it all to myself.

Nah bruh, you're sharing it with me.

This thread is a blast from the past. Navarre seemed a lot more developed last time I was there compared to 2010 when I made my last comment in this thread.

 

[where yat brah]

Shhhhhhhhh....... About Navarre.
It Sucks!!!! Stay Away.

And if you do visit and love it, make sure to tell everyone how much it sucked.

 

[Wisco Steve]

There is an Italian place in Destin called Fat Clemenza that is pretty decent.



Also, no love for Navarre Beach? That’s fine, i guess I’ll continue to have it all to myself.

Fat Clemenza was awesome, had a great meal there.
Dug this thread up as we are planning on going back this Spring. I really liked Miramar Beach a lot. The prices for nice places to stay has certainly gone up since 2021. We are also checking into Navarre. We'll have 8 adults and 5 kids, so it'll mostly be about a nice private pool/outdoor space, proximity to beach and a few decent restaurants/fun bars for when the parents get out at night.