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

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Go to Navarre Beach. Much less developed and 'touristy' than the Destins. I just got back from Pensacola Beach and though that was pretty excellent as well.

This is really the only answer IMO.


BTW i think that entire area (Destin, Pensacola, etc) is underrated nationally becuase it’s known as the Redneck Rivera but the beaches are really nice, better than anything in CA or TX (not saying much ) in terms of white sand and warm turquoise water.. but if you’re gonna go, Navarre is smack dab in the middle of Destin and P’cola, and makes me feel like i’m on a Caribbean Island, it’s so pretty and relatively isolated... PLUS being a Marriot rewards person for the last decade +, there is now exactly one hotel on Navarre Beach, and it’s a Springhill Suites by Marriott.




Someone mentioned Orange Beach /Gulf Shores, which is also nice- but i dont vacation there purely out of principle, becuase it’s Alabama... yes I’m petty af

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Ok, i lied- Navarre isnt the only answer.. the real answer is to drive a few more hours down the Gulf Coast to Siesta Key, consistently ranked the #1 Beach in America, and my favorite place on the planet... it’s a substantially farther drive, but worth it.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I'm originally from South Carolina, so i've been to Myrtle Beach a bunch of times.

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?

 

[boutrous]

Didn't feel like starting a thread, and this one seemed as good as any for a jumping off point...so weeks of sub zero temps and literally 35+" of snow has my wife itching for a getaway. Won't be doing our annual Bahamas trip, since leaving the country is slightly dicey. I have spent a lot of time in my life in FLA, but never on the panhandle/gulf shores area and it seems like a nice spot.

I started looking in Gulf Shores, and then a little in Orange Beach...now have been looking in Destin and moving search into Miramar Beach. It is going to be me, my wife and 5 yr old daughter, along with my good buddy and his wife plus two young boys. Looking to rent a house for a week and getting right onto beach or real close (good views a must). 4 bedrooms with nice amenities and private pool/outdoor space, close enough to walk to nice restaurants and bars in evening--or at least a short Uber.

Which of these areas should I be zeroing in on my search?? Looking at last week of April.
Thanks!

I think Miramar Beach is the best area in "Destin" and we've stayed all over. We go every year at least once a year. I recommend the Miravilla complex it has a private beach and 2 pools, but not private. I almost bought a house there last year until Covid. We rent the housing units now, but we used to rent condos. There's lot of good restaurants in the area. Buffalo Jacks is a favorite as well as Lulu's.

Next to Miravilla is Avalon and they have some awesome houses with private pools. Check in there.

 

[BELOWSEALEVEL]

I remember when Destin was still a secret.
Humans ruined that place too .
Hopefully the sand still squeaks on ur feet.

 

[where yat brah]

I provide SR.com member rates at either this Emerald Grande 3/3 (Destin harbor)

REMODELED High Floor-Large 3 bedroom/3 full bath corner unit - Destin

Condo, 3 Bedrooms + sleeper sofa, 3 Baths, (Sleeps 6-8) - $189 avg/night - Destin - Amenities include: Swimming pool, Internet, Air Conditioning, Hot Tub, TV, Satellite or cable, Washer & Dryer, Children Welcome, Parking, No Smoking, Accessible, Heater ✓ Bedrooms: 3 ✓ Sleeps: 8 ✓ Minimum stay...

www.vrbo.com

Or this Perdido Key 2/2 (one mile East of the FloraBama

https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Vacation-Home-Rental/Mariner-Condo-Units-Perdido-Key-100866181643054/

 

[sammymvpknight]

Are these places one in the same or is there a difference? I've only been to Destin one time and it was last year for a couple of days. I rented a condo and it was pretty decent, but i wasn't exactly blown away by my first Destin experience. I guess i expected more, since i've heard so many great things about Destin, since i moved to Louisiana 6 years ago.

I've been told that San Destin is nicer than Destin, but i'm confused if both places are one in the same and people just call them different names.

Can anyone help me out with an explanation or suggest a nice condo/resort in the area i should stay at?

Thanks in advance.

What are you hoping to do? Are you planning on golfing, shopping, going to museums, or simply sitting on the beach?

 

[Wisco Steve]

I think Miramar Beach is the best area in "Destin" and we've stayed all over. We go every year at least once a year. I recommend the Miravilla complex it has a private beach and 2 pools, but not private. I almost bought a house there last year until Covid. We rent the housing units now, but we used to rent condos. There's lot of good restaurants in the area. Buffalo Jacks is a favorite as well as Lulu's.

Next to Miravilla is Avalon and they have some awesome houses with private pools. Check in there.

That is good to hear! I ended up booking a place in Miramar Beach last night. Appreciate the dinning advice too, will def check those places out. Also hoping to do a fishing charter.

 

[BigOdin504]

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?

The beaches on Hilton head are not very nice.
We got to surf city North Carolina every summer to link up with family from the north east. It’s a nice area. The beaches are not as nice as the panhandle (white sane/azure blue waters) but not many are.

 

[boutrous]

That is good to hear! I ended up booking a place in Miramar Beach last night. Appreciate the dinning advice too, will def check those places out. Also hoping to do a fishing charter.

If you like Italian, Tuscany Italian Bistro is very good, too. Take a drive East to Donut Hole for breakfast / brunch, don't try to go to the one West in Destin, it's way too crowded. The Surf Hut is also pretty good and if you want something different, try McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin.

 

[buzd]

If you like Italian, Tuscany Italian Bistro is very good, too. Take a drive East to Donut Hole for breakfast / brunch, don't try to go to the one West in Destin, it's way too crowded. The Surf Hut is also pretty good and if you want something different, try McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin.

McGuire's is not worth the drive all the way to the other end of Destin from Miramar.

 

[where yat brah]

Key Lime pie from Donut Hole !!

 

[boutrous]

McGuire's is not worth the drive all the way to the other end of Destin from Miramar.

He's going in April, so it shouldn't be too crowded, but yes I agree. During the summer we wouldn't drive that way specifically to go eat. But if we were down there like coming back from Crab Island, then we'd go.

 

[buzd]

He's going in April, so it shouldn't be too crowded, but yes I agree. During the summer we wouldn't drive that way specifically to go eat. But if we were down there like coming back from Crab Island, then we'd go.

Still, that's at least 20 minutes each way with no traffic. But i agree with stopping there if it's on the way.

Also, there is a little Thai restaurant tucked into the corner of a strip mall on the west edge of Miramar that's pretty good.

 

[sammymvpknight]

If you like Italian, Tuscany Italian Bistro is very good, too. Take a drive East to Donut Hole for breakfast / brunch, don't try to go to the one West in Destin, it's way too crowded. The Surf Hut is also pretty good and if you want something different, try McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin.

McGuires Pensacola >> McGuires Destin.

I went to McGuires Destin in July 2020...they have an outdoor bar and literally nobody was wearing masks. The only people wearing masks were servers. Honestly, it was terrifying. And I knew we were heading toward a spike after seeing that madness. The few people wearing masks were even given the evil eye from the masses. Once you got into the restaurant it was a LITTLE better. But the tourist towns kind of suck during COVID...It's like people say "I'm on vacation...I'm not wearing a mask". I was two people wearing a mask in the community (outside of workers) my entire three days of being there.

Pensacola Beach is beautiful...not quite as beautiful as Destin. The golfing isn’t quite as good as Destin. But Pensacola is the better town. Once the Aviation museum opens to the general public again, I’d recommend Pensacola over Destin. Better people...more sane people...more to do. Oh...and Pensacola has much better restaurants. McGuires and Pete Leg Pete are both musts.