Destin

[MemphisStockBroker]

Ok, i know several of you gentlemen visit down there on a regular basis. I need some suggestions on what to do. Wife has a conference there, and we are spending a couple of extra days after that - just for the heck of it. She said we had to, something about an anniversary... Would rather go to the dentist for a root canal than spend a week getting sand out of places it shouldn't be... but thats another story.

Need your recommendations. Golf, fishing, eats, bikini watching...

[msudawg8087]

Not sure how much of a shopper she is but there is a Renaissance type mall down there called The Destin Commons. It has a Bass Pro "attached" to it so you can let her do her thing and you can do yours for a bit. There are also a few small places to eat and a movie theatre in there.

[bhuggins]

I'm sure you'll get 3 pages of replies on Destin - we personally stay east of there in the Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, Seagrove Beach area. Great restaurants, everything is close and very little traffic.

Good fishing off of Grayton Beach if Snapper season is in- boats launch directly off of the beach. I'm sure there is some great fishing out of Destin.

Golf - Regatta Bay, Kelly Plantation, and the 4 courses at the Sandestin resort are good. One of the Sandestin courses is a Champion's Tour course I believe.

Not sure of restaurants in Destin - most are chain type tourist traps with lots of kids and long waits.

Basically Destin/Sandestin is one big traffic jam and I avoid it with the exception of BassPro and golf.

I love the area just not the town of Destin itself. Too many great places east of there to get your blood pressure up driving in Destin, although I'm sure others think different.

[brake man]

Headed there in two days and can't wait for the vacation!

We have stayed in various places down there from Rosemary Beach and Seacrest down to where we typically stay at Silver Dunes. We go with my wife's family and usually know some other families there so we try not to leave the condo complex and just relax as much as possible. Definitely go to the original Dewey Destin Seafood, which is a hole-in-the-wall place out on a pier. It's a little hard to find but the food is very fresh and is a fun place to go. Louisiana Lagniappe (sp?) is a great restaurant, as well, but nicer. The Back Porch is a place we always go to at least once and sometimes walk down the beach with a whole bunch of kids to go down and eat lunch.

One thing we are going to do new this year is go to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. A co-worker says it is awesome and free to the public. The IMAX movies will cost you but they apparently have all kinds of jets, helicopters, etc. for the kids to see. This is where the Blue Angels are based and practiced so you can usually see them fly but they are grounded because of the sequester.

Go check out Baytown Wharf while you're there. Lots of shopping, dining, etc. in a very nice community.

Have a great time!

[hotty toddy]

The NAS pensacola stop is worth it. The museum is pretty good. They do have a lot of planes and related material. Heck they even have a mock up of an old wooden carrier deck built in there with WWII fighters and bombers parked on it and the control tower on the side. Really is a pretty neat place. If the blue angels arent off at a show some where they park on a tarmac not far from the museum. Plus they have several of the older planes used by the blue angels in the past.

Might check with the people there. Once a few years ago, a carrier was in port and they were giving quick tours of it. Probably a one time thing but might we worth checking out.

[chevy01234]

Headed there in two days and can't wait for the vacation!

We have stayed in various places down there from Rosemary Beach and Seacrest down to where we typically stay at Silver Dunes. We go with my wife's family and usually know some other families there so we try not to leave the condo complex and just relax as much as possible. Definitely go to the original Dewey Destin Seafood, which is a hole-in-the-wall place out on a pier. It's a little hard to find but the food is very fresh and is a fun place to go. Louisiana Lagniappe (sp?) is a great restaurant, as well, but nicer. The Back Porch is a place we always go to at least once and sometimes walk down the beach with a whole bunch of kids to go down and eat lunch.

One thing we are going to do new this year is go to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. A co-worker says it is awesome and free to the public. The IMAX movies will cost you but they apparently have all kinds of jets, helicopters, etc. for the kids to see. This is where the Blue Angels are based and practiced so you can usually see them fly but they are grounded because of the sequester.

Go check out Baytown Wharf while you're there. Lots of shopping, dining, etc. in a very nice community.

Have a great time!

Great idea and great place to go! I've been a few times and always enjoyed it. My grandfather was stationed in Pensacola when he was flying. Make sure if you have a firearm in the vehicle, leave it at the condo though! The MP's used to be pretty cool about it. Haven't been there in a few years but Dad had forgotten he was packing once when we went and when they asked if he had any firearms he remembered it was in the glove box. Dad apologized and said we will run it back to the condo but the MP said it wasn't a big deal, there was a gun store down the road that would hold on to it for you for a small fee while you were on base (I think they had mini safes you could rent in the store). Apparently it had happened enough that they didn't think it was the end of the world but I wouldn't take a chance now-a-days.

[regishay]

we took the sea blaster II tour last year with the kids and had a great time. They try to show you some of the dolphins but its not a dolphin tour. Its by AJ's definitely give yourself plenty of time to get there to find the little booth to get tickets. Don't loose the number, lol. One benefit I didn't know we would have is they serve free beer and wine the entire time they also have cokes for the kids. Some of the old timers that were with us, hit the guy up every time he came around for both beer and wine. It was pretty funny watching them get off the boat. If you do go, try to sit in the very back row so you can stand up, take pictures, etc.. It came in handy as one of the boys had to pee, so i told him to go behind the bench and be quick. Last for about an hour or so.

http://www.seablasterdestin.com/cruiserates.html printable coupon on website saves you a little bit.

[Deadeye]

Broker, you look like a guy that would fit right in at Big Kahuna water park. Something we do every year is rent a pontoon boat and cruise around in the bay to see dolphins. We'll park at crab island and hang out awhile...

Couple places to eat.
Dewey Destin
Great Southern Cafe in Seaside (30A)
Red Bar @ Greyton Beach
Or stop by Blaylocks and get steamed royal reds...the bomb.

Do an inshore night fishing trip for specks, lots of fun. Other than that, get your pocketbook out... freaking cost a fortune nowadays to vacation there.

[Chuckle12]

Red Bar at Grayton Beach - get there early and have a few beers while you wait.
Lois Louis on 98 - owned by the same guys that own the Red Bar. Again get there early and have a few drinks. Neither of those take reservations.
Go to Baytowne and eat at the Marlin Grill - pretty good. Afterwards grab some ice cream and walk around. Your wife will love the shops there. They have fireworks on Tuesday night. Walk out on the pier and check out the million dollar yachts (mine's the 4th one on the left).

[SKEET16]

Louisiana Lagniappe.
A order of Mardi Gras shrimp and Grouper Pontchatrain and you will be good to go

[7ducks]

We have always enjoyed...Ocean Club...Marlin Grill...Red Bar....Marina Café......Donut shop for BF in Destin/Donut Hole ?? Golf... Raven at San Destin.....Kelly Plantation in Destin.

[SKEET16]

Donut hole is a good one for dinner. Skip the breakfast lines an get the double cheeseburger, or fresh tuna salad, or tomato gravy and biscuits, or the Diet platter. O did I mention I like the Donut hole. Plus the donuts or good

[WilM88]

Eats/Scenery:
Louisiana Lagniappe
Red Bar - go early and have drinks, like stated above. Truly a one of kind place
Marlin Grill- baytown wharf.. eat, drink walk around, good scenery (both kinds).. walk down the pier and look at the yachts. mines 5th on the left, if my 2nd wife isnt on it.
Backporch- for lunch, awesome view of the beach if not loaded with kids, and great amberjack, mahi, tuna, you name it sammichs..
If you go to Seaside/Watercolor/Seagrove area... Bud and Alleys is pretty good, great view, eat drink, walk around the square/shops, houses, hopefully not be too many kids running around, riding bikes. couple other little places to eat there as well. make a night of it.
Donut Hole.. hard to beat for any meal. (comfort food, great service)
Couple others.. Cafe Thirty-A and Marina Cafe

Golf- Kelly Plantation, Sandestin courses, Regetta Bay and if you want to play really nice links syle course a little further down in between Seaside and Panaman City, go check out Camp Creek, Tom Fazio designed it i believe, really awesome course back many years ago when we played and used to stay right across the street at Sand Cliffs.

[Duck$$$]

Just got back in from Watercolor/Destin about an hour ago. Weather great until today and not crowded. Surprised. I stay in Watercolor area mostly but venture to Destin some. All mentioned good. Heard Sushimoto in Sandestin really good. Can't beat Buster's across from outlets for good meal and cold beer. My lunch spot pick in that area. Head down to Hwy 30A and spend an afternoon. He's to Watercolor boathouse for a yolo(paddle board) cruise on the lake. Tell Tom the owner Tim sent you buy.

[TODO]

I'm down on 30a right now. It's the only way to go. Destin is like ants coming out of an ant pile. Wayyyy to crowded for me.