First Visit - July '07

After several hours of reviewing messages in the Destin and surrounding area forums in search of information regarding beach communities and accomodations, I%26#39;m throwing in the proverbial towel and admitting defeat. So many choices!! Could I request some assistance in narrowing down our options?

My wife and I (early 40%26#39;s) will be vacationing the week of July 8. Ideally, we%26#39;d like an area that%26#39;s convenient to typical touristy activities without being in the epicenter of summer vacation gridlock. Impossible? I%26#39;ve heard so many good things about Destin but wonder if other communities and/or beaches such as Grayton, Sea Grove, etc. would be viable options?

Thanks so much for any advice or opinions.

atj

First Visit - July '07

I would recommend staying in Destin in the Crystal Beach area. There are many options, gulf front or gulf view, that are out there. I would suggest looking at VRBO for a condo that fits your needs. (Scenic Gulf Drive is the area you would select.) You would be convenient to all that Destin has to offer. Staying farther east would definitely be less crowded, but may offer less for you to do. Either way, you will love the area.

First Visit - July '07

After many stays at Henderson Park Inn (and their closing), we took bigblue fan%26#39;s advice and stayed down on 30-A (South Walton county) in Blue Mountain Beach. We are also in our 40%26#39;s and will never stay any where else! It is such a wonderful area, so many options, both in accomodations and restaurants without the hustle bustle of 98 and Destin. We still love Destin but were definitely ready for a change. Give it a try- I don%26#39;t think you will regret it. And check out sowal.com for more info and a forum filled with ideas and input from locals folks. We stayed in a two BR/2bath condo right on the beach - just perfect for us.

Thanks so much for your suggestions. Very helpful!!

I%26#39;ve been looking at www.vrbo.com and both Crystal and Blue Mountain Beach look good for different reasons. Crystal appears to be nearer the heart of Destin with all the activities which would appeal to my wife while Blue Mountain appears possibly more secluded and relaxing which is more my cup of tea. Am I off base on my assumptions about these areas?

atj

Yes, ATJ, you are absolutely correct in your conclusions. Even though Crystal Beach is very close to many activities and stores (especially Destin Commons, an upscale, tastefully done shopping center), it%26#39;s not that crowded because there are no high-rise condos. It%26#39;s also off the main highway on what%26#39;s called ';Scenic 98';, which used to be the main road years ago. Still, it%26#39;s quite built up with small condos and beach homes and there are very few vacant lots left. Blue Mountain Beach is a lot less developed.

If you decide on Blue Mountain, tell your wife she can be at the Destin Outlet Mall in less than 15 minutes. Believe me. I know!

Also check out other 30A beaches.

http://sowal.com/

Be sure to click on the Photos link on the left.

Thanks, Hawkfish. Very well explained. Using Google Earth, I can clearly see what you%26#39;re saying regarding the Crystal Beach area and Scenic 98. With the exception of a vacated stretch of 1.5 miles or so between streets named Restaurant Row and Mathews Blvd, Scenic 98 still appears to be a secondary road? Is it particularly busy?

Thanks for the sowal.com recommendation, Suma. Beautiful photography and some interesting threads on the forums! Not sure whether or not I should thank you for the Destins Commons info! Giving that type of intelligence to Mrs. ATJ might be considered tacit permission to double if not triple the cost of our week!!

atj

Those SoWal forums are a hoot, aren%26#39;t they!

Destin Commons is lovely but the stores are basically the same ones you would see at any nice mall.

And don%26#39;t wory about your wife spending at the outlet mall. That is not how it works. You do not SPEND at the Outlet Mall, you SAVE. When I get home, the first thing I do is tally up my savings for my husband. ';Look, how much money I SAVED today, Honey. I SAVED 89.00 on my new Coach purse, 55.00 on these Aigner sandals, and 30.00 on these Gap tops. That%26#39;s 174.00! That will buy us a nice dinner tonight!';

Being a CPA, my husband really appreciates this.......

OK, Suma.....now you%26#39;re scaring me. The ';savings'; comments make me think either my wife has stolen your Tripadvisor logon information and is posting from work or you are her long, lost twin sister! Can%26#39;t tell you the number of times she%26#39;s used that line of logic.

Now to the more concerning issue.....there%26#39;s a mall AND an outlet mall?! And thought this year%26#39;s excursion might be less financially painful that last year%26#39;s outing to Las Vegas where Mrs. ATJ fancied herself a master blackjack tactician (she wasn%26#39;t) and luck slot player (nope).

atj

Yes, there is a mall and an outlet mall. The outlet mall will be where your wife will want tto spend time. Like Suma said, Destin Commons has the same national chain stores any mall has.

The stip of land between Mathew and Restaurant row is Henderson State Park.

Scenic Hwy 98 (Old Hwy 98) is not really busy. Traffic moves VERY slowly, people looking at the beach, and there are plenty of pedestrian cross walks where cars stop. While it looks like a secondary road, TRUST ME, if you want to get somewhere in a hurry, you don%26#39;t take that road!!!

ATJoe,

I realize that your wife will probably never see this but I am posting a web site in case, in a weak moment, you decide to pass it along to her.

http://www.silversandsoutlet.com/

But don%26#39;t feel left out because I have one for you too.

http://sandestin.com/

This is how it works. The outlet mall and Sandestin are 5 minutes apart. You play golf while she shops. You will both have a great time and at the end of the day your wife can show you her new clothes and you can gripe about your triple bogey.

This is assuming, of course, that you play golf. (We have already established that your wife shops.)