A Lovely Guide to: DESTIN

Let’s talk about another one of our favorite places to visit! Jon and I have been vacationing in the Destin area for years as a family. Every single time we’re there it’s pure bliss. Our most recent trip proved to be extra special because both of our kiddos seemed to really appreciate it! I felt like it was a big memory builder for them and us. In this post I’m going to share some of our must do’s when you’re visiting Destin, Florida—

Destin is about 12 hours away for us. We drove it straight through on the way down and both kids did so great! Road tripping is such a great option because you can drive around to multiple destinations when you get there. Also, you know I had to spend a few days in Nashville on our way home ;)

WHERE TO STAY:

I want to start this out by saying I’m a thrifty person. I love garage sales and thrift stores, but there is one thing the Siron’s don’t skimp on. We don’t like a bad hotel. It ruins the trip for us and we learned that very early on. So, with that being said, you could find cheaper lodging than what I’m about to recommend. These are the only two places that we personally stay in Destin (this does not include Rosemary Beach/Seaside/Watercolor). Rosemary Beach is our absolute favorite but I will have another post that’s dedicated to Rosemary after our next vacay!

THE HENDERSON: The Henderson is one of the most beautiful resorts I’ve ever stayed at. The property is gorgeous and the staff is wonderful. It’s a splurge, but worth it. The beach is within VERY close walking distance of the property. I love that they have an adults only pool and a pool with a lazy river for families. The only downside to this property is that you’re not DIRECTLY on the beach. The beach might be a two minute walk… it’s short… but can make a difference for some people. The other downfall is that the hot tub is on the adults only side of the pools. So, kids can’t get in it. Jon and I took turns! If you’re going during the hottest part of the season you probably won’t miss it.

You must try the Crispy Cauliflower at Horizons (on property dining)
It would be a fabulous wedding venue
CLICK HERE to check out THE HENDERSON

HILTON SANDESTIN: We have stayed at this property around 5 times. It’s a completely different stay than The Henderson but has it’s own set of perks. The first one being that it’s DIRECTLY on the beach. You can get a beach view room and easily hop back and forth from the beach to the pool area. That’s probably our favorite thing about staying at the Hilton Sandestin. The rooms could be more up to date if I’m honest, but it hasn’t stopped us from staying there. The price isn’t terrible and they almost always upgrade us for free if they have availability (Pro tip: The Henderson gave us a fantastic free upgrade as well. All you have to do is ask!)

If we’re in Destin you can count on us eating at The Back Porch! The food is great and the views aren’t bad either.

During our most recent stay at the Hilton Sandestin the air conditioner went out in our room. It took them a couple of tries to fix it. Eventually it was fixed, but for the inconvenience they refunded me two nights. Don’t be afraid to ask for hotels to make things right if it takes time away from your vacation!
The food on Hilton property isn’t bad if you’re in a pinch! Great burgers and potato salad!
Kids eat free at Sandcastles restaurant with adult purchase
The Hilton is located on a golf course incase you want to play a round or two!
CLICK HERE to check out Hilton Sandestin Resort
WHERE TO EAT IN DESTIN:
The Heavenly Croissant: We always feel like we’re the only people who know about this place, but it’s one of my favorite lunch spots in the world. They will pack you a to go lunch in a box which is perfect for the Beach! Every meal comes with a homemade dessert and it’s all AMAZING. It’s a total hole in the wall joint and completely underrated. Get the chicken salad croissant and thank me later.
The Back Porch: We eat here multiple times ever trip. It’s a family fave. Get the crab cake sandwich and the key lime pie ( do not skip the key lime pie).
BoShamps: here’s the thing. This place comes highly recommended. People love it. Our experience was meh… BUT the views are gorgeous and the tuna dip is to die for. So if you go, get the smoked tuna dip and the fried green tomatoes as your meal and enjoy the view!
Pompano Joes: It’s another decent food option right on the beach!
The Yard Milkshake Bar: Is it overpriced? maybe. Is it super fun to order the most over the top milkshake of your life? Absolutely. You’re on vacation! YOLO.

Everyone knows Destin’s beautiful white sand beaches will keep you occupied for a good chunk of your trip, but if you’re looking to add some fun entertainment I’ve got some of our favorites for you!

We love to visit the Village of Baytown Warf every time we’re in town. Its a cute little shopping and dining village on the water that’s so charming! It has a fun play area for kids and is a nice way to let them run around for a bit. It’s a unique quirky little spot close to the Sandestin Resort. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park was a huge hit for us this trip! It was our first time visiting and everyone enjoyed it. If you’d like to see Dolphins up close without going out on a boat this is for you! CLICK HERE to check it out.
Any of the cheesy tourist beach shops! We LOVE grabbing fun shirts and toys

Around 20 minutes outside of Destin is a stretch of highway called 30A. It’s absolute paradise. One thing we learned this trip is that Destin is a fun family destination, but we will never not stay in Rosemary Beach again…. It’s magical. The great part about the Rosemary/Seaside/Watercolor area is that it’s a short car ride away from Destin. So, if you do choose to vacation in the Destin area you can still experience all that 30A has to offer. Here are some of our must do’s!

Take pictures. Rosemary Beach is the most instagrammable experience I’ve ever had!
Rent a bike! People bike everywhere in this adorable little town.
Eat at Creative Crepes in Rosemary
Eat at food trucks in Seaside
Shop at Duckies Shop of Fun for the kiddos (in Seaside)
Take a picture at the iconic Seaside Post office!

We have TONS more to explore in the Rosemary/Seaside area. It will definitely be our next big getaway and I’ll have a full blog post on it then.

Have more questions? Shoot me a private message on Instagram @ oh_lovely-blog or email me ohlovelyblg@gmail.com.

XO,

Chasity

One of my favorite places with my favorite girl! Rosemary Beach