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I phriends I'm planning a fall trip for the family and am considering Destin Florida this year. Last year I received great info here from you all about Sanibel Island so the bar is set high. Each year we try to go somewhere we have never been and have heard good things about Destin. We are traveling with twin 5yro keets and would like to be on the water. Walking distance to an open air watering hole is a big plus. What do you experts recommend?

RAGTOPMAN wrote:I phriends I'm planning a fall trip for the family and am considering Destin Florida this year. Last year I received great info here from you all about Sanibel Island so the bar is set high. Each year we try to go somewhere we have never been and have heard good things about Destin. We are traveling with twin 5yro keets and would like to be on the water. Walking distance to an open air watering hole is a big plus. What do you experts recommend?

I'm going in April. Catsway is the man to ask. He has all the answers.

My family went once when I was kid, and I was very glad we never went back. I was too young to remember much that might be of help to you

We stay at Sterling Shores. Beautiful place, across from the Back Porch restaurant. Has a HUGE lagoon-style pool with one end for kids with a gradual walk-in area and a mushroom/shower thing (see picture below). Another pool ON the beach across from big pool, just have to walk across a little road that is hardly used. We love this place. Try to get a condo directly from http://www.vrbo.com (you are renting from the actual owners and sometimes get a great deal !). We stayed in the western penthouse....wow. The brown buildings at the top of the picture are the Back Porch.

We stayed at Pelican Beach Resort. I think we went in 2006 or 2007 and really enjoyed it. Beautiful beach and slow paced.

http://www.pelican-beach.com/

citcat wrote:We stay at Sterling Shores. Beautiful place, across from the Back Porch restaurant. Has a HUGE lagoon-style pool with one end for kids with a gradual walk-in area and a mushroom/shower thing (see picture below). Another pool ON the beach across from big pool, just have to walk across a little road that is hardly used. We love this place. Try to get a condo directly from http://www.vrbo.com (you are renting from the actual owners and sometimes get a great deal !). We stayed in the western penthouse....wow. The brown buildings at the top of the picture are the Back Porch.

that doesn't look anything like where we stayed

Also check out a restaurant called Another Broken Egg Cafe. It is a chain with about 10 locations. We had the Bananas Foster French Toast......real good

http://www.anotherbrokenegg.com/index.php

citcat wrote:We stay at Sterling Shores. Beautiful place, across from the Back Porch restaurant. Has a HUGE lagoon-style pool with one end for kids with a gradual walk-in area and a mushroom/shower thing (see picture below). Another pool ON the beach across from big pool, just have to walk across a little road that is hardly used. We love this place. Try to get a condo directly from http://www.vrbo.com (you are renting from the actual owners and sometimes get a great deal !). We stayed in the western penthouse....wow. The brown buildings at the top of the picture are the Back Porch.

Pretty pool area!

Don't know about where to stay or what to do... but this is where we like to eat. If you want more suggestions, just let us know... there are a TON of places to choose from around here.

McGuire's Irish Pub - MUST for anyone visiting the area. Check out the bathrooms.
The Shed - Great BBQ. Next to Harborwalk village.
Helen Back - Some of the BEST pizza you'll ever have! Across the Destin Bridge on Okaloosa Island.
Ciao Bella - Small (8 tables in the whole place), family run Italian restaurant. Right next door to McGuire's.
Dewey Destin's - Really good seafood in a town full of fresh seafood restaurants. A little pricey though.
Mellow Mushroom - Another good pizza place and keet friendly.
Fudpucker's - typical American fare with lots of live gators to watch.
The Back Porch - bar on the back deck right on the beach. Drink and watch your keets play at the same time! (This is the place citcat recommended.)

OH YES ! The Broken Egg. We eat there on the morning we have to leave....yum.
I like to sit within viewing distance of the restrooms at McGuire's. GREAT entertainment ! And each year, I bring home one of those Irish Wake glasses. I wish I knew the recipe of that drink, it's DELICIOUS ! But slightly deadly. Two would be the same as about 6 drinks. Ask Gary about the time I had two and "pole danced" in the bar.

RAGTOPMAN wrote:I phriends I'm planning a fall trip for the family and am considering Destin Florida this year. Last year I received great info here from you all about Sanibel Island so the bar is set high. Each year we try to go somewhere we have never been and have heard good things about Destin. We are traveling with twin 5yro keets and would like to be on the water. Walking distance to an open air watering hole is a big plus. What do you experts recommend?

First of all, we don't work for the Destin Chamber of Commerce... . We have lived here 18 years. If you are looking for an area where you can almost walk to everything including the beach, bars, shopping, etc. you might consider Miramar Beach which is part of Destin but located in South Walton County. Consider starting your search with http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/ website. Its a good place for research. Considering you are traveling with the twins, if you stay in the Miramar Beach area, you can rent a condo, house or villa right off the beach and bike it everywhere. Places in the area to eat and drink include Pompano Joe's, The Crab Trap, 720 South and of course the infamous Whale's Tail at Seascape Resort. All of these are right on the beach. Shopping is fantastic at Silver Sands Outlet, the largest Outlet shopping center in the world. Sandestin resort with its Baytowne Wharf is located within a quick drive with many shops and dining options. Golf? Its everywhere! Plus if you need a Buffett fix, Margaritaville Panama City beach is 35 minutes east, Cheeseburger in Paradise is in our back yard and Lulu's is 2 hours west. Bottom line, you are traveling at the best time of the year to get good rates. Please feel free to contact us directly for specific information and some hints on where to get some great rates from some of our property management friends. A bonus is if you come around October 30th, you are invited to our seventh annual Miramar Beach Burn!

My wife and I have stayed in the Destin area well over a dozen times over the last 10ish years and will be there again in May...
Nowhere near the expert that Catsway is, but have some local favs...
With no kids in tow, the Boathouse Oyster Bar is hands down our favorite for a night or two of fun and Buffettesque music!!
For my money the Whales Tail is the best "on the water" restaurant, low key and great view! Plus, still there Catsway after the fire??...there is a bar under the eating area on the beach!!
Rent a pontoon boat for 4-8 hours one sunny day!!
The first several times we stayed in the area, we rented a condo over on Okaloosa Island (Fort Walton Beach). Same beautiful beaches just a little less $$, at least then it was!!
I bring my sit on top kayak and go flyfishing in the choctawhatchee bay most mornings. You can also rent them while there. Nothing more fun than having a big old Red pull you around in the kayak while trying to land him!!

Thankyou all for the info I'll keep you posted on my plans