Every summer our family looks forward to escaping to Florida’s Emerald Coast. This year, our six-day road trip included sugar-white beaches, incredible sunsets, fresh seafood, dolphins swimming just offshore…and one stop we’d happily skip next time.
This was our third family vacation to Destin, but instead of packing every day with activities, we intentionally slowed things down. Long afternoons on the beach, fresh seafood, and simply enjoying time together became the highlights of the trip. Along the way we discovered a few new favorites, revisited some family traditions, and confirmed that sometimes the places everyone raves about aren’t always worth the hype.
If you’re planning a similar vacation, I hope these highlights—and a few honest “know before you go” moments—help make your own trip even better.
Our New Orleans Stop Didn’t Go Quite as Planned
Since it’s nearly a nine-hour drive from North Texas, we decided to break up the trip with an overnight stay in New Orleans at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham off Williams Blvd. It sounded like a great idea. In reality? We’d skip it next time.
Our hotel was disappointing from the moment we checked in. One elevator barely worked, there was no cold water, the complimentary breakfast was abysmal, parking came with an unexpected fee, and the overall property simply didn’t feel clean or welcoming. Lesson learned: don’t rely solely on booking sites—take a few extra minutes to read recent Google reviews before reserving your room.
We also wanted to experience the famous Cafe du Monde. Between road construction, surprisingly expensive parking, and discovering Cafe du Monde only accepts cash, our visit got off to a rocky start.
We know plenty of people love Cafe du Monde, but for us, it simply didn’t live up to the hype.
The beignets were essentially hot fried dough buried under powdered sugar, and the restroom was honestly one of the dirtiest we’d encountered. By the time we left, we looked at each other and agreed we’d rather spend our vacation time somewhere else.
Sometimes the most famous stops simply don’t become your favorites—and that’s okay.
Taking the Scenic Route Through Biloxi
Leaving Louisiana behind, we slowed down along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and immediately noticed a different pace.
The beaches were being cleaned after the Fourth of July crowds, beautifully designed coastal homes lined the shoreline, and one historic stop especially caught my attention: The White House Hotel.
After reading the historical marker, I learned the hotel actually began because homeowner Cora White grew tired of unexpected summer guests showing up and expecting to be entertained for weeks at a time. Instead of turning them away, she started charging room and board—a clever idea that eventually grew into one of Biloxi’s best-known hotels. I laughed because Cora White essentially turned an endless stream of freeloading summer guests into a successful business. Honestly…good for her.
We noticed an abundant amount of Waffle Houses. We even noticed one was built on stilts. There was an outdoor rides and attractions called Paradise Pier Fun Park right off the coast by one of the hotels.
Finding Truman’s House in Seaside
Since The Truman Show is one of those movies almost everyone recognizes, we couldn’t resist making a quick detour through Seaside to find Truman’s famous house.
We circled the block more than once before realizing the famous movie house still displays the fictional address from The Truman Show. Once we figured that out, everything finally made sense.
Seaside is beautiful, colorful, and incredibly walkable. Golf carts, bicycles, charming cottages, boutique shops, and families filled the streets. It’s easy to see why filmmakers chose it as the backdrop for the fictional town of Seahaven.
For us, though, it was the perfect sightseeing stop—not necessarily the quiet beach town we’d choose for a week-long stay.
Why We Keep Coming Back to Miramar Beach
This was our third summer visiting Destin, and every year we’re reminded why we love staying in Miramar Beach.
Rather than booking a large high-rise resort, we prefer smaller condo communities within walking distance of the beach. Being able to stroll over with towels and beach bags instead of searching for parking makes the entire vacation feel more relaxed.
The beach itself is the main attraction.
Sugar-white sand.
Clear emerald water.
Gentle waves.
Some vacations leave you exhausted. Destin always leaves us refreshed.
One afternoon, excitement spread quickly as swimmers hurried toward shore after someone spotted a large fin in the water. Thankfully, it wasn’t a shark at all—it was a dolphin hunting fish just offshore. For nearly fifteen minutes everyone stood watching as it surfaced again and again only a short distance from the beach.
Even when the dolphin wasn’t putting on a show, there was always something happening overhead. A small Cessna airplane made several low passes along the shoreline, helicopters cruised overhead, advertising planes towing colorful banners and parasail boats dotted the horizon. Pelicans glided effortlessly above the waves while surprisingly confident pigeons wandered among beachgoers hoping someone might share a snack.
If there’s one lesson I relearn every summer, it’s this: reapply your sunscreen. I was determined to enjoy every minute of the beach, but the Florida sun definitely won that battle.
Where We Stayed in Destin
This year we stayed at Condo C1 at Pavilion Palms in Miramar Beach, and it ended up being one of our favorite places we’ve booked in Destin. Instead of choosing a large high-rise resort, we opted for a smaller, low-density condo community just a short walk from the beach—and that decision made the entire trip feel more relaxing.
Most mornings started slowly with coffee on the balcony before grabbing our beach gear and making the short walk to the beach. It was the kind of peaceful routine that reminded us we didn’t need a packed itinerary to enjoy our vacation.
The condo was clean, comfortable, pet-friendly, and included a private garage that made hauling beach gear back and forth incredibly easy. We also appreciated having Publix and Winn-Dixie just about 10 minutes away for groceries and other vacation essentials, making it easy to stock the kitchen and settle in for the week.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to stay, you can check out the VRBO listing here.
Relaxed Days and Great Meals
Instead of filling every day with activities, we intentionally slowed our pace this year.
We spent almost the entire day at Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park riding on the slides and floated the lazy river before heading back to the beach the following day. That balance ended up being perfect.
Whale’s Tail
Whale’s Tail quickly became one of our favorite beachside restaurants. Jason and I shared a small Mai Tai Bucket while the kids happily sipped milkshakes. Watching the sunset over the Gulf while enjoying fresh seafood is hard to beat. A good shareable meal to split for two is the Fisherman’s Platter. The Shrimp Po Boy was a good one to try.
Jackacuda’s
Jackacuda’s turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Between the live music, welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and creative menu, it quickly became our favorite new restaurant. If you visit, skip the “I Don’t Remember Destin” cocktail and order the Caribbean Cooler instead—you can thank me later. I especially enjoyed the O.V.O. Sushi, packed with spicy lobster, smoked salmon, avocado, and just enough crunch to make every bite interesting. We also enjoyed the Shrimp & Grits that has blackened shrimp in cajun gravy. The ALL YOU CAN EAT SNOW CRAВ that came with fried corn, roasted potatoes and cajun butter looked so good which many patrons around us ordered.
Shrimp Basket
Of course, no Destin trip feels complete without another visit to Shrimp Basket, one of our family’s annual traditions. If you happen to visit on a Thursday evening, grab a table near the windows or patio for a view of the HarborWalk fireworks.
Fat Boys
Not every restaurant was a home run. Fat Boys was perfectly fine, but it wasn’t memorable enough to earn a return visit next summer.
The Perfect Ending
Our final evening couldn’t have been better.
We booked our 8:30 p.m. sunset cruise through TripShock before leaving Texas, which made it easy to have our tickets ready on our phones when we arrived.
Before boarding the bright yellow The Hannah Marie, we wandered HarborWalk Village with snow cones, ice cream, listening to the live music and watching the zip liners scream as they speed across the board walk while waiting for sunset. HarborWalk Village has become one of our favorite evening spots in Destin because there’s always something happening.
Because we arrived early, we grabbed seats along the port side of the boat—a decision that paid off with beautiful views of both the sunset and the weekly Thursday night fireworks.
The captain kept everyone laughing throughout the cruise, live music drifted across the harbor before we departed, and the cool evening breeze made the entire experience feel relaxing from beginning to end.
It was the perfect way to end another family vacation.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I don’t think we’ll remember the disappointing hotel or the overpriced parking. We’ll remember dolphins swimming just offshore, sunsets over the Gulf, sharing seafood dinners together, and slowing down long enough to simply enjoy being together as a family. That’s what keeps drawing us back to Destin year after year.
And judging by the way Charlotte settled back in at home—apparently convinced she’s now an accomplished huntress—we’re pretty sure she enjoyed the vacation just as much as we did.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Destin or returning for another visit, I hope these experiences help you create a vacation filled with more relaxing beach days, great meals, and a few unforgettable sunsets of your own.
Know Before You Go
- Read recent Google reviews before booking through third-party travel websites.
- Bring cash for places that may not accept cards like for beach chair and umbrella rentals.
- Reapply sunscreen more often than you think.
- Arrive early for the Thursday fireworks cruise.
- Choose a condo within walking distance of the beach if relaxation is your goal.
More Destin Travel Inspiration
Before you pack your beach bag, you might also enjoy these family vacation guides:
- Sun, Sand and Snorkels: Our Family Beach Vacation in Destin, Florida
- How We Did Destin (With Kids & a Cat!)
Have you visited Destin?
Have a favorite restaurant, hidden beach spot, or family-friendly activity I should add to our list for next summer? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments.
If you’re planning your own trip to Florida’s Emerald Coast, I hope our experience helps you create plenty of unforgettable memories of your own.
