My husband and I are looking for a place in either Destin or Sanibel (or wherever) to stay for a week in September. Any suggestions or information about either location. We would prefer something isolated and quiet with the possibility of bringing our dog.

If you prefer "isolated and quiet" I'd eliminate Destin. My husband and I just got back from our first trip there in nearly 10 years and it's practically a boom town. No more sleepy fishing town...

Definitely rule out Destin. I've never been to Sanibel, but I highly recommend Seagrove or Blue Mountain which are about 30 minutes east of Destin - just outside of Seaside which I would not recommend - a bit too contrived and crowded for my tastes. We rented a beach house over the 4th - and it was just wonderful. Great beaches. No hotels, no highrise condos. Fabulous! We used Garrett Realty.

Meg...I was glad to see someone besides me thinks Seaside is a bit too contrived now!

We fell on it the first time when it was *just* getting started. They had a a row of the shops all in white tents/with white drapes next to the beach and the one restaurant. There were maybe a dozen homes. It was like walking into a dreamscape. We had no idea at that time, what we'd come across.

We drove through again about 6 years ago and it was now completely built up, Victorian house after Victorian house all atop each other. It had become too much of a good thing and gone was the dream-like quality we saw the first time through. Maybe if we'd never seen it initially we wouldn't mind what it is today. It should have been limited long ago, but that just wasn't going to happen.

Becky...Agreed. Destin isn't isolated or quiet. Sanibel is more so, but still you couldn't describe it as isolated.

You might look into Boca Grande (about midway between Ft. Myers and Sarasota). It is isolated and quiet. Too much so for some people, but perfect for others. There's one hotel, the Gasparilla Inn--pretty expensive and I'm quite sure they wouldn't allow dogs. There are also condos and perhaps some of them would. We love it there--quiet beaches, bike riding around the picturesques little town etc. Sorry, we live close enough to go for the day only so I can't help with condos.

To Cmcdaniel -- I agree with you also about Seaside. In fact, I've purposely not recommended it to anyone in years. (I live "over the line" in Bay County.) IMHO, Seaside is overpriced and pretentious. There are much better values elsewhere in the Panhandle.

Fido is a problem, but Definately Sanibel Island. Try Hilton Grand Vacations they manage a lot of resorts in the area

I don't know other than Sanibel but do recommend Shalimar Resort. We have stayed there for at least 10 years, others 20 or 30 years. Lots of repeat customers. All units are individual cottages, expect for a 10 unit "motel-type" building. Everything on the island is central, so donn't worry about location. Shalimar is the only cottage type operation on the island. All the others are multi-story, etc.

Consider going east a bit to St. George's Island (south of Appalachicola)! If you really want isolated, Dog Island has homes, but I wouldn't have a clue as to who you'd talk to about renting them. Dog Island is accessible by boat only.

My husband and I spent five days on Sanibel a few years ago...so charming and the beach is just beautiful, especially if you like picking up shells. We stayed in a lovely European style Inn right on the beach, but I doubt it would allow pets. However, many condos are right on the beach & are available for rent through real estate agents. Contact a few companies.

My brother landed his single engine plane on Dog Island @1980. Don't know if it still has an airstrip.