I will be traveling with some friends in June to the Destin/Ft. Walton area. I've never been to this area before so I'm very unfamiliar with what to look for. Is there any major difference between Ft. Walton and Destin? I can see from other topics that renting a condo is really the only way to go here, and I also see that I'm traveling during the high season which has the rates really high. I just have a couple questions about renting a condo. One - do these condo complexes have hotel like ammenities? Such as pool bar or beach bar and restaurants either on site or within walking distance? Two - is there any particular area that has more of a nightlife or caters to younger (early 30's) crowd? Thank you in advance for your help, I hope I'm asking the same questions as other posters. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed with the choices. Thank you!!

We spent spring break in destin a few years ago and really enjoyed it. To us, destin is to Hilton Head as Ft. Walton is to Myrtle Beach. We used VRBO.com for an oceanfront condo that had two pools but no maid service or other hotel type amenities. Within walking distance to a few restaurants, and shopping was nearby. You can probably still find my trip report by clicking on my name and scrolling waaaay down. Also do a search here for other gulf coast posts. Have a great time, its beautiful there.

Thanks ellen_griswold. I love that screenname by the way...

Thanks for your advise. I tried to find your trip report, but couldn't find it. I'll keep looking however. It looks like condos are the only way to go in Destin. What I'd really like to find is an oceanfront place but somewhere with a beach that has a bar right on site, where maybe we can drink on the beach. Does such a place exist?

We loved the Sandestin resort. It has everything.

My vote would be for Destin.
Some condos don't have much more than a pool and some can be pretty far from outside amenities. If you want the Gulf beach outside your door make sure it is!!--some will have shuttles. Some will be very high and it takes for ever to get up and down.

I have a similar interest in finding some Destin/near-Destin accomodations. Has anyone had any specific experience with any particular condo building/group? The listings at VRBO are definitely overwhelming. I was at Sandestin >20 years ago, and it has expanded considerably to numerous little villages. The beachfront ones appear to be highrises...Westwinds, Beachside I and II.

An additional question: Which beach areas (Destin area and east) have recovered the most from last hurricane season? I understand there is significant work being done on beach restoration, and that even near Sandestin there is a large pipe being used to replace sand.

The Beach restoration is from Topsail west to Henderson Beach State Park. I believe they are done with SandDestin and are now moving west by Seascape (Whales Tail area)

www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com
look under weekly updates

All reports are that it is a success - I will be checking it out for myself in two weeks.

ostatebuckeyes, we are from CMH, so Go Bucks! We are having our first Destin trip in August 2006. I did lots of research on the internet and decided to rent at Majestic Sun condo which is on Miramar Beach. Not sure if there is a bar, as this was not important but we wanted a large complex where our teenagers could find friends and lots of action. There is an indoor/outdoor pool, which sounded great if it rains. As I understand it, it is across the street from the beach, which is typical as most of the beach is public access. We found our condo on VRBO.com and interestingly enough are renting from folks who moved to Destin from the Columbus area and know my mother - what a small world. It is unit #52297. Let me know if you rent there, as you will be there a few weeks ahead of us. Good Luck!

The Majestic Sun is a high rise condo building that is across the 2 lane highway (there will be traffic) but there is nothing built between the building and the beach so you should have unobstructed views, etc. There is a bar/restaurant within a block, the Whale's Tale that is beach side and a coffee bar/deli (unless they have closed since last fall) another block or two across from the beach - Bad-Ass Coffee. There are condos that ostatebuckeyes might wish to check out in the same complex - at Seascape - check out their website or either vrbo or gulfcoastreality. Don't really know what you are looking for but I think this is one of the most convenient/less crowded areas of Destin.