When to go to Destin?
 

I got a great deal on a 7 night vacaton to Destin and I have a year to book it. I would like to go sometime between mid-August and beginning of September. I have not visited Destin since I was young so I'm not sure when would be the best time to avoid the crowds. I figured children will be back in school by mid-August, or would it be better to wait until after Labor Day? No offense to children, but screaming kids running around would be a big damper on our hard earned vacation.

Thanks so much for any replies in advance!

I would wait until after school started. Also, September would be a little cooler. Destin is not the Destin of anyone's childhood. The growth there is somewhat out-of-hand. I still love it and have been going there for about twenty years. Make sure to visit Grayton Beach and all the wonderful places there (Seaside, Seagrove)

Kathy in Tennessee

Thank you, Kathy. I am also from Tennessee. We are having to go the more affordable route this year for vacation because we were married last year and are trying to buy a house. I would perfer to go to the Caribbean or somewhere that offers an adults only resort. It's not that we dislike kids we just don't want to deal with them on vacation! So I'm trying to avoid this as much as possible.

The heat won't bother me as I am used to the humidity here in Memphis. At least in Destin there will be sand and ocean to help with that! Thanks again!

We have decided on the first week in September (after Labor Day). We're hoping to dodge the crowds and some of the August humidity. How should the weather be then? Should I expect lots of rain?

The rain is nothing to worry about, and the extreme heat of midsummer is gone. The only bad thing are the horseflies! Big as horses, pesky as fleas, and sting worse than bees. Lots of times we would sit on the beach trying to suntan or read our magazines, covered from head to toe with our beach blankets, in a semi-futile attempt to ward them away from ourselves! Otherwise, September is a splendid time to visit.

Having been evacuated out of Hurricane Opal in 1995, I would suggest that you check the weather channel before you go and periodically while you are there. That is prime hurricane season and trust me, you do not want to evacuated out of a big storm. If there are no storm issues, it is the nicest time to be in that area, although I would also caution you that Destin no longer bears any resemblance to the Destin of even 10 years ago. While you are there, check out Scenic Highway 30A and the various places previously mentioned there like Grayton Beach, Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, etc. That's where we always stay and for the last 5 years or so we try never to go into Destin at all because of the traffic, crowds, etc.

But since you will be in Destin, be sure to eat at Harbor Docks. The Marina Cafe is very nice. Bud and Alley's and Criolla's are two very nice places on 30A.