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 the expansive west coast
Florida beaches by richiecdisc, 1 more photos
The town itself was disappointing and the beach or what we could see of it didn't look all that inviting. McGuire's had been on my wish list since my first trip across country but I just never seemed to be able to squeeze it in. It was either the wrong time of day or I was in a hurry to get back home, not wanting to spend another night on the road in Florida of all places, my home state. The place was quite touristy but fun and though the beers were less than mind blowing, their stout was well enough crafted and went down easily after the drive. When we saw Sheppard's Pie on the menu the die was cast for a good meal to round out the beery experience. It would have been an easy place to hang out with an entertaining bartender and happy hour prices. But we still had some driving to do and weren't exactly sure where we'd stay that night. The bartender told us to make sure to not miss a particular stretch of beach on our way out so we headed that way in hopes of catching it before it got dark. Once we crossed a causeway bridge we finally saw what the fuss was about as far as beaches go. There were huge white sand dunes and nice houses with beautiful views. We did some beach combing, collecting shells and nearly forgetting that we weren't on a small weekend beach trip. Leave a Comment
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 good timing by richiecdiscLeave a Comment
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If you are debating between staying on Okaloosa Island or Destin, let me give you a few pointers.
First, Okaloosa Island is much older than Destin, thus more run-down. It has a very gloomy and commercialized feel to it; very cheap and touristy. The hotel buildings are ugly, and ruin the coastline views. Coming over the Brooks Bridge you will see a line of tall, rectangular, grey buildings lined up on the beach...not very appealing. In addition, Okaloosa Island experiences more damage during every hurricane, and it takes time to rebuild. As a result, there still many damaged areas from hurricane Ivan! Some hotels are still being reconstructed, which affects the appeal of the entire area.
Destin, on the other hand, is much newer and nicer. Destin is still an obviously touristy destination, but it manages to keep its charm. The buildings are all well-kept and attractive, making Hwy 98 a somewhat appealing strip of highway. Even the supersized souvenir warehouse shops aren't as offensive as the ones on Okaloosa Island; they are brighty colored (vs being dingy) which makes them less of an eyesore.
In addition, the strip of highway between Destin and Okaloosa Island is hopelessly congested during the summer/spring months. This makes traveling between the two very frustrating. Most of the activities and restaurants are located in Destin (and ALL the nightclubs, save Swamp and Howl-At-The-Moon are in Destin), so if you are staying on Okaloosa Island you will be sitting in traffic a lot.
One last tip...the police frequently set up DUI checkpoints between Okaloosa Island and Destin. Since most of the nightclubs are in Destin, it's more convient to stay in Destin; you avoid a potenial DUI, and cab fares will be cheaper. Leave a Comment
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The Destin Library is a very new, beautiful building that is a wonderful place to read, study, or browse through books. In addition, every Tuesday night they show a free screening of a award-winning independent or foreign movie. Leave a Comment
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 by fa330
I love to get out right after sunrise and walk along the shore. Before people show up, you might be able to spot some dolphins! Leave a Comment
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 by cobrioc
The gulf's best and friendliest snorkeling value.
An inredible underwater excursion awaits.
Hwy.98, east of the Destin Bridge at Harbor Walk Marina. 654-4655
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Get in the car and drive down Hwy 30-A . . . It has the most spectacular scenery . . . Stop at the little towns along the way . . . Grayton Beach . . . Santa Rosa . . . Seaside . . . Seagrove
Watching the dolphins play in the surf Leave a Comment
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 Food Central! by Jmill42
Bar-B-Q'n on the grills on either side of the beach house. Good food in beautiful surroundings, with great friends... I can't think of a better way to spend my vacation. Leave a Comment
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Ocean waves crushing along the shore, salty ocean breeze, sun, the smell of the ocean, watching dolphins play. You know what, maybe heaven is up there in the skies, but paradise is defenetly down here on the Earth!!! Leave a Comment
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 by lorigirlLeave a Comment
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