Hi there! My husband and I recently took a trip to the white sandy beaches in Destin, FL to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I cannot believe it’s been 10 years since we got married! I have learned so much about marriage in that time and honestly am still learning. Today I wanted to share this quick informative travel guide for Destin Florida.
Should I fly or drive to Destin?
With everything that is going on in the world right now and the fact that we live in Texas, we decided to rent a car and drive to Florida. The trip took about 9 hours with little to no stops. Fun Fact: It takes that long to drive to Big Bend in West Texas! Big Bend in on our bucket list for sure.
By choosing to drive, we didn’t have to worry about our flights being canceled or any other protocols. If you don’t live too near by you may want to consider flying or delaying your trip for the time being. Road trips are always fun but aren’t for everyone.
Where to stay in Destin: Hotel Effie
Location: 1 Grand Sandestin BLVD, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
First off, I want to mention that I stayed in the Sandestin area of Destin, FL. Hotel Effie is a newer hotel located next to the Sandestin Golf and Beach resort. The hotel is so beautiful and has an upscale vibe to it! Hotel Effie is in a gated golf community. It is also located right next to Baytowne Wharf, a cute town center with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars. It is in walking distance from both Hotel Effie and the Sandestin Golf and Beach resort.
The first thing I noticed upon entering the hotel was how good it smells. The interior decor is stunning as well. Hotel Effie has a rooftop bar and pool which is stunning! The only downside is the pool closes at sundown but the bar and the area remain open for several hours. On the far side of the pool was a lounge area with outdoor games, oversized jenga and chess.
The hotel also offers an in house spa for your pampering needs. This is one of the reasons we chose Hotel Effie because of all of the amenities on site. We wanted to be able to stay at the hotel if we wanted and still have activities to do without having to leave if that’s what we felt like doing.
Amenities at Hotel Effie
- Spa Liliana
- Ovide restaurant
- Ara rooftop bar & lounge
- The Lobby bar
- Workout center
- rooftop pool
- Rooms come with mini fridge, robes, and slippers, also a safe.
Review of Hotel Effie
Overall we had a great stay at the hotel, there are a few things worth noting. First, there is no self parking allowed for guest. There is only valet parking which is priced at $25 per day. You are able to order you valet prior to leaving which helps with wait times. It seems to get very busy on the weekend. Second, as I mentioned the pool closes at sundown, so no swimming after dark. I assume this is because the bar is attached to the pool area, they seem to want to keep it that way.
Lastly, we were very confused about the housekeeping. Upon arrival we were told that housekeeping was available upon request and they wouldn’t be coming by daily. Well, the ended up coming by daily so that was confusing. Also, on our first night we were freezing and decided to turn up the thermostat, after that the room became very humid and muggy. It was odd so the next night we turned the temperature back down and it was fine.
There was so many great things about the hotel and we loved our stay. It is considered a luxury hotel and there are some negative reviews online but we didn’t have any problems with our stay. To each their own.
What to do in Destin Florida
Destin Florida Beaches are a must.
The beaches in Destin are so beautiful! The sand is white, it reminds me of sugar. The water is an emerald color and the sunsets are gorgeous! We were able to visit Miramar beach which is the closest beach to Hotel Effie. We chose to drive here but the hotel also offers a shuttle to the beach. I wouldn’t recommend walking unless walking longer distances is your type of thing. There are also many other hotels that have direct beach access if that is what you are looking for.
The other beach we went to was in Seaside. They were both very similar and not too busy at the times that went.
Baytowne Wharf for Dinner and drinks.
Our hotel, Hotel Effie was steps away from the Baytowne Wharf. The first night we arrived to Destin, we decided to walk down to Baytowne Wharf for the evening and for dinner. The place is full of shops, restaurants, and bars. There is also a section for kids where they offer different activities for the kiddos plus some places they would like to eat at as well.
We ate at Slick lips, I ordered shrimp cocktail and a salad & my husband ordered a burger. They offered outdoor seating and we were able to sit outside. The food however was just okay. I felt it was costly for subpar food. I wouldn’t recommend it.
After dinner we walked around the boardwalk and then headed back to the hotel. We didn’t get to visit again but it was a fun lively place to visit.
Seaside Florida is bucket list worthy.
Since we drove to Destin, we were able to travel whenever and however we wanted. On Saturday we decided to head 30A to visit Seaside Florida. From Hotel Effie, It was about a 30 minute drive. Being from Texas, 30 minutes is just a hop and a skip, so it wasn’t a big deal. All of the houses in Seaside Florida are immaculate! The place is a gorgeous little town by the ocean. It is 80 acres of architectural design and classy beach vibes.
There are a plethora of cottages for rental available. This is a great option for those who want less hustle and bustle than the touristy beaches of Destin. The small town of Seaside Florida has its own quaint little post office, charter school and town center. We were able to stop by the shops for souvenirs such as the iconic seaside sweatshirt. The seaside style store had so many cute gifts ranging from tee shirts to mugs and all the beach necessities.
Seaside Beaches
The sugar white sandy beaches are the best! When you live in Houston and the nearest beach is Galveston Island, you tend to fall in love with the beaches in Florida. The white sand was so different than the brown sand in Galveston. It was so soft but it was a thicker grain. What I found so interesting is the white sand squeaks when walked on. Another characteristic of the white sand that I love is that it brushes off so easily! It’s very hard to explain and definitely worth seeing.
Where to eat in Seaside FL
We loved all of the air stream food trucks located on the backside of the amphitheater. They had food trucks that offered a variety of options such as different types of grilled cheese sandwiches from the melt down on 30a, snowcones, juices, gyros and more. My husband tried a grilled cheese cubano sandwich. It looked delicious!
I ventured down the street to Cocina Cubana to get my lunch and boy was it delicious. Since I have to eat a gluten free and dairy free diet, eating out while traveling can be tricky, luckily this place offered both of those options for me. The Cocina Cubana offered build-able bowls where you can pick your toppings. I chose mixed greens for my base and added ropa vieja, black beans, roasted corn, guacamole, and a mango tomato side.
We had such a great time at Seaside, it definitely was my favorite place to visit on this trip!
10 fun activities and things to do in Destin Florida
- Buy tickets for a Crusin Tiki
- Rent bikes and ride around town.
- Dolphin tours
- Watersports adventures
- Mini golf
- Visit Harborwalk Village
- Have a relaxing day at the beach
- Visit Seaside FL
- Go deep sea fishing
- Head to crab island for the day.
Visit Harborwalk Village
Harborwalk villiage is very similar to our Kemah Boardwalk. It is a fun and lively place to get food, watch the weekend fireworks, grab a drink, and stroll the boardwalk. The Harborwalk Village is in Destin, it was about a 15-20 minute drive from our hotel.
At Harborwalk Village you will find retail and specialty stores, entertainment, like escape rooms, axe throwing, kid zone and more. Boat and water recreation businesses where you can purchase tickets for dolphin cruises, snorkel sessions, kayak rentals, Buccaneer pirate ship tours, and other water rentals.
There are so many places to eat and there are even a few rides available. The night we went, there was live music. It was such a fun place. A great place to take the kids and family to. You can also walk along the boardwalk and look at all of the yachts that are docked at the pier.
They have a Margaritavile restaurant which was busy so we chose to eat a Harry T’s lighthouse.
Surf Hut for lunch or Dinner
Before I wrap up this Destin Florida guide, I have to share this restaurant called Surf Hut. This place gets busy, so be sure to arrive early. What is notable is that it has beach access. You can literally walk right from the beach and get a table. The food offered was a variety of seafood and american cuisine, burgers, etc. There is a bar indoors as well as outdoor seating. Outdoors there is a pier that leads to the beach as well as sand on the property for the kids to play in. What better place to eat at where you can have the kids play in the sand while you eat and enjoy the sound of the waves and crisp beach air!
Summary of Destin trip
Destin Florida is a beautiful beach destination whether you are traveling with family, as a couple, or solo, there are endless amounts of activities do enjoy during your stay. The beaches are pretty and the sand is amazing. A drive to Seaside FL is worth it. Hotel Effie is a luxurious hotel that is more secluded and private. The drive isn’t too bad considering it’s equivalent to one side of Texas to the other side. I hope you found this guide informational and helpful. Until next time my friend.
XO,
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