Well, what do you know? It’s that time of year again—time to plan your annual family vacation, and you want everything to be perfect! So, the research phase of your vacation planning begins, and you are going to spend the next several hours (at least) finding a place to stay, booking things to do, and even planning where you will eat. Whew! That’s a lot, and I am exhausted just writing this.
My family moved to this area a couple of years ago, and we were the family trying to plan that dream vacation, so trust me when I say… I understand how important it is to get it right.
Before we talk about the HOW, I want to share a few tips I have learned along the way.
3 Things you Need to Know about Vacationing on the Emerald Coast
- Beach access is not easy. You will want to book a beachfront rental or rent a golf cart to get to the beach.
- Spring break and summer get busy. Don’t wait to book your excursions or bike rentals.
- While beachfront restaurants are fun, some of the best are off the beaten path. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
There you have it—a few things to help make the planning process just a little easier. Now let’s talk about how to plan your perfect vacation, Destin to 30A.
- Determine where you want to stay. Each beachfront community has so much personality, and they are not all created equal. Destin is close to all of the family fun. Whether you want to walk Harborwalk, book a fishing trip, visit The Track to ride Go Carts, rent a pontoon boat, or play mini golf… Destin has it all. Once you hit 30A, the quiet beach towns have a laid-back vibe with restaurants and shopping within walking distance, but you will want to research each 30A community to see which one you prefer.
- Book your excursions and things to do. If you can’t decide, here are a few of the most popular options:
- Rent a pontoon boat and head out to Crab Island. There are lots of rental options in the Destin Harbor. If you are staying on 30A, we recommend 30APontoons www.30apontoons.com
- Book a bonfire on the beach. For information on bonfires, click here (insert link to our bonfire request form)
- Rent bikes and ride along 30A. LIV Adventures has excellent beach cruisers and kid’s bikes. If you prefer a little assistance on your ride, check out an e-bike from our partner, Pedego. You can rent Pedego bikes from our site or directly from their site www.pedegoelectricbikes.com
- Paddleboard, paddleboard, paddleboard (link here—LIVE Paddle Boards—LIV Adventures). This is a favorite pastime of the locals, and you can even fish directly from a board. There are lakes and rivers (with springs) that make great trips, and many times, the Gulf is calm enough to head out to one of our local snorkeling reefs! www.swarareefs.org
- Of course… there you can also visit a waterpark, go shopping, parasail and much more.
- Rent your equipment HERE>
Because the travel season is so busy and things book up, make your equipment reservations well in advance. You can rent bikes, paddleboards, boogie boards, beach chairs, golf carts to name a few… and have it all delivered directly to you. Now that is hassle-free vacationing!