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My 10 best tips for vacationing in Destin, FL
I do sell activities and tours for a living as well as actually living here, so my advice is a culmination of suggestions to help you "live your best life" while on vacay!
When you start planning activities or tours, try and book them during the first few days of your arrival. That way if something happens like weather or a boat maintenance issue, it will be easier to reschedule!
Plan for traffic. The Gulf Coast only has one major road (Highway 98) and there’s no freeways, bypasses, etc. to get around traffic. Highway 98 always has construction going on. And the most congested time of day is from 3pm-8pm. Give yourself extra time and do NOT trust those traffic apps that say “ETA 17 minutes.” I live here, I can’t even get through a Taco Bell drive-thru in 17 minutes, let alone from Miramar Beach down to the harbor.
Parking isn’t free so please bring cash with you. You can expect to pay $10-$20 for parking pretty much anywhere. Some parking lots have a automated system and require you to download a phone app. Make sure you make time for navigating the parking situation!
Many people are worried about Covid-19 and social distancing (and rightfully so!) but the CDC guidelines aren’t laws, they are just guidelines. June 1-September 1 is the busiest time of year with thousands of visitors arriving daily. So be smart! Carry hand sanitizer and wipes with you. And if you’re booking tours or activities, ask about booking private trips or smaller group activities. Parasail boats only hold 12-15 so it’s perfect!
Pay attention to the beach flags. There’s a ton of places you can look online to discover their meanings and which beaches may be closed or experiencing marine pests. It might be a yellow flag on Okaloosa Island but a green flag day in Navarre.
If you’re looking for a unique experience I suggest checking out the Destin Fishing Museum or the Indian Temple Mound Museum in downtown Ft Walton.
I know everyone loves seashells but the best souvenirs are ones you can’t buy in bulk, like handmade art. There’s quite a few local artist co-ops and galleries in the area and some even set up at the farmer’s markets!
The weather here is very bipolar. And I mean that in a funny way, not trying to be offensive. One minute it’s raining and hailing, and 10 minutes later the sun comes out and it’s 100 degrees outside with a rainbow and unicorn. It might be 100% chance of rain and we may get none of that. It might be raining at Margaritaville and snowing at Aj’s. Most locals carry an extra set of shoes in their car along with an umbrella, towel, change of clothes and deodorant- we expect to experience 2-3 changes in weather a day!
If you or anyone in your party is born on or after January 1, 1988 and plan to rent a boat or drive a jet ski- you are going to need a Florida Boater’s Safety License. They are usually $3-5 if you take them onsite and can take up to an hour to take. My advice is to go online and take the test BEFORE you come! Just bring a copy of the certificate with you! That way you don’t waste precious vacation time.
To all the Moms and Pops out there- your children (regardless of age) count as a person. That means for every tour, activity, boat rental, etc- you need to account for them in your totals. They may be free on some tours but the tour company still needs to know about them so they can put them on the manifest because they count towards the capacity. And heaven forbid anything should happen, the Coast Guard will need know who and how old someone is in case they have to look for them.
Below are some links to some of the information I mentioned, hope this helps!
October 11, 2020: Phoebe's first catch and participation in the Destin Fishing Rodeo.
Phoebe's first fish! A 1lb Pinfish!
Picture time with Miss Destin!
The Destin Log Newspaper takes her picture to document her catch!
Over 500 ways to win and all leaders in their categories go up on this huge board!
The Destin Fishing Rodeo is a 72 year old tradition lasting a full month long every October down on the Destin, FL harbor. Being from a fishing family, it's a tradition we love! My dad is a retired charter boat captain and usually both he and my mom volunteer as judges and work in the merchandise booth. My mom is also a glass fusion artist and has been responsible for creating several sponsored trophies for Shark Saturday winners.
Today my family was fortunate enough to be able to spend this afternoon on the water and watch Phoebe catch her first fish on her Elsa fishing pole! We took pictures at the dock and then drove over to Aj's Seafood & Oyster Bar. Down on the dock, behind the restaurant there's a small floating barge where Weigh Master Bruce weighs in your catch and tells the crowd about your fish. Kids that weigh in at least a 1lbs fish that they caught on a boat receive a free fishing pole this year! Phoebe was so excited to get a new pole, certificate for her fish and have her picture taken with Miss Destin. She is already wanting to go fishing again! The only downside is that my mom is currently in recovery from her battle with Stage 4 Squamous Cell cancer, so she could not join in for any of the festivities and both my parents are unable to volunteer this year. Our goal for next year is to have Phoebe catch a MUCH bigger fish, have a family photo taken with my parents along with Miss Destin and obviously win an amazing prize!
Anglers of any age can bring ANYTHING to be weighed in and can compete in dozens of different categories for prizes as long as it's something they caught. Weigh-ins are free for the public to view as well and can be seen daily from 10am until 7pm. You do not have to be a local to participate but you will need an ID. Prizes range from cash to fishing trips, rods or reels and even Rodeo merchandise! After weigh-in, you can head to any restaurant on the harbor and have them cook your catch! The joy of knowing where your food came from, working hard to acquire it and then getting to taste it, is the first hand "Gulf to Table" experience that people come to the World's Luckiest Fishing Village for! The tournament plays host to thousands of anglers during the month and brings millions of dollars into our local economy. Don't miss this great event!
Look below for links to the Rodeo website, my mom's Facebook page and a few videos about the Destin Fishing Rodeo.
Phoebe and Nana at the judge's table in October 2019.
Weigh Master Bruce with the 2015 Shark Award created by Sheri McDonald
Nana and Miss Destin with the Shark Award in November 2019 for the award ceremony
About the Rodeo
The Destin Fishing Rodeo began in May of 1948 to bring people to Destin. It worked! Destin shortly became known as a summer tourist destination and “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”. The Destin Fishing Rodeo is the ultimate fishing tournament for salt water anglers of all ages.
The Rodeo founders, people such as Howard Marler, Jewel Melvin and Willie Marler, decided that moving the Rodeo to October would lengthen the tourist season another month. Today the Rodeo is held October 1- 31.
FISH ON! Tips for booking the best fishing trip for Destin, FL!
Destin is known as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" so fishing is seriously something you should consider doing while here! To get the best bang for your buck, it's important to consider a few things before you book a fishing trip-
Knowing the difference in trip types will keep you from being disappointed. Party boats aren't for partying. They're called party boats because you can put a "large party of people on the boat" and they can all fish for a discounted rate. The average party boat will hold 35 people while some of the larger ones can hold more than 100. Party boat trips are typically for ages 6 and up and rates start at $80 for an 4 hour trip depending on the boat. If you don't want to fish with a whole bunch of folks and you've to plenty of pocket money, try a private charter. Those are gonna start around $700 for a 4 hour trip and go up in price depending on the size of your party and length of trip. The bigger the boat and longer the trip = more $.
Fishing in the Gulf can be really rough, especially if a storm pops up or we've had bad weather. Don't try and be a hero, take Dramamine or something for motion sickness before you go. The boats WON'T have any on board. I always take mine the night before a trip!
Don't go out expecting to catch Jaws. If you have a certain type of fish you want to catch, check to see what's in season first and then talk to a seasoned fisherman or captain. Booking a 4 hour trip for red snapper is pretty pointless because you need a 6hr MINIMUM to go out. Not too mention, you want to book the right trip type. There's about a 0.001% chance to catch red snapper on a bay fishing trip because they don't live in the bay.
Most charter boats in Destin include bait, tackle, fishing poles, fishing licenses, life jackets and will even clean your catch. Check to see what's included in your trip because it's different in different areas. For example, some boats in Panama City Beach charge for cleaning, some party boats in Orange Beach make you share your catch, etc.
Don't forget to tip your deckhands. These guys work for tips. They are working and cleaning that boat an hour before you get on, the entire time you're on board and for hours after you're gone. Bring cash, not bananas with you. Bananas are bad luck!
Kids do not always do well on the water. Especially if they can't see land, or if you're on a boat that doesn't have a bathroom or air conditioned cabin. They might fish great on your lake at home but the Gulf of Mexico is different. For kids under age five, I wouldn't recommend trips lasting more than 4 hours. We have several captains in the area that specialize in kid's trips and they are amazing. Just remember that a kid's trip is for kids. It's a "show and tell" educational experience.
Catching live bait is part of the fishing experience on private boats, however party boats will use frozen bait like mackerel or squid. You can always bring your own bait if you like tho!
If you aren't sure if your kid will do well on a boat but still want to try fishing, there are free kid's fishing events all the time. The pier on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach also rents fishing gear and it's free for kid's to fish.
The month of October is my personal favorite month because it's a month long fishing rodeo! The Destin Fishing Rodeo is world famous. You can watch fish being weighed in, check out the leader board behind Aj's Seafood & Oyster Bar and kid's can participate too! You can also participate by having your own catch weighed in and possibly winning a prize from one of the dozens of different categories.
Plan your fishing trips in advance. Don't wait until you get here to book. There are only about 250 charter boats in the area and well over 10,000 visitors here on any given day. That's not a lot to go around. The party boats have minimums they needs to run and there are seasoned fisherman that come every year to book trips for Red Snapper Season and the Rodeo. Don't wait!
Don't be afraid to get wet! Sometimes a little rain makes the boat cool off and the fish bite harder! Don't panic if you see bad weather on the weather channel for next weekend. Our weather is bipolar and could change in an instant!
Do NOT put sunscreen on your hands. And if you do, bring a towel to get it off. Once you cover your hands in sunscreen and then touch your bait- you sealed your fate. Nothing is gonna bite that line. The fish don't want to eat sunscreen as much as YOU don't want to eat it.
It's also helpful to know what's in season and what the bag limit is. If you're trying to feed your family of five some Triggerfish, then all five of you may need to go fishing because the legal limit may only be one per angler. Check out the link below for a guide to what's in season!
Supporting Local Businesses: Destin Engraving
For years, any time I've needed a name badge for work, an award or trophy created, a unique gift or just something engraved; I've taken it to my friends, at Destin Engraving.
The Cooper family is fantastic at understanding your vision and helping bring that concept to life at a fair and reasonable price while educating you on what to expect from the materials you've chosen. Maddi has helped me create everything from laser engraved coins for custom Mardi Gras necklaces to designing images for gemstones and pocketwatches. Her attention to detail has made me a loyal customer for over 10 years now.
Destin Engraving is a very honest and reliable business, never promising "unicorns and rainbows" if they can't make something happen. My items are always finished on time, and I've never been pushed aside for a rush order from a larger client. The quality is better than anything I've ever tried to order online and I love being able to walk in their showroom and see hundreds of examples of their work.
If you enjoy supporting local businesses like I do and need something engraved, Destin Engraving is located at 45 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541. You can visit their showroom in the McGuire's Irish Pub plaza, Monday- Friday from 9am-5pm. You can also call 850-424-3759.
Tell them Sarah from Gulf Coast Tips sent you!