Florida is famous for its oranges and orange juice. And with orange juice, success is a simple proposition. You need:
- Great oranges.
- A great way to squeeze as much juice as possible out of said oranges.
Well, you can check #1 off if you’ve decided to vacation in Destin, FL. You’ve already got your great orange. This is an area ripe with opportunity for adventure, relaxation, and some of the best natural attractions around.
What about that pesky number 2 spot, though?
Squeezing the most out of your Destin vacation experience requires a little guidance. And since we’ve been in the area for several generations, we have a thing or six to say on the subject.
Step 1: Reconnaissance
Good news here: you’re already doing it. Before you take your trip, scope out the key places you want to see and the top adventures you’d like to have. Here are some Destin Vacation tips to make sure that goes as smoothly as possible:
- Include a few activities you can do in rain/shine. Counting on great weather means sometimes you get lucky, but no one can promise that it will be cloudless outside when you need it to be cloudless.
- Give yourself budgetary wiggle room. For example, you can do some “fixed” items in your budget like chartering “The Finest Kind” for a deep sea excursion, while giving yourself wiggle room for unforeseen expenses.
Step 2: Get Your Children involved with Planning
Ever go on vacation and see that your children just feel like they’re being dragged around? That’s not a good feeling. You don’t want to shell out thousands of dollars to bring your family to a new place just to have them feel like they’d rather be indoors.
That’s why it’s a good idea to get your children to pack for the trip and help plan the activities. For example, when chartering a deep sea fishing excursion, you might have them select the types of fish they’d like to see.
Step 3: Give Yourself Downtime
Hey, we’re just as in favor of squeezing as much juice from the orange as you can. But let’s be honest: you’re going to have downtime. Probably significant amounts of downtime. And if you can find great ways to enjoy Destin, FL during your downtime, you’re already ahead of the game.
For example, maybe you’ll decide to shop along the Destin Harbor Walk to make use of that downtime. Or maybe you’ll stay home and cool off. Point is, it helps to know your options for your downtime, which is why it’s a good idea to plan for that, as well.
Step 4: Be Spontaneous
You’re going to be tempted to plan your time in Destin, FL down to the minute. Can we speak from experience? Don’t. Yes, we do think that you should plan to show up ten minutes early when you come to your chartered deep sea boat experience. But that doesn’t mean we think you need to have all 24 hours of your day just as tightly planned. Allow flexible time for spontaneity. Do something you didn’t plan. Make sure that you check on cancellation policies with different events to make sure you have the flexibility you need to try something new.
Step 5: Pack some Healthy Snacks
Speaking of oranges, they make a great dose of some extra blood sugar if you’re feeling tired. Make sure you have enough food, water, and sunscreen to beat the heat—and that you have access to shelter nearby, too. Some people from cooler climates aren’t quite ready for the Florida heat during the daylight hours, which is why we recommend taking it slow at first.
Step 6: Enjoy Some Exercise
There’s nothing like a great meal from a restaurant in Destin, FL when you know you’ve earned it. Plan some time for exercise, like visiting the local fitness club.
One word of warning: make sure to try and exercise indoors when you can. The summer heat is especially tough on outdoor exercise, and you’ll want to avoid the peak daylight hours to ensure that your exercise doesn’t come with a side helping dehydration.
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to fully enjoy your vacation in Destin. But to make sure that you squeeze every bit of that orange, make sure to plan your biggest events well in advance. We recommend making your Fishing Reservations with us so there’s no confusion when it comes time to go out and enjoy everything that Destin and the Emerald Coast have to offer.