Destin, Florida - mini New Orleans or mini Las Vegas!

I've been to lots of trainings for my new job.  My last training took me to Destin for a week long designation training, in August.  Since it was between semesters, Matt made the trip with me.  This was great, since I wouldn't have seen as much if Matt stayed home.

Growing up in St. Pete Beach, I've been around the Gulf of Mexico beaches my entire life.  I've always liked those more than the different beaches of the Atlantic, which is closer to us here in Gainesville.  Don't get me wrong, beaches in general are beautiful places and I've said a million times here how much I love the beach (anything near water actually).

The training was great and informative.  I met a lot of nice and interesting people.  And I know what I learned will help me in my new job (well, I've been there since June, am I still new?).  At night, Matt and I had time to explore Destin, which admittedly had I been on my own, I wouldn't have ventured out as much.

Since we got to Destin super early (they are actually in Central Time Zone, we didn't know this before hand) we had plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing lunch at Dewey Destin's.  This was a pretty authentic beach restaurant, with mostly outside seating.  Since it was raining cats and dogs when we got there (actually most of the time we were in Destin), we sat under the covered seating.  It was a nice throw back to a traditional beach place, that we always like.

We went to McGuire's Irish Pub for dinner.  Being an Irish girl, I love my Irish places.   Visitors can tape, staple, glue (I'm not sure what exactly) dollar bills to everything.  So you look up at the ceiling and see nothing but dollar bills with signatures or quotes.  Kitchy, but very cute.

Destin is also the new home to a Commander's Palace restaurant.  Commander's Palace is famous and favorite restaurant of New Orleans.  We've been to the Commander's in New Orleans (Matt grew up going and we still go when we visit) and to the one in Las Vegas, which has since closed. The food is always amazing, very intricate and imaginative.  Matt was able to get his real seafood fix, especially his turtle soup.  (Since meeting Matt many years ago, I've become such a food lover, and I know I really have him to thank!)  Commanders is in the new HarborWalk Village (picture to the left) - an amazing condo (Emerald Grande) and shopping complex that is hard to describe - one of those have to see it to believe it kinda places (the picture to the right is during sunset before we had dinner).

We checked out other places too, Stinks Fish Camp for one.  The TomTom didn't give us great directions, but it did make us drive through Seaside, Florida - which is the panhandle town where much of the Truman Show was filmed.  We also visited Hog's Breath, one of our favorite Key West joints that has their second location in Destin. The picture to the right is us at Hog's Breath.

Since they are relatively close to each other, Destin has been a get-away for New Orleanians.  This is especially noticeable since the Camellia Grill, Pat O'Brien's, and Commanders all have new homes (or are about to open) in Destin.

The beaches in Destin are gorgeous, the people are nice, and the food is great.  Perhaps the most interesting thing through was how built up Destin is.  In my ignorance I didn't think it would be like that.  Neon signs beckoning visitors line the main roads, a water amusement park welcomes people of all ages, and you have your choice of several "go-kart" options (admittedly, we did visit one and enjoyed the three story wooden track). 

Another fun trip and another great visit to a Florida town.

Comments

[Eric]

I have been to the Hogsbreath ... but it was the one in St Paul!!

Looks like a blast :-)

[traci]

Thanks, Speedcat! We did have fun. Hogsbreath is always good for a fun time. :)