Condition of Beach/Towns between Destin/Seaside

The two best months are April and October. April is usually warm enough to swim, yet not hot enough to be uncomfortable. By June, things are pretty warm and you definitely need the a/c for comfort. June is also a crowded month, since the kids are out of school by then and families are converging. You might want to check April for spring break dates. Most of the colleges have their spring breaks in March. That is a time that we try to avoid, and I would think that families would, as well. Mid-April is awesome.

As for the beaches, many of the walkovers are reconstructed now. The Grayton beaches look even more beautiful, the recipient of much of the white sand deposited in other areas prior to Hurricane Dennis. Blue Moutain Beach still looks fairly ravaged and there is a lot of construction of sea walls going on there. WaterColor and Seaside will be ready for you. Portions of Seagrove Beach are quite good and other areas have the seawall construction going on. :welcome:

:welcome: I think you should expect a lovely vacation this spring. The beaches and towns are in fine shape overall. The dunes are a bit beat up compared to their pre-hurricane magnificence, but the beach itself is still the wonder that it's always been. You might want to look at all the photos posted on www.sowal.com and see for yourself how pretty it is.

Is there any particular community you are interested in? If you give specifics, you will get a lot of help here on the board.

--Sorry to break in here, but Donna, I've PM'ed you and I can't get through until you clean your inbox out.--

We go to Seacrest on 30A the last week in February which might be the beginning of college spring break as well. As far as I can tell, we don't get the spring break college crowd on 30A -- or any of their activities, am I correct? I've never seen any of that where we are or on 30A. I think you get mostly families in the area in March/April for their spring break from school.

April for me is a little chilly in the water, but kids seem to be able to go in any time. Our kids went in (up to their knees) between Christmas and New Years and went in the pool, too, for brief periods.

We were there one year in April and the weather was very warm on some days and then we had a cool day or two as well.

As far as I can tell, we don't get the spring break college crowd on 30A -- or any of their activities, am I correct? I've never seen any of that where we are or on 30A. I think you get mostly families in the area in March/April for their spring break from school.

I agree - I am there every April & have never experienced a spring break college crowd. Only on Okaloosa Island but not on 30A. It is mostly families during that time.

I hope that you are right and that we do not have spring break groups this April. But in the past two years, our house has been rented by spring break groups and both times we had complaints from the neighbors and problems afterwards. In one instance, the house was overrun by kids who had been evicted from two other houses, before being evicted from ours; then last year, a group of high school spring break kids who had only a chaperone (no parents) as the only adult on the premises.

April is also the month for spring breaks for families with children in school and I think this is more the norm. Our management company seems to think that the spring break crowd from colleges has learned their lesson and won't be returning to lose their rent and deposit fees as they have in years past. I sincerely hope they are right.

Sorry to hear that, Donna. Your place is so beautiful (from the virtual tour view I've had). I haven't had that problem with our cottages (as far as I know at least -- the neighbors haven't complained yet and the agency hasn't said anything and we've had no damage yet). The cottages are small and I advertise them and the community as so family-friendly that no college kids in their right minds would feel like they'd have a good time there! We also state very clearly that we rent only to the over 25 group and families. Perhaps my time will come, though....

We're staying at Adagio April 15-22 and my mom is skeptical of the beach and weather. How bad is the beach in this area? If anyone knows please tell me. We (my kids and I) love the area not only for the beach but the overall beauty and people. BUT my mom can be a little crabby. I'm just trying to gather all the information I can so I can decide on leaving her home or not :roll: Just kidding!

....BUT my mom can be a little crabby. I'm just trying to gather all the information I can so I can decide on leaving her home or not :roll: Just kidding!

:lol: You're funny!

We're staying at Adagio April 15-22 and my mom is skeptical of the beach and weather. How bad is the beach in this area? If anyone knows please tell me. We (my kids and I) love the area not only for the beach but the overall beauty and people. BUT my mom can be a little crabby. I'm just trying to gather all the information I can so I can decide on leaving her home or not :roll: Just kidding!

Oh boy- sounds like we need to talk! We used to bring my mom with us, and I stressed the whole time about whether she was happy, comfortable, etc. I was a wreck for a week- she is very high maintenance. I decided that 1-2 other little trips one on one with her was better than ruining my family's vacation. So last year it was just us and friends- what a difference. We had a blast! She is still pouting, and it is all I can do not to remind her that all she did at the beach was complain! So leave your mom at home if she has the tendency to be even a little bit of a troublemaker!

Note to self....BE NICE if children take you on vacation with them when you are an older crabby person!!!

Note to self....BE NICE if children take you on vacation with them when you are an older crabby person!!!

Ditto on that!! :clap_1: I don't think you will ever have to worry about being an older crabby person- doesn't seem like you have that gene!

Ditto on that!! :clap_1: I don't think you will ever have to worry about being an older crabby person- doesn't seem like you have that gene!

OH NO...can't wait to see if sara82 reads this one!!! Not really crabby, but very annoying!!!

We're staying at Adagio April 15-22 and my mom is skeptical of the beach and weather. How bad is the beach in this area? If anyone knows please tell me. We (my kids and I) love the area not only for the beach but the overall beauty and people. BUT my mom can be a little crabby. I'm just trying to gather all the information I can so I can decide on leaving her home or not :roll: Just kidding!

Tell mom the beach and weather will be here with or without her.

Adagio is putting in a seawall. I don't know what the current status is but I'll bet they plan to have it finished by March 1.

Note to self....BE NICE if children take you on vacation with them when you are an older crabby person!!!

I made a few notes to myself like this when my first child was born.....things not to do when she has a baby and I'm the grandmother.

Do not tell her she's being selfish with the baby. 😱
Do all her daily chores including laundry.
Support her in any way and be positive.
Cook for her
No pouting.

My Mom got a lot better with subsequent grandchildren but I had to be the guinea pig.

I think it is difficult for moms to visit in their children's homes, where they are not the person in charge and there isn't that much for them to do in terms of keeping busy around the house. Plus, if they are older and have problems with arthritis (as mine is and does), then the deep sand on the beach is challenging and the high humidity and changing weather can translate into aches and pains. The truly gracious ones will try hard to take this all in stride and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren. And the high maintenance ones will use it as an opportunity to complain and attract attention as we try to satisfy them. Frankly, we have changed to a day visit plan with mine, who lives closeby. She gets to sleep in her own bed and we don't have to listen to complaints while trying to relax and enjoy the beach. Have you noticed that old people start getting ready to leave almost from the moment they arrive? It is okay, just can't let everyone else revolve around this agenda. With any luck, we'll all get there. :confused:

With any luck, we'll all get there. :confused:[/QUOTE]


Donna, I hope when I get to that age, I'll be able to hobble over to Conch Out, have a glass of wine, and not complain about it! 😀

With any luck, we'll all get there. :confused:

Donna, I hope when I get to that age, I'll be able to hobble over to Conch Out, have a glass of wine, and not complain about it! 😀[/QUOTE]

I'll be right there with you jdarg! 😀

And we'll be waiting for all of you, out on the Conch Out decks with a bottle of Napa Valley's finest in hand! We firmly believe that the key to a happy and healthy old age is to keep moving (today and continuing) and to stay mentally active, and to always remember that aches and pains do not translate into good conversation. Oh....and to drink a glass of red wine every day!