Advice re: vacation timing

[nohatein08]

Hi SoWal-ers!

I'm happy to announce that we're planning our 2nd annual visit to your lovely beaches. We really enjoyed our stay in May last year, but the water was a bit too cold and rocky to really enjoy - so we're coming in SUMMER this year.

My question - is the week before 7/4 crazy crowded and hectic? Or doable? Since we came in May last year, we didn't think it was crowded at all? We have a number in our party that would like to do that week, because of work, etc., but if it's going to be insane, we can find another week.

Any other recommendations (weeks, activities, restaurants)???? Can't wait!

 

[Jdarg]

Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year- the week before AND the week after will most likely be nuts. I would pick June or after the 2nd week in July, honestly.

 

[scooterbug44]

The water was too rocky? What beach were you at?

 

[sunspotbaby]

I think it's nutz here from March to September but I live here, so maybe our nutz definitions differ.
Check the dining, and events forums for good places to eat and nightlife. Check Welcome to Walton Outdoors - Your source for the outdoors in Walton County Florida and the surrounding area for parks, hiking, trails, maps, etc.

Pay attention to the beach flags and have funn.

 

[nohatein08]

The water was too rocky? What beach were you at?

Not rocky as in lots of rocks, rocky as in red flags, waves, etc.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year- the week before AND the week after will most likely be nuts. I would pick June or after the 2nd week in July, honestly.

jdarg is right -- early to mid-June would be my pick. However, if you need to come that week because of others in your party, just know you would probably have to check out the morning of the 4th, and it will be a zoo. Good luck!

 

[beachmouse]

Because so many Southeastern school calendars still send students back to class in early August, there tends to be a little bit of a lull in things in late August before Labor Day weekend gets all crazy again.

 

[Paula]

Our favorite time to come to SoWal is in August - usually the 2nd and 3rd week when there is indeed a lull. The peak season is over, the rates are much lower because fall rates begin by the 2nd or 3rd week in August, the ocean water and pool water is so comfortable (we float on floaters for hours in the pool reading a good paperback), there are few people and yet the restaurants and everything else is still up and running (except the waterparks - they seem to have fewer hours or start to close down when the big crowds leave so you have to call to find out when they're open). We often have the beach pretty much to ourselves except for a few people taking early morning walks. We used to come down for a week in August and started coming down for 2 weeks beginning last year. It's hot, but usually not hotter than a hot day in Michigan (though two years ago it was actually steamy it was so hot for a few days). August definitely gets my vote for my favorite time of year to be in SoWal. October is nice too because that's when the butterflies migrate through SoWal and the weather is still beautiful (although the pools/ocean are cooling off).

 

[Paula]

Hi SoWal-ers!

I'm happy to announce that we're planning our 2nd annual visit to your lovely beaches. We really enjoyed our stay in May last year, but the water was a bit too cold and rocky to really enjoy - so we're coming in SUMMER this year.

My question - is the week before 7/4 crazy crowded and hectic? Or doable? Since we came in May last year, we didn't think it was crowded at all? We have a number in our party that would like to do that week, because of work, etc., but if it's going to be insane, we can find another week.

Any other recommendations (weeks, activities, restaurants)???? Can't wait!

For activities, see the SoWal calendar on this site. There's usually something going on at Rosemary Beach, Seaside, and now Alys Beach as well. The one downside about coming in August is that there are fewer of the concerts and movies that they have all summer, but we don't miss them because we don't do anything other than hang out at the pool, beach, and porch. It's easy to get very lazy on vacation in SoWal (unless you like to do all that outdoor healthy stuff and there's plenty of that all year round). Some people take a chartered boat for an afternoon and I've heard that's fun, though I haven't done that yet.

 

[ShallowsNole]

If actually going in the Gulf tops your list of activities, remember that rip tides, red flags and the water being closed can happen anytime. The deadliest day on record here occurred in June several years ago. Also note that, as the water warms up to where we don't go numb from the chill, the marine food cycle kicks in. "June grass" - the slimy kind - rolls around in mid-June. Sargassum, the chunky kind which one can usually avoid follows in July. Dogflies are sometimes an issue in August.

Now, after all the doom and gloom, any day on vacation at the beach is infinitely better than a day anywhere else. However, if you don't have to plan your vacation around children in school, I'd pick May or September (or both). For summer, even as a local, the first week of June is normally perfect. Watch for rip tides though!