For everyone who asked for more details about our recent family vacation, here’s a full recap. We spent a week in Destin, Florida this summer. Since our family skippped a traditional beach week and we were already visiting Atlanta for a conference, we happily accepted the Bowers’ invitation to join them on the Florida panhandle.
Katie Bower’s husband Jeremy found the rental house for the week. They rent often in the area and know how tricky vacancies can be, so they keep their favorite spots to themselves, but if you’re searching for a place near Miramar Beach, sites like VRBO can be useful for hunting down rentals and reading reviews. Our home wasn’t beachfront, but it was an easy walk to the sand and had a small pool — a more budget-friendly choice that still gave us everything we needed for four adults, three kids, and a chihuahua. The bunk beds were an immediate hit with the kids.
The outdoor spaces were a favorite feature: charming arbors wrapped in vines and a cozy courtyard patio that buffered the house from the nearby road and bike path.
Just beyond the courtyard was a small pool that quickly became our second home after the ocean. Not large by any means, but plenty big enough for kids to splash, adults to relax, and the occasional floating doll.
On one afternoon the pool even doubled as a spot for an impromptu synchronized swimming routine — a sign the sun had gotten to us a little. Clara loved it.
But the real star of the trip was the beach.
We’ve vacationed on Florida’s Gulf Coast before, but this sand felt especially white and the water was unusually clear, warm, and calm. The gentle waves made it easy for Clara to warm up to the ocean in a way she hadn’t before.
Because the water stayed so calm after the first few days, we rented two stand-up paddleboards from a local beach service. Once we found our balance, we took the kids along for short rides. It was fun and a little wobbly — everyone except Jeremy took an accidental dip at some point.
We discovered it was easier to transport the kids when the adults sat or knelt on the boards, which improved balance and comfort. Katie even took both kids out together for a bit of family paddling.
Most beach days were a mix of water play and sandcastles. Around lunchtime we’d feed the kids, then squeeze another activity in before naps — often a bike ride using the bicycles provided by our rental. The trailer carrying a couple of the kids belonged to the house owners.
Clara rode on her iBert seat with me, which is always a highlight. On the bike path our favorite game became guessing the color of the collars on dogs we passed.
We spotted plenty of cute pairs on the path — including one duo that earned the title of cutest biking couple of the trip.
Clara and Will had a great time together. It wasn’t always smooth — they’re both three and still learning to share — but having another child close in age made the trip more fun and gave parents a little backup during inevitable meltdowns.
We ate out a few times and enjoyed recommendations from friends. My favorite meal was at a local seafood spot, while Sherry loved the extra spicy shrimp she ordered at another nearby restaurant. A coconut shrimp lunch at a beachfront eatery during a bike ride was another highlight — the colorful, breezy setting made the meal especially memorable.
Some readers warned of bad weather the week before our arrival, but we lucked out. Apart from brief evening storms and one overcast afternoon, the weather cooperated. That dreary afternoon gave us a chance to try alternative activities like outlet shopping for the adults and go-karting for the bigger kids and dads.
Like all vacations, our time flew by. There were things we didn’t get to do — sea kayaking, thrifting, and some planned family beach photos — but somehow we fit most of those into our final day. We braved choppier water in kayaks and managed a sunset session on the sand, where Katie captured some lovely shots.
The evening was the perfect end to a relaxing trip and made leaving feel almost cruel.
The next morning we packed up and headed back to Atlanta for an overnight with the Bowers before finishing the rest of the drive home. Clara is a seasoned road-trip traveler — we’ve done long drives with her since she was a few weeks old — and our go-to tips for long rides with a toddler are: lots of books, lots of toys, plenty of snacks, and a few iPad games for emergencies. Around hour eleven everyone got a bit stir-crazy, but we made it home safe and sound.
Many thanks to the Bowers for inviting us and helping make the trip so memorable. After twelve days away (including the conference), we were eager to sleep in our own beds again and get back to projects — we dove right in on our return.
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As a little Friday bonus, here are a few active forum projects and discussions we’ve been enjoying.
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| by Hello | by michelelouise | by DesertDomicile | by lovekismet |
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