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Vacation planning .....

Stressless

Active Member
2,414
85
Keene, OH
We just got back from the OBX - we go every year and was probably the worst weather we have ever had with low temperatures and rain. Unfortunately the offshore fishing trip was canceled due to weather but we made the most it. I’ve been trying to convince my wife to look for another beach destination like Destin and anyone with any other recommendations?
I live 25 miles from Destin, depending on what your thinking it can be great or.. not so much. Okaloosa county(Destin) privatized much of their beach ⛱ for owners/renters. Make sure your rental has beach access with it.

That being said, Henderson State park and much of the beach between Destin and Ft Walton (8 miles) is part of Eglin AFB (sensors etc..) free access with permit to pristine beaches with almost nobody there. 5min drive from most places in Destin.

Screenshot_20230605-112155_Earth.jpg


Get the permit here:
 
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Clay Showalter

Southern member northern landowner
6,769
145
Guilford County
We just got back from the OBX - we go every year and was probably the worst weather we have ever had with low temperatures and rain. Unfortunately the offshore fishing trip was canceled due to weather but we made the most it. I’ve been trying to convince my wife to look for another beach destination like Destin and anyone with any other recommendations?

We go to Carova beach, which is all the way up the obx, almost to the Virginia state line. It is very remote, you have to drive about 10 miles on the beach to get to the houses, but once there it is paradise. This is the first year in 6 years we will not be going.
 
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Deersurgeon

Junior Member
145
65
I live 25 miles from Destin, depending on what your thinking it can be great or.. not so much. Okaloosa county(Destin) privatized much of their beach ⛱ for owners/renters. Make sure your rental has beach access with it.

That being said, Henderson State park and much of the beach between Destin and Ft Walton (8 miles) is part of Eglin AFB (sensors etc..) free access with permit to pristine beaches with almost nobody there. 5min drive from most places in Destin.

Get the permit here:
Sounds like what I’m looking for and thank you very much!
 
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Deersurgeon

Junior Member
145
65
We go to Carova beach, which is all the way up the obx, almost to the Virginia state line. It is very remote, you have to drive about 10 miles on the beach to get to the houses, but once there it is paradise. This is the first year in 6 years we will not be going.
Yeah if we do OBX again that is where I want to stay. We drove through it and it looked like a remote paradise. Thanks!
 
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hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
40,256
288
Ohio
Yea I have trout fished many places around there. It is the part of NC that the rest of NC doesn't know exist. We love that part of the state. The hike you are talking about, was it Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which is one of the largest old growth forests in the eastern USA
That is is. Parked in their parking lot possibly. Campground around the corner. Tough access to the water but once in the stream it was like a scene out of the movies.
 
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5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,812
238
North Central Ohio
No big ones planned this year, but lots of minis sprinkled in thru out '23.

Jan - Muzzy hunt @ Salt Fork
May - TOO family gathering @ Paint Creek
July - camp/canoing in Mohican, and a long family trip to Jellystone in IN.
Aug - week at fair, normally a week at BG pulls (not this year).
Oct - TOO fall event @ Strouds, whole week
Nov/Dec - full week of gun off, taking camper somewhere
 
I live 25 miles from Destin, depending on what your thinking it can be great or.. not so much. Okaloosa county(Destin) privatized much of their beach ⛱ for owners/renters. Make sure your rental has beach access with it.

That being said, Henderson State park and much of the beach between Destin and Ft Walton (8 miles) is part of Eglin AFB (sensors etc..) free access with permit to pristine beaches with almost nobody there. 5min drive from most places in Destin.

View attachment 179297

Get the permit here:
Man I forgot you were down there! I should have stopped in and said hello last week.
 
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finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
32,606
274
SW Ohio
I live 25 miles from Destin, depending on what your thinking it can be great or.. not so much. Okaloosa county(Destin) privatized much of their beach ⛱ for owners/renters. Make sure your rental has beach access with it.

That being said, Henderson State park and much of the beach between Destin and Ft Walton (8 miles) is part of Eglin AFB (sensors etc..) free access with permit to pristine beaches with almost nobody there. 5min drive from most places in Destin.

View attachment 179297

Get the permit here:
Great heads up info right here!!! Thanks!!!

Is Crab Isle (cove/Island) along that 8 mile stretch? Been there one time and highly recommend going during the first half of the day versus the second half due to tide bringing in seaweed and ocean scum afternoon thru evening. We rented a pontoon and went for a cruise near the bridge and into the inlet running along Harborwalk marina when water conditions worsened to use up the rest of our rental time. It’s amazing the amount of money there is in that area! Destin is one of our favorite places to go but damn it’s getting expensive and it’s been a few years since we’ve been there.
 
Great heads up info right here!!! Thanks!!!

Is Crab Isle (cove/Island) along that 8 mile stretch? Been there one time and highly recommend going during the first half of the day versus the second half due to tide bringing in seaweed and ocean scum afternoon thru evening. We rented a pontoon and went for a cruise near the bridge and into the inlet running along Harborwalk marina when water conditions worsened to use up the rest of our rental time. It’s amazing the amount of money there is in that area! Destin is one of our favorite places to go but damn it’s getting expensive and it’s been a few years since we’ve been there.
It's getting VERY expensive. It now cost $20 to park at harborwalk.
 
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Stressless

Active Member
2,414
85
Keene, OH
Great heads up info right here!!! Thanks!!!

Is Crab Isle (cove/Island) along that 8 mile stretch? Been there one time and highly recommend going during the first half of the day versus the second half due to tide bringing in seaweed and ocean scum afternoon thru evening. We rented a pontoon and went for a cruise near the bridge and into the inlet running along Harborwalk marina when water conditions worsened to use up the rest of our rental time. It’s amazing the amount of money there is in that area! Destin is one of our favorite places to go but damn it’s getting expensive and it’s been a few years since we’ve been there.
Oh ya, "Crab" its a great time/total Cluster Faq 🤪.

Thats the Bridge over the East Pass inlet(Destin) in the upper left. Pic from Memorial Day.

41977.jpeg

As far as currents, the tides change with the moon so just checking on the charts will tell you when its slack or trying to kill you on the jetties.

I've stated over on the Panhandling thread, I can hook folks up, either a great inshore or offshore charter. Boat or kayak.