- My husband's military assignment brought us from the Midwest to Destin, Florida.
- The Emerald Coast is beautiful and fuses big-city amenities with a welcoming, small-town community
- We've fallen in love with the Florida city, especially during its quiet offseason.
When my husband's military assignment brought us to Destin, I never imagined I'd fall in love with it so much.
We'd previously never visited the Florida Panhandle before or even considered living on the Emerald Coast. Then, the military gave us three weeks to find a home, pack up our lives, and relocate to Destin for his job.
Moving away from the familiarities of the Midwest was scary, but we've learned to love our slow-paced life in Destin.
The area has a charming small-town feel while still offering big-city amenities.
Although Destin isn't huge, it's growing — and our county has a population of about 200,000 people.
My hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is similar in size population-wise, and my husband grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs — one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the Midwest.
Even though I appreciated my small-town upbringing, I missed the luxuries of living in a bigger city. Growing up, we'd have to drive four hours to Minneapolis if we wanted to do some real shopping at the Mall of America or attend a bigger concert downtown.
After we moved to Destin, I was surprised by the abundance of big-city amenities right at my doorstep. Within a 20-minute drive, we have access to multiple shopping centers with everything from well-known retailers to adorable local boutiques.
Our favorite shopping centers include the open-air Destin Commons, the bustling Silver Sands Outlet Mall, and the upscale Grand Boulevard. These lively spots often host weekly farmers' markets, annual festivals, and holiday events throughout the year.
The Destin area is also filled with restaurants, coffee shops, and lively beach bars. My husband and I love getting to enjoy the sunset with a happy-hour cocktail in hand.
The scenic towns of 30A offer a one-of-a-kind coastal charm unlike anywhere else in the US.
When announcing our move to Florida, one of my best friends said I was so lucky to be near 30A. I didn't know what 30A was.
Turns out, it's a picturesque highway along the Gulf of Mexico lined with idyllic seaside towns that's been nicknamed "the Hamptons of the South."
While its town of Seaside has a relaxed beach vibe with pastel-colored homes and white-picket fences, nearby Rosemary Beach features a European-inspired design and cobblestone streets.
Having 30A just a short drive away has been one of the best parts of living in Destin — especially in the offseason. It's now one of my favorite areas to visit.
Our offseason has few crowds, making it easy to explore.
Living in a city where others vacation was an entirely new experience for us.
Our first visit to 30A was anything but smooth, as we waited for hours in summer traffic and circled endlessly for a parking spot. During our first Labor Day weekend as Floridians, we were naively surprised by the sheer number of boaters at our iconic Crab Island sandbar.
After that, we quickly learned to make the most of Destin's offseason. Late spring through early fall is packed with tourists, but the winter season is slower, with only a few flocks of snowbirds.
Most vacationers choose Orlando or Miami in the winter for sunny beach days. Meanwhile, our offseason is relatively calm due to cooler weather.
This quieter time allows us to try popular restaurants and visit attractions that are often overtaken by tourists in the summer.
The locals have been incredibly friendly.
Having a strong sense of community is incredibly important to us, especially since my husband is a military pilot who travels often for work.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of Southern hospitality on the Emerald Coast.
Despite our thick Midwestern accents, locals have made us feel right at home. While moving into our house, multiple neighbors greeted us with homemade goodies.
People here are pretty friendly, and even a quick grocery run comes with friendly conversations at the checkout line.
Preparing for our first hurricane truly showcased the kindness of the locals. Our neighbors helped us prepare by giving us much-needed guidance on preparing our house and running our generator.
Although the military might have other plans for our future, I can't imagine leaving this vacation paradise.
I'm not sure where the military will take us next, but we hope to stick around Destin for a while.
As a travel enthusiast, I've visited some of the world's best beaches in Croatia, Thailand, Hawaii, Greece, and the Caribbean. Even still, Destin's sugar-white sand and emerald waters surpass them all.
We still can't believe we live 10 minutes from the ocean, let alone some of the best beaches in the US.
Whether it's a winter walk on the beach or a stroll through the enchanting side streets of 30A with a warm coffee in hand, we never take this coastal paradise for granted.
