For anyone who asked for more details about our recent family vacation, here’s the full recap. We chose Destin, Florida for our week-long summer getaway. Since we were already heading to Atlanta for the Haven conference and my family wasn’t doing a typical beach week, it felt like a perfect plan to join the Bowers for a week on the Florida panhandle.
Katie’s husband Jeremy handled the search and booked the rental home for our group (major thanks to him). Their extended family rents in the area often and knows how to find good places, but for people exploring on their own we stayed near Miramar Beach and found listings on vacation rental sites. Our house wasn’t beachfront, but it was an easy walk to the sand, which saved money versus a front-row property and still gave us a pool. The layout was ideal for our group of four adults, three kids, and a tiny chihuahua—and who doesn’t love bunk beds for a beach house?
The exterior of the house was especially lovely: vine-covered arbors and a sheltered courtyard that softened noise from the nearby road and bike path. Beyond the courtyard sat a small pool that became our second home after the ocean. It wasn’t Olympic-size, but it was perfectly suitable for a few kids, some adults, and the occasional doll or two. One slow afternoon it even turned into an impromptu synchronized swimming lesson—Clara eagerly joined in and clearly loved the water.
Mostly, the pool offered a low-stress place for Clara to practice kicking and get more comfortable submerging her head. The calm, protected environment helped her take small, steady steps toward feeling brave in the water.
But the real highlight of the trip was the beach. We’ve vacationed along Florida’s Gulf Coast before, and this stretch of sand was memorable even by those standards: incredibly white sand, crystal-clear water, and warm, calm waves. The mild surf made the ocean inviting, and Clara took to it more readily than she ever has.
After a few days of placid water, we decided to rent stand-up paddleboards from a beach service. We got two boards—one for each family—and, once we found our balance, we even took the kids for short rides. The calm conditions made paddleboarding easy and forgiving; everyone except Jeremy managed at least one splash into the water. We found that sitting or kneeling while ferrying kids was the most stable approach, and the kids liked being closer to us on the board.
Most of our beach time, though, was spent playing in the shallows and building sandcastles. Around lunchtime we usually regrouped to feed the kids and sneak in another activity before naps, like bike rides. Our rental included several bicycles, and we used them often—Clara loved riding on her iBert, and a favorite pastime became guessing the color of dog collars on passersby. There were more than a few charming moments on the bike path, including an adorable pair of kids who looked like they were on a date—get a room, you two!
Clara and Will became good buddies during the week. They’re both three and not always expert sharers, but having another child to play with made the trip more fun for both kids and eased the load for the adults. It was helpful to have other parents there to swap kid-wrangling duties and share a laugh when meltdowns inevitably happened.
We ate out a few times—vacation warrants it—and the area offered plenty of tasty options. Favorite meals of the trip included an excellent dinner that stood out for its flavors, and a spicy shrimp dish that earned high praise from Sherry. Lunches at the beachfront restaurants during bike rides were delightful too, full of salty air and colorful, relaxed ambiance.
Weather can be unpredictable, and a number of readers mentioned storms in Destin the week before our arrival. Thankfully, we mostly avoided bad weather—aside from a few quick evening storms and one overcast afternoon that pushed us toward outlet shopping and go-karts. The non-beach alternatives were a fun diversion and made for great family memories.
Like every vacation, the final day arrived too fast. We realized there were still a few things left on the list—sea kayaking, thrift shopping, and family photos on the beach—but managed to fit most of them into our last day. The kayaks turned choppy toward the end, which made for a spirited return trip, but Katie captured plenty of great photos and the last evening on the beach was a perfect way to close out our stay.
Returning home involved a long drive back to Atlanta and then onward to our own town. Clara has become a true road-trip pro, which helps on these long drives. Our tips for long car rides with a three-year-old: plenty of books, engaging toys, a stash of snacks, and a couple of short screen-time treats for desperate moments. We made it home tired but happy, thankful to the Bowers for inviting us and for making the trip so fun and memorable.
After twelve days away (including the conference), we were ready to sleep in our own beds again—but also energized to jump back into projects. Vacation rest combined with fresh inspiration is a powerful thing.
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As a little Friday bonus, here are a few active discussions and ideas from the Forums. We also announced this week’s giveaway winners—check the site’s forum announcement for details.
| Painted Piano Before and After | Buyer’s Remorse | DIY Chunky Wooden Floating Shelves | Decorating Ideas for a Little Boy’s Bedroom | |||
| by Hello | by michelelouise | by DesertDomicile | by lovekismet |
| Young House Love |