We travelled to Destin, FL. It took us 12.5 hours to get there and anger 12.5 to get back. We split the drive down into 2 days and spent the night in Baton Rouge. I have to say, I was very impressed with the Drury Inn. Clean, comfy, private master bedroom and a breakfast that filled the kids up. We tried to snap a picture of each state line along the way. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. It helped pass the time..lol
I will say that I am not used to Florida speed limits. 55mph on the toll road was just....slow, to put it nicely. I like my 70-75mph. However, Florida was completely worth the slower speed limits and the 12.5 hour drive. It is absolutely beautiful. Spending a week at the Emerald Coast was amazing. We hit a different beach every day. The dunes are hard on the legs but the beaches in those areas are not as crowded and worth the walk (pack light and leave your shoes on, makes walking so much easier). The waves are big and perfect for wave jumping, take your boogie board and ride them to shore! I recommend a trip out to Crab Island to swim in beautiful clear waters. Take your goggles and snorkel. Oh, and don't forget the fishing gears for the husband! Of course I did have to tease both my husband and nephew that they drove all the way to the Florida coast to catch catfish. I couldn't resist. I also suggest renting a pontoon for a day. We went 4 hours and wished we had more time. Definitely try out the paddle boarding and kayaking. For the little ones, we went hermit crab fishing under bridge and ended up with beautiful shells.
I cannot wait for our next family vacation, we had so much fun. It was long overdo and we'll deserved.
