Mini Guide to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort
I just got back from a beach trip with one of my best girlfriends and I'm headed back tomorrow, so I thought it would be fun to share a mini guide to Sandestin since I go quite often. I'm going to give some ideas on where to stay, eat, and things to do.
Where to stay:
This is a bit hard for me since my parents own a condo there and that is where I always stay. On Sandestin's website they list all of the places on the entire resort, so you can choose to rent a condo on the beach or bay (which is what I recommend) or there is always the Sandestin Hilton which is really nice as well. There are also really good deals on VRBO for condo rentals. I prefer to say beachside, but the bay is also beautiful. For beachside I would recommend Beachside 1 or 2, Luau, or any of the Southwinds towers. They have trams that run often if you aren't staying on the beach that will take you around the resort if you don't want to take your own car or I would recommend renting a golf cart during your stay. This is how we travel most everywhere around the resort.
Where to eat:
I'm going to try to keep this list short because we have several favorites, so I'll just touch on the top 6.
Tommy Bahama: We love this for both dinner and happy hour. Things that you must try are the grapefruit basil martini, scallop sliders, macadamia crusted goat cheese, and tuna tacos. I took my girlfriend here for the first time and she loved everything!!
Marlin Grill: This is a must stop on every girl's trip for the shrimp & grits. They have the best we have ever tasted. So good that we went twice during our 4 days there.
Wine Bar: My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner here and it's just one of our favorite places. It's on the side of a wine/liquor store, so they also allow you to buy wine in the store and bring it in for a corkage fee if you don't want what is on their menu. We love the ahi tuna small plate, crab cake, mac & cheese, and filet. They also have great cheese plates and bread.
Craft Bar: This is next door to the Wine Bar and is a more casual place to dine. They have amazing burgers and craft beer. Our favorites are the ahi tuna burger and bison burger.
Sunset Bay Cafe: This is perfect for brunch. They have huge bloody mary's and mimosas, and you can't go wrong with any of the eggs benedicts they have.
Marina Bar & Grill: We love this for lunch. The view of the bay and all the boats is great. They also serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. I love their grits at breakfast and fish tacos with fries for lunch. They also have yummy fruity drinks.
Things to do:
Of course going to the beach is the #1 thing to do while there. When the weather cooperates the water is gorgeous. And don't forget to hit up the tiki bar while you are there. My favorite drink is the goombay smash. It never disappoints.
The Village is the perfect place to go late afternoon or night. They have a ton of restaurants and is perfect if you have kids. They have a play ground, zip lining, an arcade, and more. Check out their calendar for a list of nightly activities. If you don't have kiddos with you check out Rum Runner's for the dualing pianos or Hammerheads for a fun outdoor band and dancing.
Rent a boat or jet skis at the Marina. This is our favorite thing to do. Taking a pontoon out for a day or half day is so much fun. Riding around the bay, having lunch a Lulu's, and go swimming at Crab Island are our favorite ways to spend a boat day.
Go Shopping!! This also ranks right up there on my list. :) Check out Silversands Outlets for tons of bargains!! Grand Boulevard is also a great spot to shop. They have stores like Pottery Barn and Orvis down to smaller specialty boutiques.
Rent a paddle board or go parasailing on the beach. I haven't been parasailing in years, but it used to be one of my favorite beach activities. I'm not brave enough to try paddle boarding yet. The Marina also offers paddle boarding if you need a bit calmer water.
Go golfing. I'm not a golfer, but my husband and parents are. There are 3 courses for the public that do not require a membership and you can view and book available tee times online.
I hope this little mini guide helps if you are taking a trip to Sandestin soon. I highly recommend traveling here. It's one of my favorite places!!
Thanks for stopping by!!