Destin Florida: The Water Is Colder Than It Looks
We have a bad habit. We tend to visit locations when we want to, not when the weather is the best for that spot. We still have fun, but it's often colder, hotter or rainier than we think it will be. Last year we went to Destin Florida in early May. It was a touch cooler than we had hoped. Instead of learning our lesson though, we're heading to Mexico in the middle of the summer. Pray for us...
Destin Florida
The emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico.
We live in north Louisiana, so Destin is close enough for weekend trips. Last May we hopped in the car for a road trip to the beach. The first day was warm enough. We shopped some, ate some great seafood and jet skied all around the gulf.
It got cold after that though. While not freezing, we were glad we brought hoodies and sweaters for the evening. I'm hot natured, so I was ok during the day, but Charise had some temperature shock when she would first get in the water. It's cheaper to travel in shoulder seasons, but sometimes the weather is against you. It's less expensive for a reason.
“It’s cheaper to travel in shoulder seasons, but sometimes the weather is against you. It’s less expensive for a reason.”
The Henderson
The Henderson Hotel
We used Chase Ultimate rewards points to stay at The Henderson Hotel for free. We thought the hotel was excellent. The rooms were large and well appointed. The staff was accommodating. The resort offered free bikes, kayaks and paddle boards. We were able to kayak, but because of wind we never got around to taking paddle board lessons. So that was a bummer.
The location of The Henderson is both a benefit and a drawback. First the good news, there is private beach access. There's also a state beach park between the private beach and the thousands of other tourist and their screaming kids on the shore. So The Henderson's beach is super private and quiet. The downside is that the hotel isn't directly on the beach. The website implies that it is though with their photographs. It's just a short walk across the street, but we were expecting to be right on the water. I guess it's not that big of a deal, but it was slightly dissapointing. It's also one of the few 4-star hotels in Destin. So if that's what you're looking for, The Henderson is a good bet. We enjoyed our stay and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.
The beach was quiet and private.
Next Stop, Isla Mujeres Mexico
It's been over a year since we've been to a beach. We think it's time to rectify that problem. It was a little cold on the beach in Destin but that shouldn't be a problem in Mexico. The first week in July, we're heading out to Isla Mujeres. We used Chase Ultimate Rewards points to pay for the stay at the all-inclusive, Mia Reef. Then we transferred Amex points to AirFrance to cover the plane tickets. If you're curious about how to travel for free, be sure to check out this post we wrote a few weeks ago for info on how to get started.
“It was a little cold on the beach in Destin but that shouldn’t be a problem in Mexico.”
Our hotel in Isla Mujeres: The Mia Reef.
We're also swimming with whale sharks!!!!!
This is the first time we've been to Mexico. We actually plan to do as little as possible. We're going to relax, swim and try to avoid a sunburn. It's going to be hot, so we're just going to lay low. The one major thing we will be doing though is swimming with whale sharks. We're sailing out a couple of hours into ocean and snorkeling with these giants. So excited!!!! Be sure to follow us on Instagram by tapping the IG link or searching @twouprighttraytables, to get updates on our Mexican adventure. Also, check back on the site for the inevitable blog posts.