When I planned our family trip to Destin, Florida, I imagined sunny beach days, warm weather, and relaxing by the water.

What I didn’t expect was for it to become my kids’ favorite trip we’ve taken so far.

Even though the weather wasn’t the best when we visited in March, the trip itself ended up being one of those vacations my kids talk about all the time.

My kids really didn’t mind the weather anyway, and sometimes those imperfect trips end up being the most memorable ones.

The Road Trip From St. Louis to Destin

One thing about my family — we actually enjoy a good road trip.

We drove from St. Louis to Destin and decided to break the drive up with an overnight stop in Nashville, which I HIGHLY recommend if you’re traveling with kids.

Trying to do the entire drive straight through would’ve been exhausting.

Stopping overnight made the trip feel way less stressful and gave everybody a chance to reset before getting back on the road the next morning.

Road trips with kids can either go really smoothly… or completely test your patience. Thankfully, this one ended up being fun.

Between snacks, music, random conversations, and stopping along the way, it honestly became part of the vacation itself.

Our Airbnb Stay in Destin

For this trip, we stayed in a condo instead of a resort or hotel.

I actually loved having the extra space, especially traveling as a family.

The kids had room to spread out, we didn’t feel cramped, and it gave the trip a more relaxed feeling overall.

One of my favorite parts of family travel is having those slower moments together — everybody waking up at different times, figuring out plans for the day, grabbing snacks, and just enjoying being away from normal life for a little while.

March Weather in Destin? I Probably Wouldn’t Recommend It

Now let me be truthful about one thing…

I probably would not recommend traveling to Destin in March.

At least not based on our experience.

The weather wasn’t terrible, but it definitely wasn’t the warm Florida beach weather I think we were expecting. We had one good, sunny day, which was the day we arrived, and it was short because we spent most of the day driving.

Some days were cool, windy, and not really “sit on the beach all day” type weather. We also got a lot of rain.

If you want the full beach vacation experience with guaranteed heat, I’d probably recommend going later in the spring or during summer instead.

But even with the weather not being perfect, we still had such a good time together.

The Kids Loved the Rides

One stop that ended up being a huge hit with my kids was a place with rides and attractions nearby.

And if you’re traveling with kids, those little random fun stops honestly matter just as much as the beach sometimes.

It gave them something exciting to do besides just hanging around the condo, and they still talk about it.

That’s one thing I’ve learned traveling as a mom — kids usually remember the fun experiences and time together more than whether everything went perfectly.

Bubba Gump Was a Must

We also ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., which the kids loved.

Honestly, family vacations always feel more memorable because of the random restaurants and food stops along the way.

There’s just something about eating seafood near the water that makes the trip feel official.

And of course, anytime fries and shrimp are involved, my kids are happy.

Why This Trip Meant So Much

Even though I’ve traveled solo and taken other trips, there’s something different about family vacations.

Watching your kids laugh, explore new places, and make memories together just hits differently.

This trip reminded me that family vacations don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

The weather wasn’t ideal.
Everything didn’t go exactly as planned.
But somehow it still became everybody’s favorite trip.

And honestly, I think that says a lot.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about visiting Destin with your family, I definitely think it’s worth experiencing.

The beaches are beautiful, the atmosphere is family-friendly, and there’s enough to do to keep everybody entertained.

I’d personally recommend visiting during warmer months for a better beach experience, but overall, this trip gave us memories we’ll probably talk about for years.

And at the end of the day, that’s really the whole point of traveling together anyway.

If you like videos, check out the one below, which follows our trip from beginning to end. If you like posts like this, follow this blog for more.