[VeeU]

Hello Everyone,

My husband just got a job at Eglin AFB and we are looking to rent possibly buy a house in the area. We have one school age son who is in 7th grade. We are interested in living in Destin and have my son still attend the Niceville HS, in a couple of years. I know that depending on where you live in Destin you can either go to Niceville HS or FWB HS. We would like to know which neighborhoods in Destin would have the most family friendly environment. My husband is not against having a long commute some parts of the year. We've lived in DC and California so we are used to the traffic. Thank you for helping us find the right place for our family.

[beachmouse]

About 95% of the area south of US 98 in Destin is short term vacation rentals. I'd guess that about 65-75% of the big gated communities north of 98 (Regatta Bay, Kelley Plantation, Emerald Bay) are second homes too. For year round and nice depending on your budget, I'd go east of Benning Dr. (there are some seriously and surprisingly sketchy areas west of there just north of McGuire's) through the Indian Bayou GC area, noting that any town house developments tend to be overrun with foreign students on short term work visas every summer. I'd probably look around Indian Bayou assuming you've got a solid budget.

We rented on Okaloosa Island when we were in our mid-20s and had just moved down here and are glad we did get to live in walking distance from the beach, even though our neighborhood there was a bit scruffy. But when it came time to buy, we did what a lot of other people did and went ahead and bought in the Niceville area- fewer hurricane issues (we were here for Ivan) and we can actually get to the Crystal Beach/Destin Commons area quicker from our house in Bluewater Bay than it would take from a number of points in Destin proper.

[jghorton]

We've lived in Destin (Condo) for the past 3-years, while our daughter and grandkids live in a family-oriented residential area off Mack Bayou in Santa Rosa Beach. Although we are now retired, we are very family oriented and have always been active in the community, schools and church.

We raised our family in Satellite Beach (Melbourne area); a beautiful residential area near the beach ... and know the difference between a 'family beach town' and a 'tourist beach town'. While Destin is beautiful and scenic, it is a 'tourist town' in almost every sense of the world (higher costs, constant traffic jams, transient neighborhoods, limited family activities, etc.). On top of that, it gets COLD in the winter and there is even less to do here then, without the beaches! Ironically, the only Elementary School here is so packed that it only goes through the 5th grade ... yet, as you pointed out, there is no high school in Destin! (??)

Knowing what we know now, if we were in your situation and moving here with our children -- I would seriously look toward Niceville or even Ft. Walton ... before Destin. We want to stay near the grandkids and the area is beautiful, but, even at our time in life, I'm thinking about a second home further south where it is warmer, less hectic and more family-friendly.

[VeeU]

Some good points to consider, thank you so very much for your input. Niceville is definitely not out of question then.

[beachmouse]

If you've got a California/DC level budget, Swift Creek is quite nice in the Niceville area. Below that, try the Bluewater Bay and Rocky Bayou GC areas.

[VeeU]

Thank you for letting me know. We will check these communities.