[windycityfan]

Is business (beaches, shopping centers, restaurants, “The Track”) back open as normal/quasi-normal, or still locked down or restricted?

Much appreciated.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by windycityfan

Is business (beaches, shopping centers, restaurants, “The Track”) back open as normal/quasi-normal, or still locked down or restricted?

Much appreciated.

Did you Google Destin? Covid-19 updates are on the site.

[beachmouse]

Track and other sorts of amusement centers were still closed when we drove through there a couple of days back. Restaurants are allowed 50% indoor capacity and as many outdoor tables as they can space six feet apart, so many have temporary seating areas in the parking lot. Public beach areas are back to normal and quite full, though you can still space appropriately. Pensacola Beach yesterday down the way was as crowded and busy as I've ever seen it outside of Blue Angels weekend.

Stores are allowed to be open with appropriate spacing and customer limits under the latest state rules but a many of the chain ones have not been cleared to reopen yet by their corporate mothership.

[jghorton]

Destin has opened the beaches and is in 'partial' stages of re-opening with many businesses. The Track, Kahuna's etc. appear to be preparing to open, but, as of today are still closed. The pick-up lines at drive-thru's are snaked around the buildings -- and the parking lots of those that are "partly" opened, are packed.

The thing NOT addressed in Destin, is that every tourist within driving range (Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Texas ... and elsewhere) has heard the Destin beaches are open ... and headed to Destin! Perhaps it's only because it's Memorial Day Weekend, but, it's pretty much 'business as usual' here - with tourists behaving as if there is no COVID-19. (traffic, shopping, beaches, Crab Island, condo's, etc).

The traffic is almost as heavy as tourist-season in any other year ... with about a 3:1 ratio of 'out-of-state' vs 'Florida' plates. At the same time, a lot of businesses (about half the Outlet Mall) - and others are closed or partly opened... and we've still got major road construction issues on HWY 98!

Most of the retired residents are at least partially self-quarantined and/or exercising some degree of social-distancing. Our son and grandkids wanted to come-down this weekend from Georgia (where things have been opened for about 2-weeks) --- and we advised them to hold-off for another month or so, until the picture here is clearer. (This is both for their protection and our own!).

IMO, the non-COVID behavior of the tourists here is going to create a real spike in infections and (sadly) deaths ... elsewhere! Destin itself may not see a spike, but, folks will get infected during their 1-2 weeks here, then, take COVID-19 back to their home states - where the spikes will actually be seen. This will then create a false impression of what is really happening, ... both in Destin and elsewhere.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by jghorton

Destin has opened the beaches and is in 'partial' stages of re-opening with many businesses. The Track, Kahuna's etc. appear to be preparing to open, but, as of today are still closed. The pick-up lines at drive-thru's are snaked around the buildings -- and the parking lots of those that are "partly" opened, are packed.

The thing NOT addressed in Destin, is that every tourist within driving range (Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Texas ... and elsewhere) has heard the Destin beaches are open ... and headed to Destin! Perhaps it's only because it's Memorial Day Weekend, but, it's pretty much 'business as usual' here - with tourists behaving as if there is no COVID-19. (traffic, shopping, beaches, Crab Island, condo's, etc).

The traffic is almost as heavy as tourist-season in any other year ... with about a 3:1 ratio of 'out-of-state' vs 'Florida' plates. At the same time, a lot of businesses (about half the Outlet Mall) - and others are closed or partly opened... and we've still got major road construction issues on HWY 98!

Most of the retired residents are at least partially self-quarantined and/or exercising some degree of social-distancing. Our son and grandkids wanted to come-down this weekend from Georgia (where things have been opened for about 2-weeks) --- and we advised them to hold-off for another month or so, until the picture here is clearer. (This is both for their protection and our own!).

IMO, the non-COVID behavior of the tourists here is going to create a real spike in infections and (sadly) deaths ... elsewhere! Destin itself may not see a spike, but, folks will get infected during their 1-2 weeks here, then, take COVID-19 back to their home states - where the spikes will actually be seen. This will then create a false impression of what is really happening, ... both in Destin and elsewhere.

Same thing happening on the Space Coast, but we had rain most of the weekend so kept the beaches empty and Walmart full. Saturday was towel to towel in Cocoa Beach though. Parking lots full of cars covered in love bugs so coming from center of the state. Tomorrow's rocket launch is going to be a big problem. Space officials say " don't come stay home and watch on TV" ; but the Sheriff is saying "Come on Down" . Even Potus is coming and he failed to let Nasa know until after he tweeted he would be coming down. Locals won't be going anywhere near.

[slduvall]

I agree...Destin was a mess this weekend, at least at the beaches. The state park at Henderson was doing some capacity control, via limited parking, and it was full at 9:30am Sat. All other parking areas were completely full. And due to the beach erosion this past year, the beach is very short, about half I would say. That causes more crowds in the areas that aren't limiting parking etc. Just google Sandestin webcam from Saturday, it was shockingly crowded. Narrow beach, vendors putting out chairs and no limitations = massive exposure.

They may take COVID home, but they will also infect our servers, store clerks etc. Publix in Destin had to close doors due to over capacity. They were doing 1 in 1 out for a bit. People on vacation shop in packs...always a problem, even during normal times.

Even during lockdown, there were tons of people here. We drove out to 30a just to see what was happening at the beginning of May...beaches packed. No way were all these people owners. There were lots of short term rentals violating the rules.

[beachmouse]

We're fortunate that we don't really have to venture below the Mid Bay Bridge and only really want to in order to visit the wonderfully uncrowded Topsail Hill SP (a 3/4 mile walk to the beach while the tram is not operating) and pick up a few things at Whole Foods.

I'm kind of bummed though to not really feel comfortable visiting a couple favorite restaurants down there because of disease vector concerns. Still haven't made it ot Sushimoto's new location.

[jghorton]

Things in Destin seem better today. Perhaps the Memorial Day weekend madness was more of a holiday thing, than a sign that the world has gone completely bonkers!

There's still a lot of traffic and lines at some restaurants that have announced 'partial re-opening', but, (hopefully), the majority have not suddenly decided "Covid-19 is entirely in the rear-view mirror and it's time to party with no restraints!"

In a manner of speaking, 'just because the law no longer requires motorcycle helmets, does not mean that they are no longer a good idea ... just like masks, distancing and rational caution.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

We're fortunate that we don't really have to venture below the Mid Bay Bridge and only really want to in order to visit the wonderfully uncrowded Topsail Hill SP (a 3/4 mile walk to the beach while the tram is not operating) and pick up a few things at Whole Foods.

I'm kind of bummed though to not really feel comfortable visiting a couple favorite restaurants down there because of disease vector concerns. Still haven't made it ot Sushimoto's new location.

A friend went to topsail on Sunday and even though the camping was closed, it was pretty crowded and the tram isn't running. She said it was a long walk with Kids and chairs etc. They had hoped that the tourists didn't know about it...

Hopefully, as another poster said, it was just holiday crowd and not a continual thing. With no school and people able to work from home, what is stopping them from coming down here. No Disney, no flights to Europe...the beach is all that is left.

[beachmouse]

Camping is partly open again at Topsail. Parking lot there has never been more than half full in our three trips there in the past week. We go there to hike rather than for the beach, but if you can't social distance on 1000+ feet of coastline once you cross the boardwalk over the dunes, you're not trying.

98 looked like any other summer day here so sadly I think a lot of tourists have decided to damn the consequences. We took the coast road on the way home and while Pompano Joe's may have been limited seating inside, no one was social distancing in the area around the entrance as they waited for a table.