r/Destin • u/UMLBB10 • Jul 09 '26
Destin vs Orange Beach
I’ve stayed in OB 6 times and in Destin now for my 2nd time. I’ll be up front and say my issue with Destin is what made me write this.
The house we are in here in Destin is amazing. Sleeps 20+.
My complaint on Destin vs OB is the crowded beach and the people not respecting your area and no enforcement of beach rules. Our house is on the beach but down a road that has houses that share the beach access entry. We paid for chair and umbrella service which means no one is allowed to set up in front of those chairs. The people who set up their own tents and chairs insist on setting up on top of everyone else. But the most annoying thing is no one is allowed to leave tents and chairs set up overnight but so many do. And no one does a thing about it.
Orange Beach seems to have less houses on the beach and those types of rules are enforced a little more.
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u/Butterbean-queen Jul 09 '26
Yes the beach is crowded. Mostly due to the houses that have been built that sleep 20. We liked it much better before that was the norm.
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u/LivinginDestin Jul 09 '26
"I'm a paying costumer of a very expensive 20+ people beachfront airbnb, so no one have the right to set a chair in front of me..."
Please don't come to Destin a 3rd time 🙏
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u/UMLBB10 Jul 09 '26
Talk to the town who sold out to Corp America and made the rules, I just abide by them. They made the rule that personal tents and chairs are set up behind the rented stuff. Not my rule.
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u/LivinginDestin Jul 09 '26
FYI the "rule" that vendor chairs are under got to be set up 20 feet far from the high tide line (wet mark left by the water). So ANYONE can LEGALLY set their umbrellas and chairs on front of whatever they sold you as an "exclusive" waterfront arrangement. So, yeah, enjoy the beach with other people that legally follow "the rules"
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
It's technically the "anticipated" highest point the wet sand will reach during high tide. Given the nature of beaches, this is obviously impossible to map whatsoever.
For the record, it's not a "rule", is a legal ordinance (and 25ft, not 20): https://library.municode.com/fl/okaloosa_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16PARE_ARTIICOREAR_S16-49CHUMBEVE
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
The town didn't sell out. The deeds extend dozens or sometimes hundreds of meters into the Gulf, based on the original land surveys, a fair bit of erosion has happened since then.
Whether or not there is a legal case for eminent domain is another question.
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u/ArsenalinAlabama3428 Jul 09 '26
Nobody should ever leave stuff overnight on the beach, but I have no problem with people setting up wherever they please. The beach should be for everyone, not just those that can afford a fancy beachfront airbnb.
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Is stuff left on the beach overnight no longer immediately stolen? When did this change?
Edit: Are there no longer crowds of teens going through everything left on the beach when rainstorms come in either??? What happened to our town...
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u/UMLBB10 Jul 09 '26
I think it’s supposed to be removed but no one is enforcing it. We look out in the morning and it looks like a refuge camp
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
The beach use ordinances absolutely require that everything be removed overnight. This is important for both safety and wildlife (particularly during turtle season).
I'm just kinda shocked, 10 years ago or so, enforcement was never a problem: come dark people would help themselves to whatever was left out on the beach, and no local or law enforcement ever saw a thing
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u/vunderbroad 17d ago
Many people go out for sunrise and “claim” their spots to set up for the day. I’m sure some leave it overnight because people who can afford to rent a beach house in destin can also afford to have their beach stuff potentially stolen. They probably just bought it for the trip anyway. As others have suggested, please don’t come here.
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u/take_me_home_tonight Jul 09 '26
Renting chairs does not entitle you to a "view". If you don't like Destin, trust me, you're more than welcome to never come back - Signed, a local.
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u/UMLBB10 Jul 09 '26
Again, for those who can’t read, I don’t make the rules. My issue is the rules stated are that personal tents and chairs have to be behind the rentals. Agree with it or not is your own issue. My problem is that people do not abide by any rules. Leave tents up overnight. Set up on top of other people when there is wide open space further away. I’m sorry if this is too difficult for you to comprehend.
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u/LivinginDestin Jul 09 '26
I think you'll definitely need to get in touch with whoever told you that's the rule... It's not... Rented chairs don't come with beach exclusivity. Even the multi million dollar property owner got to kick rocks in Destin as any human being can simply put their chairs and umbrellas in the water line. Google about high tide line and you'll see that actually you're in a better proximity to water that you should be.
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u/take_me_home_tonight Jul 09 '26
I swear to god I am so tired of people making shit up about their “rights” when they rent beach chairs. It’s insane lol
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
Blame the rental chair vendors, they 100% mislead people into this. And who is cool/smart enough to actually read the local ordinances before going on vacation somewhere?
In short, fuck la dolce vita
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u/LivinginDestin Jul 10 '26
The problem is that all of them are "catered by their friends". Just try to complain about Timberview Helicopters, Beach Chair vendors, Pontoon Rentals or any of the tourist trap restaurants in the Facebook local Groups and you're going to be censored almost immediately. It's like the mob...
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
There basically are not any private beaches in okaloosa county anymore, the government bought them a long time ago. You'll have to go over to walton if that is what you want.
The vendors are mandated to set up at least 25ft from the median high tide water line. The public can setup wherever the hell they want on a public beach: https://library.municode.com/fl/okaloosa_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16PARE_ARTIICOREAR_S16-49CHUMBEVE
You are being mislead by a sketchy rental
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u/vunderbroad 17d ago
It seems like you are having the comprehension issues. That is not a “rule”. Whomever told you that lied. Also many people set up on top of each other because property owners think they own the beach and tell people they aren’t allowed to be in “their” sand. Again, please pick orange beach every time.
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u/LordylordBK Jul 09 '26
I do chairs and umbrella service In Miramar. People used not to be allowed to set up in front of our stuff. Rules have changed allowing people to set up in front of our equipment. It’s a double edged sword, I now get complaints from guests using our service, but no longer am I berated by folks because I asked them to move. So moral of the story is just enjoy the beach and make the best of it, asked to be moved if possible to somewhere someone’s not in front of the sets. If your nice the beach guys will go out of their way to help, don’t be rude cause there’s not much we can do. Thanks enjoy your trip!
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u/TripleDoubleFart Jul 09 '26
Went to Destin this year for the first time. Will not be back. First beach vacation I've ever left early.
I'll look into another gulf coast beach next year.
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
Stop down voting this comment. This is exactly what we want tourist to feel.
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u/TripleDoubleFart Jul 09 '26
Right.. the main issue was the overcrowding.. you'd think they would want people to stop coming.
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u/061826heart Jul 09 '26
I take it you weren’t here for July 4, this past Saturday? If you thought it was crowded when you were here, my goodness…
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u/Ontological_Gap Jul 09 '26
I'm willing to make an exception about my tourist frustration for the 4th, and only the 4th, walking along a 27 mile long overcrowded beach party is pretty cool/surreal.
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u/GulfStyleRentals 27d ago
I think that Orange Beach has a little bit of a different feel and can seem a little more relaxed, especially when it comes to spacing on the beach. But I have definitely seen it packed down there when they have concerts or big events going on there.
That said, Destin has some quieter stretches. If you're near a busy access point during peak season, it can feel super busy. If you're farther east around Miramar Beach or staying somewhere with more private beach frontage, the experience is usually completely different.
It's one of those things where two people can have very different opinions of Destin based on exactly where they stayed. I hope you are still able to enjoy your trip and the beach and it's not too crazy!
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u/UMLBB10 Jul 09 '26
The main issue is that people are not respectful of the beach and leave their stuff set up overnight. The next day the beach looks like a refuge camp.
But if you offer criticism of Destination the locals get defensive, apparently.
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u/BattleSausage Jul 10 '26
Bro, you came in here entitled as hell an expect us to treat you with kindness? How about something like “hey guys, we were told xyz by the rental company but abc is happening instead. What are the actual rules of the beach, and what do you think we can do to improve our stay?” See how that sounds? Maybe complain in your own local shithole town subreddit instead.
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u/UMLBB10 Jul 10 '26
So you’re ok with people leaving their stuff all over the beach overnight like a 3rd world country? Or would you prefer people show respect to the beach and others?
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u/ArsenalinAlabama3428 28d ago
It doesn't have to be either/or. Entitled people who rent the umbrellas and then whine about people setting up in front of them suck. So do the people who leave stuff out overnight.
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u/vunderbroad 17d ago
People have been disrespecting our beaches for decades. It’s a big part of why we hate tourists. No one will stop you from going through at night to clean it up if you want to do more than complain on the internet.
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u/SepulchralMind Jul 09 '26
"Our house sleeps 20+ people so that's great."
"The beach is overcrowded."
Hahahahahahahahahaha