About 4.5 MILLION people visit the beaches of Destin every year! That’s quite a bit for this small town.

And yet many of them are not aware of some of the risks there are while visiting these beautiful beaches.

As a local, I figured I should “share the wealth”, and give you the do’s and don’ts. What should you do at the beach? What should you not do?

I’m hoping these tips can help make your trip to Destin safer, less frustrating, and possibly even less embarrassing. (I’ll explain below).

#1: DO stay hydrated. Being at the beach can be deceiving. It’s often very breezy, and you’re staying cool by getting in and out of the water. This can make you feel as though you aren’t getting hot and it can be easy to forget to drink water, causing dehydration.

But regardless of how you feel, IT IS HOT! You are breathing in salt air constantly, sweating whether you realize it or not, you’re often exerting yourself, and you have a very strong sun beating down on you. Make sure you bring plenty of water and don’t intend on leaving without drinking it. (Especially if you are having alcohol as well. Alcohol and heat do not mix well together).

#2: DON’T bring your dog.

Reason #1: Your dog can get easily dehydrated as well. And then they drink the huge source of water they have available to them, not knowing any better. (It is hard to keep a dog from drinking salt water, almost impossible). This causes even worse dehydration and bathroom probs.

Reason #2: Okaloosa County beaches do not allow dogs. Walton County beaches do, but you must have a permit or you will get a ticket.

#3: DON’T get in the water when it’s a red flag. This is the #1 most important advice to follow during your trip to the beach. I have heard too many sad stories about family vacations gone wrong. A red flag means SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK. They don’t advise it and there are no lifeguards on duty. There is also such a thing as a DOUBLE red flag. A double red flag means THE WATER IS CLOSED. If you get in, you can get a $500 ticket! That’s how dangerous it is.

“Dangerous how?” you may be asking.

The danger is because of rip currents, more casually called “the undertoe”. In bad water and weather conditions, strong currents of water are created along the ocean floor, near your “toes”. They can be so strong that they can suck you under and out to sea. This is an unseen risk, and the weather doesn’t even have to be bad for there to be a rip current.

For more information on the colored-flag system, click here: https://www.alertokaloosa.com/beach-flags-conditions/
For more information on rip currents, click here: https://www.weather.gov/tae/ripcurrentawareness

#4: DON’T underestimate the sun. Check the UV index. Many people who don’t live here don’t understand that the sun at the beach is different. Being closer to the equator, the UV reflection off of the water, and the UV reflection off of the sand, (so pretty much everywhere), all add up to…. YOU GET BURNED QUICKER THAN YOU EXPECT!

We always check our weather app before going to the beach to see what the UV index is for that day. It arcs throughout the day, being lower in the morning, peaking in the heat of the day, and going back down as dinner approaches.
The UV index tells us how long we have before we will get burned. This amount of time will be different for everyone, but do know that anything 7 and up is high. Take extra care not to get burnt if the index is that high.

#5: DO wear sunscreen, or some alternative, to avoid burning. To go along with the last tip, avoid sunburn by using sunscreen and reapply often if the UV index is high. Sun poisoning is a real thing.

I’m personally not a huge fan of sunscreen and all its chemicals. Here are some alternatives to avoid getting sun-burnt:

• sit under an umbrella or beach canopy
• wear a hat
• put on a t-shirt and shorts after about 45 min-1 hour in the sun

Also, there are a few places that often get forgotten when applying sunblock, but they can be a PAIN if they get burnt:

• the tops of your feet! Ouch!
• your lips! Wear a lip balm with SPF
• your ears
• your scalp, where your hair parts
• and the sides of your face, not just your forehead, and nose. (You can always spot a tourist by the EMBARRASSING “raccoon eyes” sunburn from wearing sunglasses on the beach and not applying sunscreen correctly…or at all).

#6: DO stay off the dunes. The part of the beach that is near the boardwalks, where the tall grasses and brush are… are called the dunes. They usually have small fences around them that can easily be stepped over, but this is because they are CLOSED to the public. You can get a fine for traipsing around in there. They are protected by the state of Florida, and this is often where sea turtles lay their eggs!

#7: DO keep an eye out for jellies and sting rays. Most people think of sharks when they think of the gulf coast waters. While they certainly are out there, and you want to be mindful of that, the more common creatures you will see are jellyfish and stingrays. Both of which can be dangerous. There should be a purple flag being flown if there are higher numbers of sea critters around that day. And stingrays like to hide out on the ocean floor, camouflaging themselves.

#8: DO be aware that officers drive on the beach. This is sort of random, but officers actually drive their trucks ON THE BEACH SAND. This is most common during very busy and hectic holidays, like spring break and the 4th of July. But people have been known to get hurt. Watch out for them if you are lying down or your kids are running free.

#9: DO watch where you step. It’s good to wear flip-flops until you have chosen your place on the white beach sand and made sure it is clear. We have very clean beaches here in Destin, but that doesn’t mean someone didn’t lose their glass bottle or other sharp objects in the sand.
Also, the sand and boardwalk can get REALLY hot during mid-day.

Lastly, DO have fun!

I know this post may seem like a bit of a downer, which is not my intention. Knowing the rules and your surroundings can actually make for a MORE fun day because you are comfortable, safe, and prepared.

DO make sandcastles.
DO dig big holes until you reach water
DO surf a wave to shore on an innertube.
DO throw a ball back and forth in the water.
DO snorkel.
DO paddle board.
DO laugh, take lots of pictures, and make good memories!

For even more information on beach safety and getting permits, from Walton County themselves, visit this page: https://sowal.com/story/beach-safety-info-beach-rules-from-visit-south-walton

About 4.5 MILLION people visit the beaches of Destin every year! That’s quite a bit for this small town.

And yet many of them are not aware of some of the risks there are while visiting these beautiful beaches.

As a local, I figured I should “share the wealth”, and give you the do’s and don’ts. What should you do at the beach? What should you not do?

I’m hoping these tips can help make your trip to Destin safer, less frustrating, and possibly even less embarrassing. (I’ll explain below).

#1: DO stay hydrated. Being at the beach can be deceiving. It’s often very breezy, and you’re staying cool by getting in and out of the water. This can make you feel as though you aren’t getting hot and it can be easy to forget to drink water, causing dehydration.

But regardless of how you feel, IT IS HOT! You are breathing in salt air constantly, sweating whether you realize it or not, you’re often exerting yourself, and you have a very strong sun beating down on you. Make sure you bring plenty of water and don’t intend on leaving without drinking it. (Especially if you are having alcohol as well. Alcohol and heat do not mix well together).

#2: DON’T bring your dog.

Reason #1: Your dog can get easily dehydrated as well. And then they drink the huge source of water they have available to them, not knowing any better. (It is hard to keep a dog from drinking salt water, almost impossible). This causes even worse dehydration and bathroom probs.

Reason #2: Okaloosa County beaches do not allow dogs. Walton County beaches do, but you must have a permit or you will get a ticket.

#3: DON’T get in the water when it’s a red flag. This is the #1 most important advice to follow during your trip to the beach. I have heard too many sad stories about family vacations gone wrong. A red flag means SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK. They don’t advise it and there are no lifeguards on duty. There is also such a thing as a DOUBLE red flag. A double red flag means THE WATER IS CLOSED. If you get in, you can get a $500 ticket! That’s how dangerous it is.

“Dangerous how?” you may be asking.

The danger is because of rip currents, more casually called “the undertoe”. In bad water and weather conditions, strong currents of water are created along the ocean floor, near your “toes”. They can be so strong that they can suck you under and out to sea. This is an unseen risk, and the weather doesn’t even have to be bad for there to be a rip current.

For more information on the colored-flag system, click here: https://www.alertokaloosa.com/beach-flags-conditions/
For more information on rip currents, click here: https://www.weather.gov/tae/ripcurrentawareness

#4: DON’T underestimate the sun. Check the UV index. Many people who don’t live here don’t understand that the sun at the beach is different. Being closer to the equator, the UV reflection off of the water, and the UV reflection off of the sand, (so pretty much everywhere), all add up to…. YOU GET BURNED QUICKER THAN YOU EXPECT!

We always check our weather app before going to the beach to see what the UV index is for that day. It arcs throughout the day, being lower in the morning, peaking in the heat of the day, and going back down as dinner approaches.
The UV index tells us how long we have before we will get burned. This amount of time will be different for everyone, but do know that anything 7 and up is high. Take extra care not to get burnt if the index is that high.

#5: DO wear sunscreen, or some alternative, to avoid burning. To go along with the last tip, avoid sunburn by using sunscreen and reapply often if the UV index is high. Sun poisoning is a real thing.

I’m personally not a huge fan of sunscreen and all its chemicals. Here are some alternatives to avoid getting sun-burnt:

• sit under an umbrella or beach canopy
• wear a hat
• put on a t-shirt and shorts after about 45 min-1 hour in the sun

Also, there are a few places that often get forgotten when applying sunblock, but they can be a PAIN if they get burnt:

• the tops of your feet! Ouch!
• your lips! Wear a lip balm with SPF
• your ears
• your scalp, where your hair parts
• and the sides of your face, not just your forehead, and nose. (You can always spot a tourist by the EMBARRASSING “raccoon eyes” sunburn from wearing sunglasses on the beach and not applying sunscreen correctly…or at all).

#6: DO stay off the dunes. The part of the beach that is near the boardwalks, where the tall grasses and brush are… are called the dunes. They usually have small fences around them that can easily be stepped over, but this is because they are CLOSED to the public. You can get a fine for traipsing around in there. They are protected by the state of Florida, and this is often where sea turtles lay their eggs!

#7: DO keep an eye out for jellies and sting rays. Most people think of sharks when they think of the gulf coast waters. While they certainly are out there, and you want to be mindful of that, the more common creatures you will see are jellyfish and stingrays. Both of which can be dangerous. There should be a purple flag being flown if there are higher numbers of sea critters around that day. And stingrays like to hide out on the ocean floor, camouflaging themselves.

#8: DO be aware that officers drive on the beach. This is sort of random, but officers actually drive their trucks ON THE BEACH SAND. This is most common during very busy and hectic holidays, like spring break and the 4th of July. But people have been known to get hurt. Watch out for them if you are lying down or your kids are running free.

#9: DO watch where you step. It’s good to wear flip-flops until you have chosen your place on the white beach sand and made sure it is clear. We have very clean beaches here in Destin, but that doesn’t mean someone didn’t lose their glass bottle or other sharp objects in the sand.
Also, the sand and boardwalk can get REALLY hot during mid-day.

Lastly, DO have fun!

I know this post may seem like a bit of a downer, which is not my intention. Knowing the rules and your surroundings can actually make for a MORE fun day because you are comfortable, safe, and prepared.

DO make sandcastles.
DO dig big holes until you reach water
DO surf a wave to shore on an innertube.
DO throw a ball back and forth in the water.
DO snorkel.
DO paddle board.
DO laugh, take lots of pictures, and make good memories!

For even more information on beach safety and getting permits, from Walton County themselves, visit this page: https://sowal.com/story/beach-safety-info-beach-rules-from-visit-south-walton