It’s very easy to talk about how busy our lives are, needing more time to relax or wishing we had more vacation time. But when we actually some time away from our hectic schedules, it’s even more difficult to unwind these days. I’ve heard many people say that it takes them several days at the beginning of a vacation just to relax and remove their mind from worrying about all the work and responsibilities left behind before actually being able to let go and enjoy the downtime. Perhaps it’s not our racing minds but the fact that we’re-tied (literally with plugs, cords and headphones) to our cell phones 24/7.
Given all that, I was determined to unplug myself and my entire family during the off-season before spring arrived, so we packed up the car and head to Destin, Florida, for an extended weekend getaway. Thanks to Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, I was able to score an amazing beachfront condo right in the heart of Miramar Beach. Arriving at Jade East Tower we were welcomed by a beautiful property with all the amenities of home and more; a stunning view from the large balcony overlooking emerald green waters and miles of white powdery sand.
After a quick unload of the car (along with some old board games, books and magazines) we reluctantly decided the best way to truly enjoy our time was to all place our cell phones in a bowl on the counter. It sounded crazy to us, too! But after taking a walk on the cool sand, watching the tide roll in and the sun gently begin the set, knew we were on our way to recharging ourselves, not our phones!
Part of the fun for us when we travel is exploring local restaurants, so we ventured out each night to a Destin hotspot recommended by the helpful staff at Newman-Dailey. We enjoyed mouth-watering Grouper sandwiches from a true “local” spot, Dewey Destins, giant Bairdi crab at The Crab Trap and fresh gulf-caught fish at Brotulas—so fresh, the fish came with a barcode that tracked where and when the piece of fish was caught! And for the meals not eaten out, our condo had a gorgeous kitchen equipped with everything we needed.
And even though we’d been to Destin before, we thought it might be a fun family activity to explore the area via Segway. We looked to Destination Segway Tours for a different adventure, and as it happened to be a cloudy day, it was a better choice for the day than the beach. After the owner gave us a quick tutorial and lesson on how to ride, we headed out for some exploring and a lot of fun. And, we learned some nifty history facts about Destin we never knew!
After a few nights of mouth-watering seafood, some laughs over family antics and competitive Jenga, it was time to return to Atlanta. And it was so refreshing, even for a few days, to be able to connect and enjoy actual face-to-face time without screen time. I highly recommend it!
