Bonfire on the Beach Destin Miramar Beach Florida

As a small family-owned business, we rarely get to take a break from work and enjoy beautiful Destin (our town) from the visitors’ perspective.  This week, we were fortunate to have family and friends in town, so we took time to do a little research on your behalf.  Over the next few blogs, I will highlight our favorite experiences and where you can find them.

If you have a large group or are celebrating a special occasion, like a beach wedding, consider calling to set up a beach bonfire (www.bonfireguy.com).  Bonfires are allowed on public beach access in Walton County by permit.  The closest public access for our guests is Pompano Joes.  At the time of this blog, a basic setup, including your permit, fire pit, wood, table, smores kit, set up, and break, costs around $350. We rented 10 extra chairs for $5 apiece and made the children bring extras.

What a terrific experience for all of us!  With 24 of us in the group, this was the perfect way to spend some low-stress, quality time with one another. Our family and friends were spread out amongst so many different condos. This was a perfect way to get everyone together without the hassle of waiting for a spot at a restaurant or cramming uncomfortably into a condo. 

For the adults in our group, it was all about the ambiance of watching the sunset, listening to the waves and mingling.  For the kids, it was all about smores, fire side ghost stories and touch football.  It was one of those magical memory making nights, the ones where you have the mental snapshot of how tall the children were, what the sunset looked like and how great it felt to just press pause on the real world.

Be sure to call Steve at www.beachbonfireguy.com to get the most up-to-date rates and pricing, and then call me and tell me what time to show up.   -Laura

Laura Co-Owner

Hi there! I'm Laura Clayton, co-owner of Beach Condos in Destin, where we specialize in offering beautiful, pet-friendly beachfront vacation rentals along the Emerald Coast of Florida. From cozy couples’ getaways to spacious family retreats, I’ve helped thousands of guests experience the magic of Destin and Miramar Beach — one salty breeze and sugar-white sand beach at a time. With over a decade of experience in the vacation rental world, I wear many sunhats — from managing bookings and marketing to creating pun-filled condo names and writing guest-friendly travel guides. I'm passionate about hospitality, obsessed with Gulf views, and always on the hunt for the best local seafood joints (I’ll let you in on my favorites if you ask!). When I’m not answering guest emails or walking through new listings, you can find me chasing sunsets, curating homey details that make our condos shine, or brainstorming beachy blog content with a coffee in hand and my toes in the sand. Whether you're planning your first visit or you're a returning beach bum, I’m here to help make your stay unforgettable. Let’s get your flip-flops in the sand and your vacation on track — after all, life’s better at the beach.

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