Move over Destin! Nearby Strandstad has Caribbean blue waters and no crowds!

Long done are the days that Destin lies as a secret secret in the shadows of Gulf Shores.

No, Destin has risen in popularity over the years as one of the most appreciated destinations of the Golf.

It does not matter whether the spring break is shenanigans, a well -deserved Zomervacay or a sunny winter disinvesting, Destin undoubtedly checks all boxes as an image paradise.

As such, the only downfall is pressed. Although Destin may not be as popular as the aforementioned Gulf Shores or even near Panama City, there is enough hype to find the perfect place along the unspoilt coastline a long task in the summer.

But … that is not the case for a blip on the map nearby.

Southern life Just unveiled their favorite beaches in Florida that seeping Caribbean vibes.

We at Travel Off Path shoot through all 19 of them and concluded your best bet for a relaxing beach holiday on the Panhandle of Florida is none other than little Grayton BeachWhere you can opt for exciting excursions in the lake or public -free white sand.

Grayton Beach: The Panhandle’s Hush-Hush-Hideaway

Since Destin will certainly look like a coastal ant farm from space, Grayton Beach has a shiny white sandy beaches with much less crowds.

Not even near a household name, this Hush-Hush Hideaway has long been the favorite escape of a local population for serenity, away from hordes of tourists who flowed to colleague Panhandle paradises.

Grayton Beach is about the middle point between Destin and Panama City, so you can see why the locals come here instead.

It is not that this small town is in no way unwelcome; It just wasn’t published enough for the masses to know that it exists.

You could easily walk the entire city of this close-knit community if you really wanted it, and you will find a number of cozy accommodations compared to the high-rise buildings of Destin, as well as more open barstools in the handful of Down-home bars and eateries, such as, like, Chiringo.

Nature is waiting: enjoy picturesque walks and excursions in the lake

Like I said, Grayton Beach has a flex about the other – 3 State park Coastal Dune Lakes to enjoy or you can park the beach of your ass.

Despite the shrinking size, there are enough walking and cycling paths to absorb surprisingly beautiful landscape.

I say “surprisingly” because many of the hidden gems of Florida are small hiding places with nothing but park your ass on the beach – that is not the case for Grayton.

You can enjoy the outdoors on the dignity Grayton Beach Hike & Bike Trail By dense forest and lively fauna, but make sure you look at your step before our flaky friends (rattleslang warning signs have been posted).

As far as the dune lakes I teased about, this trio of rare natural phenomena is located directly behind the most important sand dunes of the city, where you can rent kayaks from the Ranger station and paddleboards from Friends of Grayton Beach To explore the following 3 lakes:

• Alligator Lake
• Little Redfish Lake
• West -lake

Grayton’s White Sand Shores (Plus, a secret beach!)

It is not at all difficult to find Grayton’s sugar -like white coasts. Because they connect to the lakes and just outside the cityscape, you follow the few footprints and you will be in one of the best kept secrets of Florida.

One of the most overlooked attractions on the beach on the beach you can book through 30a Blaze Beach BonfiresWho have an impressive perfect Google rating with almost 1,000 reviews.

Although Grayton’s less visited ‘West Side’ is a hidden gem in a hidden gem. Until now, a summer beach visit had few reviews last year and claimed that you can expect ‘clear water, great waves, white sand, pleasant breeze, stylish people and a free parking space shuttle.

The disadvantage is that there is no toilet available (wull, wull). Do what the fish do …

For what it is worth, Southern Living actually emphasizes the adjacent beach city, Santa Rosa Beach.

The area is so small, you will not know the difference between the two, apart from the fact that Grayton has lakes to explore.

Sam Sears

SAM, our main writer and journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and wrote more than 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and throwing a light on lesser -known gems.