Riding in Destin, FL
04-07-05, 08:25 AM
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Riding in Destin, FL
I'm heading to Destin, FL next week. I'll be there Saturday, April 16th through Wednesday, April 20th for a National Cheerleading Competition, my daughters. My lovely wife just gave me permission to take my bike, so I'm very excited
Can anyone give me some suggestions for early AM rides in the area?
Thx
Can anyone give me some suggestions for early AM rides in the area?
Thx
04-07-05, 09:58 AM
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I think the local club is called the Emerald Coast Cycling Club. I also think they meet on Saturday mornings at the CVS Drugstore in Niceville Florida which is north of Destin, across the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge (MidBay Bridge) for a group ride. Whether you meet up for the group ride or not, Destin has excellent roads and bike lanes. Sand is a big problem. Small coastal towns to the east of Destin, like Seaside and Grayton Beach are also very bike-friendly. I strongly recommend that you take your family to Seaside to spend a few hours walking around the town square. Your wife will love the shopping. Seaside is about 25 miles east of Destin. Do not, however, try to ride your bike there from Destin though because it is very easy to get lost and you will get run over on the roads between Destin and Seaside. My restaurant recommendation is The Summerhouse, west of Destin in Fort Walton Beach. There is also a huge outlet mall in Sandestin called Silver Sands.
04-07-05, 10:08 AM
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We go every summer for a week and I have been taking my bike for years. My favorite ride is HWY 30A, the road that Seaside and Grayton beach is on. There is a bike trail the entire length of it, from where it leaves 98 east of Sandestin to where it connects back to it, about 14 miles IIRC. There is a bike shop on 98 west of the Silver Sands Outlet Mall at Sandestin, I can't recall the name, but the guy there has a schedule of group rides in the Sandestin area. You can put together a pretty good ride in the town of Destin north of 98, just wandering the local streets, more typical small town traffic there.
Have fun, I love the area!
Have fun, I love the area!
04-07-05, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by tbobby
I think the local club is called the Emerald Coast Cycling Club. I also think they meet on Saturday mornings at the CVS Drugstore in Niceville Florida which is north of Destin, across the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge (MidBay Bridge) for a group ride. Whether you meet up for the group ride or not, Destin has excellent roads and bike lanes. Sand is a big problem. Small coastal towns to the east of Destin, like Seaside and Grayton Beach are also very bike-friendly. I strongly recommend that you take your family to Seaside to spend a few hours walking around the town square. Your wife will love the shopping. Seaside is about 25 miles east of Destin. Do not, however, try to ride your bike there from Destin though because it is very easy to get lost and you will get run over on the roads between Destin and Seaside. My restaurant recommendation is The Summerhouse, west of Destin in Fort Walton Beach. There is also a huge outlet mall in Sandestin called Silver Sands.
04-07-05, 07:18 PM
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Here is a link to bike routes in Florida. I highly recommend the Santa Rosa Island route (last on the list). Navarre Beach is on the east end of a National Seashore; if you ride west through town, in a few miles you find yourself riding through a beach area with no development. My family and I have stayed in Nararre Beach a couple of times, but I've never been able to take my bike with me for some good rides...one day.
The temperatures ought to be perfect for riding this time of year.
The temperatures ought to be perfect for riding this time of year.
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And the wind is making speeches.
You're east of East St. Louis
And the wind is making speeches.
04-08-05, 06:20 AM
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The bike shop in question is Robin's Bike and Fitness. It is about a mile west of the Outlet Mall on the south side of 98. I occasionally see a gathering of bikers at his shop about 8am on Sunday morning. I have been mtn biking around here for 15 years and tomorrow I am purchasing my first road bike since 1970. If you have any questions, shoot me a note at robert.ryles@eglin.af.mil
Bob
Bob
04-11-05, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by tbobby
I think the local club is called the Emerald Coast Cycling Club. I also think they meet on Saturday mornings at the CVS Drugstore in Niceville Florida which is north of Destin, across the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge (MidBay Bridge) for a group ride. Whether you meet up for the group ride or not, Destin has excellent roads and bike lanes. Sand is a big problem. Small coastal towns to the east of Destin, like Seaside and Grayton Beach are also very bike-friendly. I strongly recommend that you take your family to Seaside to spend a few hours walking around the town square. Your wife will love the shopping. Seaside is about 25 miles east of Destin. Do not, however, try to ride your bike there from Destin though because it is very easy to get lost and you will get run over on the roads between Destin and Seaside. My restaurant recommendation is The Summerhouse, west of Destin in Fort Walton Beach. There is also a huge outlet mall in Sandestin called Silver Sands.
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