10-Day Shoulder-Season Grand Escape (Crowd-Avoiders' Deep Cut)

Your day-by-day plan

1. 1

   Day 1

   Morning:Run the Crowd-Avoiders' week at October pace: quiet beaches, dune-lake paddles, secluded coves

   Breakfast & coffee:Thai Market

   Afternoon:Add Destin Fishing Rodeo weigh-in spectating on the harbor — the one crowd worth joining

   Fishing charter:Reel 30A

   Evening:Shoulder-season sunsets with the sand nearly to yourself

   Dinner:Smashburger

2. 2

   Day 2

   Morning:Grayton-and-dune-lakes quiet day

   Breakfast & coffee:Fuego Cafe & Grill

   Afternoon:Paddle Western Lake to the rare outfall where the dune lake meets the Gulf

   On the water:Grayton Beach Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals

   Evening:Grayton dinner as the season empties out

   Dinner:Maple Street Biscuit Company

3. 3

   Day 3

   Morning:Drive to Navarre for its uncrowded reefs

   Breakfast & coffee:Cafe Destin

   Afternoon:Snorkel the artificial reef and walk Florida's longest pier

   Snorkeling:Dolphin Snorkel Reef

   Evening:Sunset dinner on the Navarre waterfront

   Dinner:Fatboys - Miramar Beach FL

4. 4

   Day 4

   Morning:A favorite-empty-place repeat morning

   Breakfast & coffee:The macaron chef

   Afternoon:A final shell walk and a slow lunch

   Lunch:Pompano Joe's

   Evening:Home having seen the coast the way locals keep it

   Dinner:Lost Pizza Co. Fort Walton Beach