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I’m a certified type A planner, through and through. For years, I’ve always been the friend, or family member, that people go to when it’s time to plan trips. Recently, my mom and I took a trip to Destin, Florida and I decided not to have a play-by-play itinerary. I did it out of curiosity, but also because I felt that it would be an awesome experiment to stop overplanning for once.

How it Went:

Packing: I’m usually someone who plans her outfits out two weeks in advance, no matter how big or small the trip is. Even if it’s a weekend trip, I know what I’m wearing DAYS in advance (and it’s already packed). This time, I washed my clothes the night before and picked out a few outfits that I’ve already worn. I packed my suitcase and my Nike bookbag (which fits so much by the way!) The morning of, I got ready, packed my toiletries, and hit the road.

Day One: After leaving an hour after I originally planned, we hopped in the car only to realize that I meant to put air in my tire the night before. Usually, even the smallest deviation from schedule would throw me off track. But this time, I went with the flow, got air, and hopped back on the road.

After getting to the hotel at around 4, I set my things down in my room. And I just sat, which is something I never do. As soon as I check in, it’s usually time to head (sometimes rush) to the first stop of the trip. After relaxing after a long drive, I decided that I wanted to keep the day simple. So, we grabbed food from Pazzo Italiano. The restaurant was a 10/10 and the food was very authentic and delicious. I’d definitely recommend that place if you’re in Destin. Afterwards, we went to the Destin Common’s AMC to catch a movie, and that was it for the day.

Day Two: This day ended up being the “busiest” day of the trip. I rolled out of bed when I felt like it. Around 12, we walked to First Watch for breakfast. The food there was delicious (check out our spread). I knew that I wanted to spend the day in nature but wasn’t sure where to go. TikTok showed me Grayton Beach State Park, a beautiful beach in Destin with a trail, sand dunes, and a lake. I spent a few hours there enjoying the beach and the dunes before heading back to the hotel with no plan.

A few hours later, I was hungry and wanted to see the sunset so I decided to go to the Village of Baytowne Wharf. This was a really cute collection of shops and eateries. There was also a pier and marina where we watched the sunset before grabbing burgers at Bunkley’s Burgers. After eating delicious burgers, we headed back to the hotel and that was it!

Day Three: The chillest day of the trip by far! This day, I didn’t leave the hotel until 2pm because that’s what felt most natural that day. We decided to get burritos at Dat Burrito Place. The burritos were delicious. It was also my first time trying Jarritos, which I will be getting from the store from now on. After this, we headed back to the hotel and proceeded to watch Shang Chi and lounge in bed for hours. It wasn’t until 9pm that I decided to take a beach stroll on Crystal Beach and turn in for the night.

Day Four: Last day of the trip! I woke up and headed to Okaloosa Island’s Boardwalk. It was windy but gorgeous outside. Then, we ate at The Crab Trap, which overlooks the beach. While there, I ate a delicious Shrimp Po’boy. After my meal, we took a short stroll on the beach and headed home!

My Key Takeaways:

It’s okay to just go with the flow sometimes. Even if it’s not your norm. You’d be surprised at how much your body (and mind) will thank you and how refreshed you’ll feel. I still plan to be the planner friend! But, there will be times where I’ll take a step back and go with the flow on vacations. We all need a little TLC every now and then 🌴

Sometimes overplanning can take away from the vacation. If you’re too much of a stickler for time and have a packed schedule every day, do you really have the chance to savor the experience? For some, maybe. But I’ve realized for me, building in time to wander and discover (and rest!) is what made my vacation so great this time around.

Practicing mindfulness is the key to so many things. This is the most important lesson that I learned this vacation and it’s something that I brought home with me. I was able to keep my mind clear and be in the moment. Mindfulness is such an important thing for me so I’m extremely happy that I practiced it on vacation. Since being back, I’m more at peace. Going with the flow/switching plans has become so much easier for me to do! 😌

Have you ever deviated from your norm and just gone with the flow on vacation? If so, how did it go?

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