Where to Stay on Your Pensacola Vacation: ResortQuest Vacation Rental in Perdido Key
BEACH CONDO IN PERDIDO KEY, FLORIDA
Ever since we moved to Florida I’ve been in love with the idea of quick little beach getaways. It seems like most places in Florida are a destination, so no matter which city we pick there’s something to love. Recently we planned a trip to Pensacola and Perdido Key since we had never experienced Florida’s Panhandle before, and we were stunned by how pristine the beaches were.
One of the first things you plan when taking a trip is where your family will stay. It’s such an important decision because it can affect your entire experience. I prefer staying somewhere where our family can spread out, cook meals, and have a separate bedroom for putting our toddler to bed, so I try to find vacation rentals as often as possible.
Disclosure: On our trip to Perdido Key we were hosted by ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals. It ended up being the perfect accommodation for our family, so I’d love to share the details with you! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
CONDO LOCATION
We stayed in Perdido Key, a barrier island just southwest of Pensacola. It’s quiet and secluded which is perfect for a family vacation. In addition to boasting some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States, it’s also just a short drive from tons of family-friendly activities like the National Naval Aviation Museum, historic downtown Pensacola, and the Gulf Breeze Zoo.
CONDO LAYOUT
We have a 2, 3 (almost 4), and 6-year-old in our family right now, so one thing that really matters to me is where everyone is going to sleep. The ideal situation is to have a separate bedroom for the 2-year-old so we can put him to bed and do something with the “big kids.” We might put a movie on, play a game, or just have ice cream with the older ones, all things that aren’t nearly as relaxing with a VERY busy toddler running around.
RELATED: 13 Mistakes You’re Making When Traveling with A Toddler
Our ResortQuest condo in Perdido Key had a master bedroom off the main entrance which connected to the bathroom. If you walked further down the entrance hallway there were built-in bunk beds. The kids loved their bunk beds, and used them as a fort and a private place to play throughout the days. They loved that they could see us in the living room while they were falling asleep, too! The sleeping situation worked so well for us, and we all actually left the trip feeling relaxed and rested.
At the end of the hallway was the open-concept living room and dining room. The couch was so comfortable and we found ourselves congregating there for afternoon quiet time and at the end of a long day. We watched quite a few movies on the flat screen tv since there were a few thunderstorms going on while we were there.
My absolute favorite feature of the condo, though, was the kitchen. It was spacious and white, brightening up the whole condo. I loved that we could prepare most of our own meals, since it was an easy way to save money and avoid the stress of sitting in a restaurant with a busy 2-year-old who currently only eats yogurt, blueberries, applesauce, and French Fries. We did eat out a few times and were glad to have a refrigerator to store the leftovers and an oven to heat them up again.
Finally, there was a spacious balcony off the living room with a beautiful view of the coast. I spent quite a bit of time out there reading and drinking my coffee. It was absolutely heavenly!
THINGS TO DO NEARBY
We were at the Grand Caribbean Perdido Key which had a seasonally heated pool and hot tub accessible to families staying in the condos. When we walked through the back gate of the pool we were just steps from Johnson Beach. The sand was sugary-soft and perfectly white, which was a nice change from our cinnamon-sand beaches at home. We went to the beach on a stormy day, so the wind was causing some rough waves, but for most of the year, the Gulf of Mexico waters are calm enough for kids to play in the surf. Everyone loves a beach day with kids!
Gulf Island National Seashore was a 2 minutes drive away, and the perfect spots for kids to run free. As a National Seashore, it does cost $20 to get in, but that pass is good for a week. There are boardwalks, nature trails, wildlife, and beautiful beaches as far as the eye can see.
The Crab Trap was a family-friendly restaurant right down the road with a playground and picnic tables out back. We stayed inside due to the weather, but we definitely would have been outside had the weather cooperated!
FAVORITE AMENITIES
One of our favorite amenities while staying at ResortQuest was their free DVD rental system. You get a pass to rent 2 DVDs per day, which we loved having because of the thunderstorms that rolled through during our vacation. it was also handy to have something to distract the kids while we made dinner or put the toddler to bed.
My personal favorite amenity was having a coffee maker, a fridge, and a balcony. Each morning I snuck into the kitchen before the kids woke up to have my coffee, and we all know coffee is nothing but bean water without a healthy dose of creamer. I always bring my own creamer when I stay in hotels and vacation rentals. I then proceeded to grab my book and head out to the balcony to enjoy the warm morning air, a steaming cup of coffee, and a few pages of my book before the rest of the family started to wake up and the chaos of the day began.
The kids, of course, loved the easy access to the pool and beach. I loved how close everything was, because sometime we only had an hour or 2 to sneak outside in between storms. It takes so much time to get all the kids changed into swimsuits and slathered in sunscreen, so it was nice to be able to cut out a commute time.
There was also a washer and dryer in the condo which we didn’t end up using because we ran out of time, but we kept saying we should wash our clothes before we went home so we wouldn’t have a mountain of laundry waiting for us as we recovered from vacation. It’s also nice if you’re planning to stay for a week or so - you don’t have to pack as much!
WHY CHOOSE RESORTQUEST
All in all, I found ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals to be perfect for a family beach vacation since if offered a kitchen for preparing our own meals, plenty of space for sleeping, and lots of kid-friendly amenities.
This was such a special family memory for us, and I’ll always cherish the time we spent together snuggling up watching movies, playing together on the beach, and eating breakfast overlooking the ocean.
If your family needs a little getaway this summer, definitely book yourselves a beach vacation in Perdido Key (or anywhere in Northwest Florida!) with ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals: Save up to 20% off on summer travel with the promo code: BEACHES
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR BEACH VACATION
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FURTHER READING FOR VACATION WITH KIDS:
More Florida Destinations for Families
The Best Types of Trips to Take with Toddlers
Tips for Flying with Little Kids and Toddlers without Losing Your Mind
How to Budget and Save for Your Dream Destination
50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
