Posted on 9/22/2020By the Ocean Reef Editorial Team
You've heard of biking. You've heard of backpacking. But have you heard of bikepacking?
Bikepacking is the next big trend in outdoor adventuring, with online searches for "bikepacking" doubling over the last year. It's a cross between camping, backpacking, and cycling. Like backpacking, you carry all your adventure gear with you. But unlike backpacking, your bike helps you carry the weight. Thank goodness – that's a literal weight off your shoulders! Once you've loaded up all your equipment, you can head out on your journey, which could range anywhere from a multi-day to multi-week excursion.
The interest in this outdoor sport has surged in the last year in part due to the Outdoor Workout megatrend. Even though gyms are largely opened, many have opted to move their exercise routine outdoors. The benefit of this is the flexibility to enjoy the beauty of nature while also getting in a workout. Bikepacking contributes to this trend by enabling everyone, from adventure seekers to your average Joes, to take advantage of the great outdoors.
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Through bikepacking, you can easily explore nature's finest destinations. As such, it should come as no surprise that it provides a great way to discover everything the Emerald Coast has to offer. Bikepacking through Destin and 30A is the perfect way to experience the picture-perfect beaches, old-world coastal towns, and the Gulf Coast's tropical environment. Give your peddling legs a break by lounging on the snow-white sands and watching the smooth waves roll in. Bike or stroll through the quaint beach communities, browse boutiques, sip cocktails at Gulf-front bars, and eat fresh seafood at local restaurants. Or, check out the nature trails and coastal dune lakes, where you can enjoy the fresh air and salty breezes. From Destin, Miramar Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and everywhere in between, there are plenty of things to see and do.
Besides the scenery and friendly neighborhoods, local campgrounds provide restful stops during your travels. These include picturesque sites in Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, Point Washington State Forest, and Henderson Beach State Park – perfectly suited for tent-camping bikepackers! You will find scenic bike trails near many of these sites, ideal for a relaxing day cruise.
Destin and 30A also cater to a sub-niche of this trend called "credit card bikepacking." This is where you carry many of your belongings, but instead of roughing it in a tent, you stay in hotels or vacation rentals and eat out at restaurants. Basically, it's the bikepacking version of glamping!
We love credit card bikepacking because it's easy to make the most of the relaxed luxury that is so characteristic of the Emerald Coast. After all, the cozy beach rentals and delicious restaurants are part of the reason that vacationers love it here so much – in addition to the beaches, of course! We offer a variety of vacation homes and condos that appeal to all kinds of visitors, from solo adventurers to groups of carefree bikepackers. Many of these accommodations have access to private pools, beach service, and other amenities that will take your bikepacking experience to the next level.
When credit card backpacking through Destin and 30A, be sure to try several of the restaurant hotspots along the way. Places like the Perfect Pig and Great Southern Café are great for casual dining, while Café Thirty-A in Seagrove and Louisiana Lagniappe offer a fancier dining experience. Either way, it's better than camp food, that's for sure!
Read more: Staff Picks: Best Destin Seafood Restaurants
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, it's time to get rolling… or cycling! Before you go, though, be sure your bike is in tip-top shape for your journey. Local bike shops like Frankie's Bike Shop at the Hub on 30A can help you find just the right bike to begin your trip or give your bike the tune-up it needs along the way. With your bike ready, your gear packed, and your vacation rental booked, you'll be prepared for an exciting outdoor excursion.
We can't wait to see you here and hope the journey treats you well. After all, there's nothing better than bikepacking in paradise!
Keep reading: 10 Photos Showing How Beautiful Grayton Is
The Ocean Reef Editorial Team leads the market in vacation rental, real estate, and coastal lifestyle content, with decades of Destin & 30A expertise behind every story. As the area's largest locally owned and longest continually operating vacation rental company, we welcome over 200,000 guests each year and reach millions who dream of the beach. Our guides serve travelers, homeowners, and locals alike, sharing authentic knowledge you can trust-because this coast isn't just where we work, it's where our story began, and where we'll continue to welcome generations to come.
