Even better, it’s just a quick fl ight from
Washington’s Reagan National Airport
(three hours nonstop on American Airlines to
VPS, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport)
and just another 30 minutes by car to put
your feet in this squeaky soft sand, in the
area known as the Emerald Coast (and the
Redneck Riviera, too). Destin boasts 13 sunny
beaches edging the Gulf of Mexico, including
Henderson Beach State Park, where the
protected shoreline is a natural wonder.
No big hotels, restaurants or other signs of
human encroachment are here, just wild
dunes, wading birds, frolicking dolphins and
more, all can be reached via hiking trails and
boardwalks. Sixty campsites, picnic areas and
fi shing spots round out this bucolic spot.
For lovers of a more cosmopolitan scene,
Destin’s other beaches are dotted with
comfortable hotels, with popular places
including nearby Henderson Beach Resort
and Spa, as well as the Hilton Sandestin
Beach, Golf Resort and Spa; the Silver
Beach Towers; and the romantic, adults-only
boutique Henderson Park Inn.
Be sure to drag yourself away from the
beach to visit Destin Harbor, the heart of
this famous fi shing village settled in 1845
by Leonard Destin that has grown into
an international tourism destination. The
boardwalk is the place to fi nd a charter fi shing
boat to get out onto the water, as well as to
visit top-notch restaurants and enjoy plenty of
special events throughout the year, including
summer concerts and the annual Destin
Seafood Festival held in early October.
Speaking of seafood, that culinary style is king
in Destin, with plenty of choices, including
local favorite, the Boathouse Oyster Bar
and Grill, a laid-back tiny seafood shack on
the harbor that serves reasonably priced
seafood baskets brimming with shrimp, crab
and mahi mahi caught in the Gulf. For a more
sophisticated atmosphere, check out Marina
Café with its spectacular views and don’t miss
Jackudas, where good food, an appealing
Happy Hour (from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day)
and weekday drink specials keep visitors
coming back for more.
If craft beer and burgers are more your
speed, check out The Other End Restaurant
& Beergarden on the harbor; for great steak,
hit Maguire’s Irish Pub. That convivial place is
always packed, as is The Donut Hole Bakery
Cafe, where the best breakfast in town is
served (order the Gulf Coast omelette, stuff ed
with shrimp and crab). Expect a line to get in
there, no matter what morning of the week.
Crowds form on Crab Island too, which can
be party central in the water. It’s not actually
an island, but an underwater sandbar near
the Destin Bridge, accessed by boat, kayak or
paddleboard (all are easy to rent on land) and
home to crystal-clear water, a fl oating music
stage, an infl atable waterpark, fl oating food
vendors and more. As one local describes
it, “It’s like having Bourbon Street out on
the water sometimes, especially on summer
holiday weekends!”
But whether the party scene or the natural
wonders of this beautiful place are what
draw you in, one thing is certain, you’ll fi nd
those extraordinary white beaches simply
unforgettable.
Paddle Boarding in Destin
Credit: Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
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