Destin, located on Florida's Emerald Coast between Pensacola and Panama City, is known for it's emerald green water and white sand beaches. While the beaches are stunning, they are just a small part of what makes Destin so amazing.
Recommendations
in the guide will include:
• Where to
stay
• Indoor
and outdoor activities
• Snorkeling,
kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and tours
• Where to
eat: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts
• Public
beach access
• Transportation
• Money
saving and other tips
• Price
guides
• Best
places to find sea shells
• Safety
The
guide has budget friendly, mid-range, and high-end options.
You can find a downloadable version of this guide without photos here for $4.
Guided Fishing Trips:
Kayak Rentals:
HOTELS AND RESORTS
Book early!
Airport
Safety
Tips & Extra Information
Activities
Crab Island – This sandbar is Destin’s most popular attraction is only accessed by boat.
·Crab Island Shuttle Boat (starts at $45) Phone: 850-733-7434
·Boat Rentals (starts at $300) Phone: 850-650-2628
There are many more boat tour packages that include stopping by the sandbar
Village of Baytowne Wharf - The village is located in a gated community. Stop at the gate and get a free visitors pass.
Parking can be difficult so use the parking garage
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park - located in Fort Walton Beach.
($25.95 General Adult admission)
It is only about a 7-minute drive from the Harbor Boardwalk.
Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park ($53.99 General Admission)
Gilligan's Watersports - rents boats, wave runners, offers dolphin tours by wave runner, cruises, and parasailing. (Starts
at $10) Phone: 850424-5125
Mobile Sports Banana Boat Experience (starts at $55) Phone: 850-6871626
Tiki Cruises by Cruisin Tikis - a vintage-inspired tiki boat. BOYB (starts at $59) Phone: 850-200-0573
Indoor Activities (Rainy Day Activities)
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl - a restaurant with underwater themed bowling lanes.
Thrills Laser Tag & Arcade
Rock Out Climbing Gym
Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park
Mr. E's Escape Rooms
Escape Zone 60, Sandestin
The MAXIMUM MAGIC Show
AMC Destin Commons 14 – Movie theater
Boulevard 10 at Grand Boulevard – Movie theater
Wild Willy's - indoor arcade, two putt putt golf courses, movie theater and more
Rainforest Black Light Mini-Golf & Arcade
Destin History & Fishing Museum
Emerald Coast Science Center
Indian Temple Mound
Fired Up Pant Your Own Potter Studio
Mary Hong's Shard Shop – make your own artwork with glass
SNORKEL DESTIN AND SURROUNDING AREA
From the shore:
East Pass, Destin East Jetty, Destin West Jetty, and Norriego Point (All near the Destin U.S. 98 Bridge) are popular for
snorkeling from the beach.
Reefs at Henderson Beach State Park - East and West ends John C. Beasley Park – reef located east of the pavilion close
to shore
Okaloosa Island Beach Access Four – located close to shore
New reefs to Check out:
Dolphin Reef - 685 feet from the shore near Miramar Beach Access
Sea Turtle Reef at Grayton Beach State Park - 783 feet from shore
Seahorse Snorkel Reef at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park - 715 feet from shore
Guided snorkeling trips:
Destin Snorkel (Starts at $50) 845-269-2329
Cattywampus Snorkel tour ($50 for adults and gets cheaper for children) Phone: 850-586-0450
Flippers Snorkel Adventure Destin ($40 ages 3 and up) Phone: 850-8370113
Snorkeling & Shelling Destin (starts at $59) Phone: 850-650-3802
Flowing Water Charters (starts at $600) Phone: 850-344-7838
L4K Charters (starts at $390) Phone: 850-895-1224
Saltwater Charters (starts at $880) Phone: 833-850-3474
Paddleboard Rentals:
Destin Paddle Company (starts at $20) Phone: 850-797-2335
Beach Weekend (starts at $45) Phone: 850-362-6020
RUN/SUP® RENTALS (starts at $35) Phone: 850-419-6188
Destin Clear Kayak Rental (starts at $59) Phone: (850) 837-3000
12 Miracle Strip Parkway Southwest, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548
The Kayak Experience Phone: (850) 837-1577
3906 Us Hwy 98 W Bx 2242, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
STATE PARKS
Henderson Beach - Phone: 850.837.7550
17000 Emerald Coast Parkway Destin, FL 32541
Topsail Hill Preserve - Phone: 850.267.0299
7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Grayton Beach - Phone: 850.231.4210
357 Main Park Road Grayton Beach, FL 32549
John Beasley Park - Phone: 850.689.5772
1550 Miracle Strip Parkway Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Eden Gardens - Phone: 850.231.4214
181 Eden Garden Road Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Deer Lake - Phone: 850.231.4210
357 Main Park Road Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Shelling
The best place to find shells will be West of Destin. Cross the bridge and head toward Ft Walton Beach. There are a few
areas with limited parking along the road. One of the spots requires you to get online permission before entering. We did
that easily on the spot. The rules and parking seem to change constantly, so just explore and see what you find.
WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast
Destination Little Donuts
Donut Hole
Krispy Kreme
The Pancakery
Capriccio Café
First Watch Crackings
Lunch and Dinner
Merlin's Pizza
Marco's Pizza
Mimmo's Ristorante Italiano – Great Italian food and friendly service
LuLu's - Waterfront Dining, a sand beach, colorful seating, and shopping
The Harbor Tavern
Pompano Joe's - Pompano Joe's is Caribbean influenced seafood restaurant located directly on the beach.
East Pass Seafood & Oyster House - Fresh local seafood
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
Coffee
Bad Ass Coffee - Hawaiian roasts coffee
Capriccio Café
Roast'd Café
East Pass Coffee Company Capriccio Café
Desserts
Curly Cream Rolled Icecream
Wave ice cream & coffee
Ice Cream Shoppe Destin East
Shake's Frozen Custard
Bruster's Real Ice Cream
Cups and Cones Destin
Ice Cream Shoppe of Destin
Smallcakes of Destin – Gourmet cupcakes
The Macaron Chef Destin
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Kilwins Destin Commons - Old-fashioned chocolate fudge and candies. They also have ice cream
PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS POINTS IN
DESTIN
AND SURROUNDING AREA
Alamo Street Beach Access - 899-675 Scenic Hwy 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Barracuda Street Beach Access - 3016-3080 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32541
Crystal Beach Beach Access
Eglin Matterhorn Beach Access
Geronimo Street Beach Access - 735 Scenic Hwy 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Miramar Regional Beach Access - 2396 Scenic Hwy 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Norriego Point Beach Access - 1 Gulf Shore Dr, Destin, FL 32541
O'Steen Beach Access - 320 Gulf Shore Dr, Destin, FL 32541
Pompano Street Beach Access - south end of Pompano Street - 32-2 Pompano St, Destin, FL 32541
Princess Beach Access
Redneck Beach Access - west end of the Destin Bridge
Shirah Street Beach Access - Shirah Street and Hwy 98 Destin, FL 32541
Shores at Crystal Beach Park Access - 2964 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32541
Tarpon Street Beach
Access - 3300 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32541
SHOPPING
Destin Commons
Destin Commons has over 90 stores and dining options in its shopping village.
Address: 4100 Legendary Dr, Destin, FL 32541
Silver Sands Premium Outlets
Silver Sands Premium Outlets has over 110 designer and name
brand outlet shops.
10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Grand Boulevard at Sandestin
Grand Boulevard at Sandestin is an upscale shopping center with fine dining and a movie theater. Our favorites were the
Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pulitzer stores.
Address: 495 Grand Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Hotel Effie Sandestin (Starts at $149 off season)
Henderson Beach Resort (starts at $400 off season) Pet and kid friendly. Lazy river. Private beach
Henderson Park Inn (starts at $295 off season - $749)
Hyatt Place Sandestin/at Grand Boulevard ($150 -$250)
The Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center
Best Western Sugar Sands Inn & Suites ($116 to $180)
Seascape Beach Access - 1272-1386 Scenic Hwy 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Destin E ($198 - $227)
Hampton Inn & Suites Destin ((starts at $147)
Home2 Suites by Hilton Destin starts at $175)
Airbnb – Rent a house for around the same price of a hotel room with much more privacy.
https://www.airbnb.com
The closest airport to Destin is the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport
1701 State Road 85 N
Eglin AFB, FL 32542-1498
Phone: Phone: (850) 651-7160
Airlines - Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest
Rental Cars
ALAMO RENT A CAR www.alamo.com
800-462-5266 or 850-678-0223
BUDGET RENT A CAR www.budget.com
800-527-0700 or 850-651-0819
ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR www.enterprise.com
800-736-8222 or 850-609-8006
NATIONAL CAR RENTAL www.national.com
800-227-7368 or 850-678-0223
AVIS CAR RENTAL www.avis.com
800-331-1212 or 850-651-0819
DOLLAR RENT A CAR www.dollar.com
866-434-2226 or 850-609-0154
HERTZ www.hertz.com
800-654-3131 or 850-651-0612
Destin Jeep Rentals www.DestinJeepRentals.com
850-687-9262
Destin is a very safe place. You should still use common safety measures like locking car doors and making sure valuables are
secured. Also, apply sunscreen often to avoid sunburn and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Familiarize yourself with the beach flag system
The greatest chance of a hurricanes is in the months of September and October
The traffic is crazy all year, so plan accordingly!
The winter months are great for cheaper accommodations.
The average low temp for Destin in the winter is around 50 degrees.
Most of the businesses on the Boardwalk are closed in off season.
Stay in a place that is not beachfront and use one of the public beach access points to save money.
Hotels and condos book up months in advance.
