Destin has about 24 miles of beach, but these are not just any beaches. The whiteness of area beaches, the product of the ocean ceaselessly grinding away Appalachian quartz, is nothing short of astonishing. It makes a great backdrop for all the things people do on beaches, such as sunbathing, swimming, building sand castles, beachcombing or just walking.
The coast near Destin also is an excellent backdrop for water sports of all kinds. Every kind of boat, from fancy yacht to sturdy sea kayaks, can be rented near Destin. Fishing is possible from points on shore, including the 1,200-foot Okaloosa Pier. The area also has a special attraction for deep-sea fishing enthusiasts. Within only 10 miles (16km) of shore off Destin's East Pass, the ocean is more than 100 feet deep (30m)--a quick drop off. The snorkeling and scuba diving also are first rate off Destin.
The beaches of Okaloosa County, in which Destin is located, are nesting grounds for sea turtles, which come ashore at night to lay eggs in the sand between April and November. It's a fascinating natural occurrence, but as the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau warns, "Avoid disturbing a turtle that is crawling to or from the water. Avoid crowding around a nesting turtle and do not shine lights in her eyes or take flash pictures."
The town of Destin, along with the neighboring community of Fort Walton Beach, offer a number of diversions for those who want a little more than beach or even water sports during their vacations.
The area offers golf nuts everything from a semi-private Fred Couples Signature Golf Course to championship public courses to miniature golf, and the weather's likely to be pretty good for hitting the links.
For the non-golfing spouse, there's always shopping, and Destin/Emerald Coast has plenty of that, too. Fort Walton Beach Main Street sports some one-of-a-kind specialty shops, and Destin's HarborWalk likewise has shopping, galleries and places to eat. The Silver Sand Factory Stores mall on US 98 is one of the largest outlet malls in the nation, with more than 100 stores.
The area's museums are worth a look, too. The Emerald Coast Science Center is perfect for kids, while the Destin History & Fishing Museum shows visitors everything about deep-sea fishing, including examples of fish caught in the area and one of Ernest Hemingway's fishing poles. The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida tells the story of this part of the state for the last 10,000 years or so; the U.S Air Force Armament Museum tells the story of U.S. air armaments from World War II until today; and Florida's Gulfarium is one of the country's oldest marine parks, with fascinating exhibits and dolphin shows.
Other interesting things to do and places to see are within a short drive along northwest Florida's beautiful coastline, both to the east and the west, or inland a short way. There are other beaches, of course, but curious travelers also will find interesting towns, fine resort properties, natural attractions and more.
Only a few miles to the east of Destin, for example, are the internationally renowned towns of Seaside and WaterColor. Seaside, first built in the 1980s, was designed to be a compact but stylish town in which your feet are the main mode of transit. Its peaceful streets are thus perfect for strolling. Likewise, WaterColor is a master-planned town with plenty of good walking and upscale amenities, including a resort hotel and fine dining. WaterColor is one of a number of first-rate planned communities in northwest Florida initiated by the St. Joe Co., a major Florida landowner.
For a walk (or a canon trip) on the wild side, travelers can outfit themselves, or find a guide, for expeditions on the Blackwater River, which is upcountry from Destin, but not too far. For a quiet getaway, nearby Henderson Beach State Recreation Area and Grayton Beach State Recreation Area on the Gulf coast provide camping, hiking, fishing and other activities.
