Best in Destin: What is Destin, Florida Known For?

Craving the lowdown on Destin’s best? Let’s help you dish out everything from beaches to eats. So ditch the guesswork and discover what’s Destin, Fl. like and embrace the awesomeness that awaits!

Destin is located in the northwest part of the Florida Panhandle. It’s a coastal gem near Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, making it a convenient vacation spot. In fact, 80% of the Emerald Coast’s 4.5 million yearly visitors come to Destin. Its growing Latino population also attracts tourists.

Destin (aka the world’s luckiest fishing village) is known for its stunning beaches, emerald-green waters, thrilling water sports, and the freshest seafood – the best oysters in Destin. It offers a perfect mix of natural beauty and fun things to do.

Here, we’re going to dish out Destin’s best. From the wonderful must-visit white sand beaches, the best bars in Destin, and to the can’t-miss hole in the wall restaurants. 

Looking for adventure or relaxation? This article will help you plan your perfect Destin getaway. So let’s dive in!

10 Best Tourist Attractions in Destin 

1. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a premier resort destination near Miramar Beach, Fl. The beach resort features a full-service marina, unlimited health club access, various accommodations like hotel rooms, villas, and condos. It also has souvenir stores, high-end boutiques, and several dining options.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is home to four championship golf courses: the Links Course, The Raven Course, The Baytowne Course, and the Burnt Pine Golf Club – a private golf club that’s consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the United States. It’s known for its challenging layout and its stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has several pools, including a zero-entry pool, a lagoon pool, and a water playground. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and playing in the water. You can rent a bike from several locations on the beach resort to explore the area, ride along the beach, or bike to nearby attractions.

Serenity by the Sea Spa is a world-class spa at the lower level of the spa tower at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. It’s a full-service spa that features men’s and women’s whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and lounges. It offers massages, facials, body treatments, and nail services.

2. HarborWalk Village

HarborWalk Village is a popular destination located in the heart of the Destin Harbor. The village features restaurants, shopping establishments, and activities for the whole family. Visitors to the village are accorded live entertainment – concerts, weekly fireworks displays, Fat Tuesday parades, and other themed events. 

The village offers pontoon and jet-ski rentals, kayaking, and dolphin cruises. As well glass-bottom boat tours, fishing, and pirate-ship excursions. 

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in the Village is a global chain of casual dining restaurants known for their laid-back atmosphere, tropical décor, and signature margaritas. The menu features American and Caribbean-inspired dishes, such as cheeseburgers in paradise, volcano nachos, and jerk chicken pasta. 

The Village offers multiple city parking lots for guests to park at, and a shuttle bus that runs visitors back and forth from 7:00 am to midnight. Visit their page or website for more information about HarborWalk activities and upcoming events.

3. Baytowne Wharf Boulevard

Baytowne Wharf Boulevard is a street located within the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin. The street is home to many shopping establishments, galleries, and nightlife. It’s collectively known as the Village of Baytowne Wharf. 

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is an entertainment complex with over 40 stores that sell clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, and home goods, where you can shop til you drop, so they say. Its more than 20 restaurants serve fresh seafood and casual fare. Around 10 bars offer drinks, live music, and karaoke.

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Activities at Baytowne Wharf include shopping, dining, street performances, and riding the carousel. For adventurers, there’s the Baytowne Adventure Zone, which features a zipline, ropes course, tower climb, and more. 

Baytowne Wharf also has a boardwalk that extends over the water, offering stunning views of the harbor. Several companies offer boat tours that can save you time and take you around the harbor, out to the Gulf of Mexico, or to nearby islands.

Kiwi’s Tiki Bar is located at the Baytowne Marina in Sandestin. It offers a fun atmosphere, live music, delicious food, and refreshing drinks like tropical cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. You can enjoy the Florida sun on its outdoor patio. It has TVs, making it a great place to watch sporting events. 

4. Emerald Coast Science Center

The Emerald Coast Science Center is an interactive science discovery center that aims to inspire and educate people about the wonders of science and the natural world.

The Emerald Coast Science Center is technically, not a part of Destin, Florida. It’s in Fort Walton Beach, which is about 10 miles east of Destin, Florida. 

It offers a variety of exhibits and programs that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics, including interactive exhibits, live animal encounters, and hands-on activities for visitors. Some exhibits include the sciPad featuring SMALLab Learning, the Emerald Coast Ecosystem Exhibit, and the Dino Dig Pit.

Visitors can also attend animal presentations, experiment with engineering, physics, and electricity exhibits, and color and light interactive exhibits. The Emerald Coast Science Center offers a fun and educational experience for visitors, allowing them to learn about various STEM topics and engage with hands-on exhibits and activities.

5. Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach State Park is a 200-acre park located at 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin, Florida. The park is known for its 1.83 kilometers of beautiful shoreline – pristine, sugar-white sand beaches, clear waters, and abundant wildlife.

It’s a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, hiking, and camping. The park also has a nature trail, a boardwalk, and a fishing pier.

The park is a great place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the Florida Panhandle. It’s open year-round and offers restrooms, showers, and a concession stand.  

6. Holiday Isle

Holiday Isle is a peninsula in the Destin area, bordered by the Destin harbor on the north and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. It’s a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, beach bums, and nature lovers. Holiday Isle is a perfect getaway to the Gulf of Mexico’s white sandy beaches. 

It offers activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. You can rent equipment or book tours to explore the waters around the peninsula.

Restaurants and shops in Holiday Isle offer various dining and shopping options for visitors – fresh seafood, casual dining, and boutique shopping.

Sandpiper Cove is a gated resort located on Holiday Isle. It offers a variety of amenities such as a golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pools. 

7. Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park 

You can visit the 60,000-square-foot indoor park even on a rainy day because it’s covered by a state-of-the-art retractable roof. It features around 40 indoor attractions including slides, a lazy river, a play area for kids, and other water attractions.

It has a miniature golf course and gift shops where souvenirs can be bought at reasonable prices. Big Kahuna’s also features cabana rentals, the best burger in Destin, and the best ice cream in Destin.

Big Kahuna’s is a great place to cool off on a Sunday and enjoy some family-friendly fun. It’s open everyday until night during the summer season. And closes during the off-season, except for weekends in September.

8. Destin Harbor Boardwalk

Destin Harbor Boardwalk is lined with numerous restaurants – from casual seafood stores to fine-dining establishments, bars, and clubs where you can have dinner, enjoy live music or dance the night away.

The Boardwalk offers easy access to local fishing charter boats and to numerous water activities like dolphin cruises, boat tours, jet-skiing, zip-lining, parasailing, snorkeling, charter fishing, paddleboarding, and scuba diving. 

Destin Harbor is about 12.2 mi away from Grand Boulevard. And it’s home to Destin’s jetties – the east and west jetties, which are popular spots for crabbing and birdwatching. The Harbor also has souvenir and specialty stores where you’ll find artwork, fishing gear, etc.

The Southern Star Dolphin Cruise is the largest dolphin cruise vessel in the Harbor, with an 80-foot glass-bottom boat. It offers various cruises, including a family-friendly sunset dolphin cruise, and a sunset cruise.

9. Crab Island

Crab Island is a submerged sandbar that’s only exposed at low tide and is known for its clear waters, obstacle courses, and floating bars. 

Visitors can rent a pontoon boat, jet ski, kayak, water taxi, or a private charter to get to Crab Island. Jet skis and kayaks are popular ways to get there. Another great option is to take an excursion.

The charm of Crab Island stands out as a crowd drawer. The water isn’t too deep, which makes it a perfect destination to drop anchor and enjoy a fun, sun-soaked Sunday.

Crab Island is a well-favored spot for shopping, fishing, swimming, and basking in the sun. You’ll find bars, cozy hotels, shops, and diners offering seafood specialties, salads, wraps, and tropical Tiki drinks.

10. Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach is known for its powdery white sand beaches, its year-round fishing, and its beach resort community. Technically, Fort Walton Beach isn’t part of Destin, Fl. Fort Walton Beach is a separate city in Okaloosa County. They’re over 8 miles apart, and just a 16-min car ride. 

Fort Walton Beach is home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. You can spend an entire beach day relaxing on the shore, building sandcastles, sunbathing, and swimming. Or fish trout and flounder from the shore, from a boat, or from the pier. 

Go kayaking or parasailing. Go shopping, dine out, or play golf. Fort Walton Beach is home to some public and private golf courses. 

Kiwi’s Tiki Bar offers a fun atmosphere, live music, delicious food, and refreshing drinks like tropical cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. You can enjoy the Florida sun on its outdoor patio. It has TVs, making it a great place to watch sporting events. 

Or visit the Air Force Armament Museum. The museum tells the story of the development of aircraft weapons, and features exhibits on various aircraft weapons – from bombs, missiles, to guns and rockets.

Best Hole in the Wall Restaurants in Destin, Fl. 

Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House

Boshamps is one of the best-kept secret restaurants Destin. It’s a go-to seafood house that serves the best oysters in Destin for both visitors and locals. The restaurant specializes in Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine and features favorites like fried grouper and sauteed snapper. It also serves the best burger in Destin, chicken, prime steaks, and Duck Confit. 

Burrito del Sol

Burrito del Sol is one of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Destin, Fl. It’s a taco and burrito joint known for its fresh fish, steak, and chicken tortilla. It serves the best Mexican food Destin and was initially one of the city’s only food trucks until it grew successfully into two locations. Everything (chips, marinade, salsa) is freshly made in the house.

Yuga Sushi and Sake House

Yuga Sushi and Sake House is one of the best seafood restaurants in Destin. It’s a highly-rated seafood restaurant known for its sashimi and the best sushi in Destin – the Destin Roll is made with shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, and eel sauce. Yuga Sushi and Sake House also offer sake and other drinks to pair with your meal.

Donut Hole Bakery and Cafe

Donut Hole Bakery and Cafe is a local favorite. It serves the best breakfast in Destin, Fl. It offers donuts, pastries, and breakfast dishes like omelets, pancakes, and waffles for breakfast and brunch.

Related Blog: Family-Friendly Attractions in Destin

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Best Bars in Destin, Fl.

Lucky’s Rotten Apple

Lucky’s Rotten Apple is a lively country bar that offers a fun and festive atmosphere. Its live country music, line dancing, and mechanical bull are worth the wait on a night out.

The Village Door 

The Village Door is an upscale bar that offers a refined ambiance and is famous for its live music and extensive cocktail menu. 

The Funky Blues Shack

The Funky Blues Shack is a blues bar located in the heart of Destin. It offers a funky vibe and is known for its live blues music, friendly bartenders, and delicious bar food.

Emerald Coast Billiards

Emerald Coast Billiards is a pool hall and watering hole with a casual vibe, known for its pool tables, dart boards, drinks, and friendly bartenders. 

The Craft Bar

It’s a gastropub that features craft brews on tap along with artisan cocktails and elevated bar fare. And it’s an 8-minute walk from Destin Commons, where you can shop to your heart’s content.

Where to stay: the best all-inclusive resorts in Destin, Fl

Henderson Beach Resort & Spa

Henderson Beach Resort & Spa is a 4-star luxurious, all-inclusive resort located on the pristine Henderson Beach State Park in Destin. It offers panoramic views of the Gulf, world-class amenities and activities to keep guests entertained. 

The resort offers spacious accommodations (from suites to cottages) with private balconies or patios, flat-screen TVs, and mini-bars. It also has a world-class spa, a fitness center, pools, and a kids’ club. It offers several shopping and dining options.

Popular Amenities:

• Parking(Additional fee)
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Restaurant
• BarMeeting Room(Additional fee)
• Spa(Additional fee)
• Golf Course
• Exclusive Beach Area
• DivingSnorkeling
• Children’s Meals Available
• Kids’ Club
• Business Center
• Smoking Area
• Fitness Room
• Massage Room
• Wi-Fi in Public Areas
• FreeLanguages
• Spoken at Front Desk
• Luggage Storage24-Hour Front Desk

Pelican Beach Resort & Conference Center

The Pelican Beach Resort & Conference Center is a 3-star, beachfront resort that offers coastal views of the Mexican Gulf. Each room is equipped with amenities to keep you relaxed after a day of shopping. 

It offers accommodations with private balconies or patios, full kitchens, washers, and dryers. It has pools, a kiddie pool, hot tubs, fitness centers, saunas, tennis courts, a game room, and a conference center.

Popular Amenities:

• Parking (Free)
• Indoor Swimming Pool
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Airport Shuttle Service(Additional fee)
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Golf Course
• Exclusive Beach Area
• Sauna
• Diving
• Snorkeling
• Skiing
• Horse Riding
• HikingTennis Court
• Bowling Alley
• Fitness Room
• Wi-Fi in Public Areas

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort 

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 4-star premier resort that sits on a 2,400-acre property in Miramar Beach. It’s a vacation rental property that offers multi-bedroom units with full kitchens. The resort has 30 neighborhoods with 1,600 condominiums, houses, villas, townhomes, and hotels. 

The Village of Baytowne Wharf, where all the stores, boutiques, restaurants, eateries, and nightlife are, serves as Sandestin Golf’s retail and entertainment hub. 

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has over 7 miles of Gulf shore, four golf courses, 15 tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a fitness center, and a spa. It also offers free wifi, a free shuttle service, and 24-hour security.

Popular Amenities:

• ParkingFree
• View Details
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Meeting Room(Additional fee)
• Golf Course
• Diving
• Snorkeling
• Basketball Court
• Tennis Court
• Golf Simulator
• Kids’ Club
• Children’s Playground
• Babysitting Services(Additional fee)
• Nightclub
• Business Center
• Smoking Area
• Fitness Room
• Wi-Fi in Public Areas
• Languages Spoken at the Front Desk
• 24-Hour Front Desk

Hotel Effie Sandestin

Hotel Effie Sandestin is a 4-star boutique hotel that offers stylish accommodations. It’s a high-end hotel that features a spa, a polished restaurant, poolside, and lobby bars with bay views.

The hotel has 250 Southern-themed rooms and suites. Each room or suite has complete amenities. Guests can enjoy the amenities of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Enjoy a leisure walk on the sand on a starry night. Shop, eat out, or visit the rooftop pool.

Popular Amenities:

• Parking(Additional fee)
• View Details
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Meeting Room(Additional fee)
• Spa
• Golf Course
• Exclusive Beach Area
• Tennis Court
• Business Center
• Fitness Room
• Massage Room
• Wi-Fi in Public AreasFree
• Languages Spoken at the Front Desk
• Luggage Storage
• 24-Hour Front Desk

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village 

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village is a 3-star condominium complex located in HarborWalk Village, which is a popular destination for shopping, eating out, and entertainment in Destin.  

Emerald Grande features 286 quality residences, indoor pool and outdoor pools, two hot tubs, and a spa. It also offers boat rentals, fishing charters, a free boat shuttle to nearby beaches, several restaurants and bars, a fitness center, and a lazy river. 

It offers air-conditioned guest accommodations, some come with a cable TV where your family can watch after dinner, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, and a private room with a bath.

Popular Aminities:

• ParkingFree
• View Details
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Restaurant
• Meeting Room
• Spa
• Exclusive Beach Area
• Business Center
• Library
• Fitness Room
• Wi-Fi in Public AreasFree
• Languages Spoken at the Front Desk
• Luggage Storage
• 24-Hour Front Desk

As this journey through Destin’s best comes to a close, this coastal paradise really does offer an array of experiences that satisfies every traveler’s dream – from the freshest catches served on your plate to the exhilarating jet ski or pontoon ride. 

We’ve navigated the top-rated diners, uncovered the most thrilling adventures, and pointed you toward the perfect places for shopping and unwinding. 

So be the one to walk the extra mile. Shop now and sign up for a visit to Destin. Let this be your helpful compass as you set out to discover the best in Destin. And may your trip be filled with sun and unforgettable memories that’ll stay long after the sand has left your shoes!