Destin: Discover Florida's Emerald Coast

Plan your next trip to Florida's Emerald Coast to visit Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. Get Travel Channel's suggestions on where to stay, what to do and where to eat.

By: Kwin Mosby

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Photo By: Emerald Coast CVB

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Photo By: Oyster.com

Photo By: Emerald Coast CVB

Photo By: Oyster.com

Photo By: Emerald Coast CVB

Photo By: troutkarmarv, Flickr

Photo By: Emerald Coast CVB

Photo By: Oyster.com

Photo By: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Photo By: Seriously Photographic, Flickr

Photo By: Destin West RV Resort

Photo By: Emerald CVB

Crab Island

Enjoy fun in the sun on Crab Island, an underwater boating and party island located on the North side of the Destin bridge. From April to November, tourists will notice anywhere from 10 to 200 boats anchored in the bay. Locals anchor their boats to spend the day swimming, snorkeling, and playing football, Frisbee and volleyball. During the summer, there are boats selling burgers, shrimp, boiled peanuts, ice cream and much more.

HarborWalk Village

Visit Destin’s HarborWalk Village, where you can find waterfront shopping, water sports, boat pontoon and jet ski rentals, world class fishing, dolphin cruises, bars and clubs, weekly fireworks, seasonal festivals, live entertainment and a variety of restaurants to so suit the most discriminating foodie’s taste.

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village

Looking for a place to stay? Check in at the family-friendly Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village. The hotel has a Crew Club for kids. It provides a variety of fun activities, including scavenger hunts, pirate parties, face painting and movie nights. For adults, enjoy a relaxing spa treatment. The hotel has an outdoor pool, well-equipped fitness center and free Wi-Fi.

Fishing in Destin

Located in the Florida Panhandle, Destin traces its history back to 1845, when Captain Leonard Destin settled in Northwest Florida. He pioneered the fishing industry. Today, this fishing town -- known as “world’s the luckiest fishing village” -- is a hot spot for trolling, jetty fishing and deep sea fishing. Charter fishing is very popular; so we suggest you book your family fishing adventure before visiting the Emerald Coast.

Destin Commons

On you mark, get set, shop! Destin has numerous places for you to shop until you drop. Start your shopper’s retreat at one of these shopping malls: Destin Commons (pictured), Santa Rosa Mall, Sunsations Plaza, Shoreline Village Mall, The Boardwalk Okaloosa Island, Emerald Coast Centre or Shoreline Village Mall.

Okaloosa Island Pier

Watch the sun set or fish from the pier of Okaloosa Island, where locals and tourists also flock to the island for the white-sand beaches.

Sterling Shores Resort

The rooms at Sterling Shores -- some with a Gulf view -- are bright and airy, and there are two pools at the resort. Sterling Shores offers special events for kids, and it also has small movie theater.

Kelly Plantation Golf Course

Destin’s Kelly Plantation Golf Club, located along the Choctawhatchee Bay, has 18 holes built on the former site of a turpentine plantation owned by Mattie and Coleman Kelly. American pro golfer Fred Couples and Gene Bates, an Australian cyclist who owns the Bates Golf Design Group, designed the Kelly Plantation Golf Course. Rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest the Golf Course has more the 7,000 yards of large contoured greens surrounded by Magnolias and Palmettos.

Dolphin Cruises

Go dolphin watching on the Sea Blaster, a 73-foot passenger boat that carries up to 119 passengers -- the Gulf’s largest speedboat. Sea Blaster offers snorkeling and dolphin cruises. Boogie Water Sports, Olin Marler’s Charter and Southern Star are other choices to book your fun dolphin watching excursion.

Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club

Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club is a golfer’s paradise. The 6,894-yard, par-72 offers an extraordinary golf experience for players of all skill levels was named one of Golf Digest’s “Top Places to Play in North America” and one of the Top 15 courses in Florida. Enjoy the state-of-the-art Parview GPS system on the golf carts; chilled apples on the 1st and 10th tees; and cool off with mango-scented iced towels. And with this picturesque scenery, this golf club makes it a perfect place for a destination wedding.

Courtyard Sandestin

The rooms at the Courtyard Sandestin are spacious with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a lobby bar, mini market, big outdoor pool and a fitness center.

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Get up close and personal with dolphins, otters, stingrays, sea lions, seals and turtles at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. Open since 1955, the Park has attracted millions of visitors. For outdoor enthusiasts, we also recommend visiting Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park, Gator Beach, Emerald Coast Dirt & Vert and Sasquatch Zoo.

Fort Walton Beach

We suggest you head to Fort Walton Beach if you’re looking for a little rest, relaxation and sun bathing. This city is a year-round fishing and beach resort community, and 1000s of people flock to Fort Walton Beach and the Emerald Coast for spring break and during the summer -- its busiest time of the year.

Destin West RV Resort

Destin attracts thousands of campers, and some of those avid campers have RVs. If you’re on the road, make a pit stop at the Destin West RV Resort, a luxury RV park on the coast of Okaloosa Island’s Choctawhatchee Bay. The Resort provides complimentary cable and Wi-Fi, and it’s located near laundry facilities, the beach and a miniature golf course. Playground RV Park, Henderson Beach State Park and Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park are other ideal places to go for campers.

Destin Harbor

Destin was ranked as one of the Top 10 Places to Live and Boat by Boating magazine. The city may be known for its various outdoor activities, but it’s also a popular spot for a destination wedding.

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Destin

Destin: Discover Florida's Emerald Coast

Related To:

Shop This Look

Crab Island

HarborWalk Village

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village

Fishing in Destin

Destin Commons

Okaloosa Island Pier

Sterling Shores Resort

Kelly Plantation Golf Course

Dolphin Cruises

Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club

Courtyard Sandestin

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach

Destin West RV Resort

Destin Harbor