why visit destin
Destin is a top tourist destination along the beautiful gulf coast waters of Florida. If you want beautiful beaches, boating, activities for children or dining and nightlife options this place is for you. You will not be bored with all there is to offer.
how to get to destin
The nearest airport is the Destin-Fort Walton Airport (VPS) which is about 35 minutes drive from the downtown area of Destin. You can also fly into the Pensacola International Airport (PNS) or into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) both of which are about 1 hour 30 minute drive from Destin.
If your driving here:
Tallahassee, FL is about 159 miles away 2 hour 40 minutes.
Atlanta, GA 530 miles away about 5 hours 20 minutes.
Montgomery, AL 174 miles away about 3 hours 15 minutes.
getting around destin
If you stay in downtown Destin, most things are walkable or you can reach via boat ride. If you want to get around to the various beaches or areas then having a car is the most ideal. There is a public bus called the EC rider (Emerald Coast) that is a few dollars to get around to various beaches one of which is the Henderson State Park. If you drive to this state park it is $6 to park. There are a number of free beaches to park at also.
where to stay destin
We stayed at the Harbor Grand at HarborWalk which was in a prime location. This was so central and walkable to the HarborWalk which includes a number of restaurant, bars, shops and the marina. By staying at this hotel there was a free boat ride to a private beach area with umbrellas and chairs and had a great pool area.
If you don’t want to stay in the bustling downtown, you can stay in Miramar Beach area which is great for families or the Crystal Beach area which is great for couples.
top things to do in destin
Visit Crab Island! You should have this at the top of your list of fun and unique things to do. My friends and I chartered a boat for the afternoon and anchored here where we got to hang out on floats, walk on waist deep sandbar water and soak in the sun! There are small boats selling ice cream, peanuts, and more. After hanging out here we went around on the boat looking for dolphins and watched sunset! I would strongly recommend doing this excursion!
Stroll along and partake in the activities of the HarborWalk in Downtown Destin. The HarborWalk which includes a number of restaurant, bars, shops and the marina. For kids there is an amusement area including a zipline! On Saturdays in the summer there are free concerts. This is iconic tourist central and so much fun!
You simply cannot come to this area without visiting the beautiful beaches. The top beaches include: Henderson State Park, Miramar Beach, Crystal Beach, Princess Beach and more. You can have alcohol on the beach except in the state park.
