Tips on What To Do in Destin

Destin is filled with your typical beach attractions and plenty of sand to enjoy them on. But the city also boasts great fishing waters, a handful of golf courses, and some attractions for the kids.

• In Destin, the heart of the Panhandle, wake up early in the morning and take a stroll with the pelicans and sandpipers on the beach just as the fishing boats head out to sea. Feel free to join them and drop your own line to catch snapper and grouper." -- Away.com

Beaches

Writers say that the clean quartz sand beaches in Destin are some of the most unique and beautiful in the country. The downy-white sands and the Gulf of Mexico's emerald waters combine to make a treat for the eyes and form Destin's main attractions.

• It's not sand -- it's pure, powder-soft Appalachian quartz that was dropped off by a glacier a few thousand years back. Since quartz doesn't compress (and crews clean and rake the beach each evening), your tootsies get the sole-satisfying benefit of soft, sugary 'sand.' Sand so pure it squeaks." -- Fodor's
• Like an oasis in the middle of Destin's rapid development, the 208-acre Henderson Beach State Park, east of Destin Harbor on U.S. 98, allows easy access to swimming, sunning, surf fishing, picnicking, and seabird-watching along its 1 1/2 miles of beach." -- Frommer's

Fishing

Fishing was Destin's first major commercial activity and is still remains a popular pastime. According to experts, the city is home to one of the largest quantities of charter boats in the state. So book a deep-sea fishing excursion on a charter boat or simply cast your line from the Destin Bridge near the Destin Harbor on the peninsula's western tip. Remember to acquire a fishing license first before trying your luck; they're available at one of many fishing centers along the coasts.

• You don't have to go to sea to fish from the catwalk of the 3,000-foot Destin Bridge, over East Pass. The marinas and bait shops at Destin Harbor can provide gear, bait, and fishing licenses." -- Frommer's

Golf

Golfers will find resorts and independent courses strewn throughout the peninsula. Writers particularly recommend the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and the Emerald Bay Golf Club. The courses provide great views of the surrounding marine environment.

• For advance information on area courses, contact the Emerald Coast Golf Association, P.O. Box 304, Destin, FL 32540. Also look for South Coast Golf Guide, the free annual directory published in Pensacola. Be sure to ask whether your choice of accommodations offers golf packages, which can mean significant savings." -- Frommer's

Attractions for Kids

If lying on quartz in the sunshine while listening to lapping waves grows wearisome, Destin has a number of other diversions. You can take the kids to Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park or watch dolphin shows at the leisure traveler-recommended Florida's Gulfarium. Recent visitors also recommend Gator Beach, where kids can feed and take pictures with alligators (supervised, of course).

• In addition to the beach, families will enjoy an outing to Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park which offers thrilling water rides, plus go-kart tracks and a miniature golf course. Or take the kids to see and learn more about the region's unique marine life at the Gulfarium, in nearby Fort Walton Beach." -- TripAdvisor