40 Favorite Things to Do in Destin, Florida
This year, we're celebrating 40 years of providing warm welcomes along Florida's Emerald Coast. For our 40th Anniversary, our team rounded up our 40 Favorite Things to Do in the Destin area. Here's our list:
1-5
Enjoy the Beach Walk, rest, or play along miles of soft white sand beaches
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Whether padding in the Gulf, on a coastal dune lake, in the Bay or Morrison Springs, stand up paddle boarding is a popular local activity for many)
Fish, dive, or snorkel the area's artificial reefs (The South Walton Artificial Reef Association has deployed nearly 700 structures at 16 locations near public beach access points in Walton County; In addition, Destin's artificial reef program provides dozens more structures for fishing, diving or snorkeling.)
Scuba Dive the World’s Only Underwater Museum of Art (Launched in 2018, the underwater sculpture garden is home to 60+ original sculptures created by artists from around the globe.)
Grab a Bite & Bike to Norriego Point (Our team is a fan of the Local Market where we grab Muffalettas, Sandwiches, or breakfast items and bike (or drive but there is limited parking) to Norriego Point and watch the boats come in and out of the Harbor.)
6-10
Watch the sun rise or set from the beach (Did you know Destin is one of the few places where you can watch the sun rise AND set from the beach? We especially love sunsets in the spring and fall when the sun sets over the Gulf.)
Enjoy a picnic at Eden State Garden (Located in Santa Rosa Beach, we enjoy picnics under the magnolias with the Historic Mansion in the background while overlooking the Bayou; The park also includes gardens, walking trails and a dock for better viewing the dolphins in the bayou.)
Deep sea fishing (While we all have our favorite Destin fishing charter, once you’re 50+ miles offshore, you’re in deepwater where trophy fish like white marlin, blue marlin, and swordfish make for an exciting day of fishing).
Movie night at Suds & Cinema (The historic theater (circa 1957) is located downtown Fort Walton Beach)
Attend one of the many local Food Festivals (Whether enjoying the Seafood Festival, Gumbo Festival, South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, Mac N Cheese Festival, Bloody Mary Festival, Eggs on the Beach Big Green Egg Festival or others, local festivals are deliciously fun!)
11-15
Visit AJ's for Weigh-Ins during the Destin Fishing Rodeo (The month-long October tournament is the largest fishing event in the world and it's fun to view the daily weigh-ins, which may include a 50 lb Mahi Mahi or a 100 lb Tuna.)
Book a Dolphin Cruise (Even locals enjoy getting out to watch our dolphins in their native habitat; Our partner, the Seablaster, serves up the best dolphin views along with libations.)
Stroll HarborWalk Village (We enjoy Tailfins as well as the Dole Whip booth so yummy and refreshing)
Visit a Local Brewery (From Props Brewery in Fort Walton Beach and Destin Brewery on Mountain Drive to 3rd Planet in Niceville and Grayton Beach & Idyll Hounds in Santa Rosa Beach, local breweries are sprinkled throughout the area and offer delicious craft brews and an opportunity to meet new friends.)
Bike Scenic Highway 30A (With a 19-mile paved bike path through dozens of quaint beach communities, ranging from historic Grayton Beach and iconic Seaside to the architecturally stunning towns of Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach, biking 30A and stopping at roadside cafes, boutique shops, cafes and bookstores is a fun way to explore South Walton.)
16-20
Visit the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (With its many local marine ambassadors, including stingrays, dolphins, and sea turtles, along with the new dolphin oasis and manatee pool, every visit to the Gulfarium offers a new experience.)
Eat oysters at Shunk Gulley (Oysters are available raw or cooked and the best part is that the shells are recycled as part of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance's OYSTER Shell Recycling Program, which reuses shucked oyster shells to construct oyster reefs as living shorelines to prevent erosion and support oyster population growth.)
Race Go Karts at The Track (While The Track offers mini-golf, games and much more, our favorite activity is to race Go Karts on the 3-level Wild Woody track.)
Ride the slides at Big Kahuna's Waterpark (While this is a seasonal offering (Memorial Day - September), we enjoy a day at the park riding water slides, especially the Tiki River Run, which offers one and two-person tubes for ultimate fun!)
Take a Sandcastle Lesson (Our partner, Beach Sand Sculptures, offers a half-day class, teaching sandcastle building and sculpting skills; Once you learn the technique of building a sand arch, you'll be hooked.)
21-25
Soar High Above on a Parasailing Tour (Only voted on by team members without a fear of heights, the Gilligan's Parasailing tour is an incredible experience to fly 500 feet in the air, gaining a bird's eye view of the coast; We love viewing the marine life down below and silence and solitude of flying high above the earth.)
Cool down in a local spring. (Less than a hour away from the beach, several freshwater springs, including Morrison Springs and Vortex Springs, offer a fun off-beach location to cool down in spring water that is 68 degrees year round.)
Picnic at Leonard Destin Park (Overlooking Crab Island, the park features a playground, picnic tables and a dock for fishing. As a bonus, the park is home to many Blue Heron nests, providing visitors to the park incredible views of these majestic birds.)
Feed the Alligators at Fudpucker’s Gator Beach (Did you know there are more than 100 alligators at Gator Beach? Our team enjoyed the VIP experience, which included a tour and the opportunity to hold an alligator. A bonus, guests of Newman-Dailey get free gator bait with the coupon within the guest portal.)
Hike the Trail at Henderson Beach State Park (The three-quarter mile pet-friendly trail meanders through ancient sand dunes and unique vegetation known as coastal scrub and provides a beautiful vista of the park from atop one of the dunes.)
26-30
Dine Alfresco at LuLu's (We attended the grand opening of Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s Destin restaurant and met LuLu herself; It's since become a go-to spot to dine overlooking the Bay while kids play on the beach.)
Explore the Air Force Armament Museum (This FREE attraction in Valparaiso (just 40 minutes from the beach), highlights the legacy of military aviation with an extensive collection of aircraft and armament; From the McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle to the Lockheed F-104D Starfighter, standing beside the incredible aircraft is always awe-inspiring.)
Hike to a Coastal Dune Lake at Topsail Hill State Preserve (With 15 miles of marked trails, walkers pass through old-growth pine forests, sandy scrubland, dunes and wetlands where 13 imperiled species find refuge, including the carnivorous pitcher plants; As a bonus, Topsail also offers 3 miles of pristine beaches.)
Dine at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach (This iconic 30A restaurant is a local staple; With a simple chalk board menu of classic entrees like Panne Chicken, Blackened Grouper & Crab Cakes, the eclectic decor and legendary performances from world-class musicians and the Red Bar Jazz Band make it a "must see".)
Visit the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin (This local fishing wharf includes restaurants, boutique shopping and an Adventure Zone with a zipline over the lagoon; We especially like to walk out on the dock behind Hammerheads to view the Marina and luxury yachts parked there.)
31-35
Plan a themed beach picnic. (Our partner, Enchanting Picnics, creates amazing themed picnics on the beach; Our team enjoyed a Breakfast at Tiffany's themed picnic with champagne toast!)
Walk in the dunes at Grayton Beach State Park (While walking in the dunes is normally discouraged, this unique trail takes hikers into the scrub oak to experience life under the dunes; Continue down the trail to the top of the sand dune for a spectacular view of Western Lake.)
Stroll Seaside. (Visiting this New Urbanism town with white picket fences and pastel colored cottages where the Truman Show was filmed feels like stepping into a movie set; As a bonus, head upstairs to Bud & Alley's Tarpon Club to enjoy a drink as they ring the bell at sunset.)
Snorkel the Jetties at Norriega Point. (The jetties are the perfect place to see local marine life for near-shore snorkeling.)
Visit Historic Defuniak Springs (Whether you enjoy a picnic around the perfectly circular lake, stroll the lake to view the historic Victorian-style homes, stop in Florida's oldest operating library or enjoy Louisiana-inspired dishes at Cafe Nola, it's a fun afternoon beyond the beach.)
36-40
Rent a Pontoon Boat (With several local pontoon boat rental partners, our team loves to head out on the Bay to explore, look for dolphins, fish and visit Crab Island.)
Host a beach bonfire (Only permissible with a permit on Walton County Beaches, hosting a sunset beach bonfire with s'mores through a local company like La Dolce Vita or Emerald Coast Beach Service always creates special memories that you'll talk about for years to come.)
Live Music & Dancing at AJ's (When it's time for a night out, AJ's consistently delivers great live music and a party atmosphere at both of their locations--Grayton Beach and Destin Harbor; Also, Bric A Brac in Destin features great live music Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as our back up plan.)
Visit Deer Lake State Park (Another one of our Gulf-front state parks, Deer Lake features a long boardwalk across the dunes to the beach where visitors can view the dune ecosystem, one of 11 natural communities found in the park.)
Bike Scenic Highway 98 (With a walking/biking path that extends from Miramar Beach through Crystal Beach, we enjoy renting ebikes from Emerald Coast Bikes and zipping along this beachfront highway stopping at local waterholes, including Whale's Tale at Seascape, along the way.)
Ready to book your next Destin vacation?
View our collection of South Walton and Destin vacation rentals online or call one of our local vacation specialists at 850-837-1071 for recommendations. Remember to always book direct with Newman-Dailey for our best rate guarantee.
See you @ the beach!