Get ready to fall in love with a beach. No, this spectacular sand isn’t on a Caribbean island, nor is it located in the Hamptons or Malibu or even Tahiti. Instead, you’ll find it in Destin. That resort town in Florida’s Panhandle has a stunning white quartz Gulf Coast beach that is a thing of true beauty.
Even better, it’s just a quick flight from Washington’s Reagan National Airport (three hours nonstop on American Airlines to VPS, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport) and just another 30 minutes by car to put your feet in this squeaky soft sand, in the area known as the Emerald Coast (and the Redneck Riviera, too). Destin boasts 13 sunny beaches edging the Gulf of Mexico, including Henderson Beach State Park, where the protected shoreline is a natural wonder. No big hotels, restaurants or other signs of human encroachment are here, just wild dunes, wading birds, frolicking dolphins and more, all can be reached via hiking trails and boardwalks. Sixty campsites, picnic areas and fishing spots round out this bucolic spot.
For lovers of a more cosmopolitan scene, Destin’s other beaches are dotted with comfortable hotels, with popular places including nearby Henderson Beach Resort and Spa, as well as the Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort and Spa; the Silver Beach Towers; and the romantic, adults-only boutique Henderson Park Inn.
Be sure to drag yourself away from the beach to visit Destin Harbor, the heart of this famous fishing village settled in 1845 by Leonard Destin that has grown into an international tourism destination. The boardwalk is the place to find a charter fishing boat to get out onto the water, as well as to visit top-notch restaurants and enjoy plenty of special events throughout the year, including summer concerts and the annual Destin Seafood Festival held in early October.
Speaking of seafood, that culinary style is king in Destin, with plenty of choices, including local favorite, the Boathouse Oyster Bar and Grill, a laid-back tiny seafood shack on the harbor that serves reasonably priced seafood baskets brimming with shrimp, crab and mahi mahi caught in the Gulf. For a more sophisticated atmosphere, check out Marina Café with its spectacular views and don’t miss Jackudas, where good food, an appealing Happy Hour (from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day) and weekday drink specials keep visitors coming back for more.
If craft beer and burgers are more your speed, check out The Other End Restaurant & Beergarden on the harbor; for great steak, hit Maguire’s Irish Pub. That convivial place is always packed, as is The Donut Hole Bakery Cafe, where the best breakfast in town is served (order the Gulf Coast omelette, stuffed with shrimp and crab). Expect a line to get in there, no matter what morning of the week.
Crowds form on Crab Island too, which can be party central in the water. It’s not actually an island, but an underwater sandbar near the Destin Bridge, accessed by boat, kayak or paddleboard (all are easy to rent on land) and home to crystal-clear water, a floating music stage, an inflatable waterpark, floating food vendors and more. As one local describes it, “It’s like having Bourbon Street out on the water sometimes, especially on summer holiday weekends!”
But whether the party scene or the natural wonders of this beautiful place are what draw you in, one thing is certain, you’ll find those extraordinary white beaches simply unforgettable.
Getting There
American Airlines offers weekly nonstop service to Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VSP), and beginning in May 2018, AA will offer daily nonstop service from DCA to VSP.