Destin is among the most popular beach destinations in the United States. Offering a variety of options such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing and more, it is an absolute delight for visitors. Plus, Destin attractions aren’t limited to the waterfront.
Destin, located in the Florida Panhandle, receives millions of tourists each year, due to its long beaches, with incredibly fine and soft white sand. Visitors love to relax on the sugar-fine sand and enjoy the emerald-green, crystal-clear waters. A visit to Destin’s fascinating coastline will leave an indelible mark on your memory.
The beaches are the main attraction of any visit to Destin. Florida’s Emerald Coast offers miles of idyllic milky beaches that stretch along the Gulf of Mexico. Comprised of Appalachian quartz, the sand that makes up Destin’s beaches stays remarkably cool even in the heat of summer. It gives the ocean waters here their characteristic emerald green color by reflecting sunlight. The fusion of white sand beaches with emerald waters is a mesmerizing sight to behold.
Destin’s pristine beaches will delight your senses. Discover miles of sand-carpeted land to build sandcastles, tan, and hunt for shells. You can spend hours here doing some soul-searching or soaking up the sun. Just lie back on the refreshing sand reading your favorite book or just soaking up the sunshine. In the evenings, watch the sun set over the waters. It’s an incredible sight, to say the least. There are also several beachfront parks, such as Marler Memorial Park, Beasley Park, James Lee Park, and Wayside Park, with facilities such as showers and toilets.
You can enjoy a variety of activities such as diving, snorkeling, boating, and fishing. Snorkeling would allow you to enjoy the world renowned underwater shelling. Green, aqua, and purple finger sea whips, basket sponges, and reef clumps flourish here underwater. A wide range of marine species is drawn close to shore, thanks to the deep waters, allowing divers to see yellow angelfish, dolphins, manta rays, and migratory mackerel, amberjacks, and minnows. You can also see 350 pound loggerhead turtles.
When it comes to fishing, Destin is truly an enjoyable experience. Sailfish, marlin, wahoo and many more await you on the high seas. You just have to rent a boat and go fishing. Even if you don’t go far out to sea, you can catch bluefish, tarpon, cobia and mackerel. You can also enjoy freshwater fishing in Destin. The sea offers you the most spectacular deep water access in the Gulf. From April to October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo. Boating is also a favorite activity for visitors here. You can choose from simple small boats to luxury sailboats. The boats can be used for sunset wine cruises, snorkeling trips, barrier island hopping, dolphin or manatee expeditions, and moonlight encounters.
Attractions in Destin aren’t just limited to the waterfront. When your beach activities are over, you can visit the Destin Fisheries and History Museum, Emerald Coast Science Center, Gulfarium, NW Florida Heritage Museum, Heritage Park, and the Cultural Center and Museum US Air Force Arms Department. There are several recreation centers as well. If you’re even remotely interested in water sports, you’d love to visit the Fisheries and Design History Museum. Here you can experience the sensation of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Examples of fish caught off the Destin shoreline are displayed on a wall space that represents the bottom of the Gulf. You can also see a large collection of vintage fishing rods and reels.
One interesting thing about Destin is that most travelers here prefer to stay in vacation rentals rather than hotel rooms. Vacation rentals in Destin allow tourists to get the most out of their vacation. They can choose a vacation rental that takes into account their needs. The experience of staying in a vacation rental home is quite different from staying in a hotel. Vacation rentals offer a kind of personalized stay to visitors. This is the reason why most Destin tourists prefer vacation rental homes over tourists.