The jewel of the Emerald Coast — powdery white sand and amazing blue-green water.
Check availabilityDestin, Florida is often referred to as the jewel of the Emerald Coast, thanks to the natural beauty of this magnificent stretch of coastline. The formerly sleepy little fishing village now attracts national and even international attention for its powdery white beaches and amazing blue-green water. USA Today recently named Destin the winner of its readers’ poll for the #1 beach in America, and regional publications including the Atlanta Journal and Southern Living have consistently placed Destin atop their annual rankings as the best beach and top family vacation destination in the region.
Families choosing to visit the Destin area (including Sandestin, Fort Walton Beach, and the communities of Highway 30A) will find many attractions beyond the beautiful beaches to keep them coming back year after year. Whether it’s diving or snorkeling the natural reefs, wrecks, and barges in Destin’s emerald waters; testing the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” moniker by chartering a boat from the state’s largest fishing fleet; or playing a round at one of the area’s picturesque golf courses, visitors will find Destin a recreational paradise. You’ll also find shopping from national outlets to local specialty shops, plenty of locally owned restaurants featuring fresh seafood, and a number of theme parks.
Lodging choices are plenty — Destin condo rentals, beachfront and off-beach hotels, and beach houses to suit both the elite and the budget-conscious. Condos are the favorite of most families, and most of the best beachfront locations are condo communities, which is why Destin vacationers so often choose from among the thousands of beachfront condo rentals for their stay.
Named the winner of USA Today’s readers’ poll — powdery white sand and famously clear blue-green water.
Home to Florida’s largest charter fleet — book a deep-sea trip or watch the day’s catch come in at the harbor.
Dive, snorkel, or raft up at the famous sandbar in the pass for a day in waist-deep emerald water.
National outlets and local shops, fresh-seafood restaurants, theme parks, and picturesque golf courses.
The water here doesn’t look real until you’re standing in it — glassy, green, and warm. Spend your days anchored off Crab Island, your evenings on the HarborWalk, and every meal with something fresh off the boat. Destin is the Emerald Coast at its most dazzling. Come see why nobody wants to leave.
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