KAYAK - Destin, Florida Travel Guide

Destin Travel

Popular Florida (FL) Destinations

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Destin Airports

Destin Vacations

Okaloosa Island, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach combine to create Florida's charming Emerald Coast, second only to Orlando as the Top Tourist Driving Destination in Florida. The Emerald Coast is the fastest-growing vacation community in Northwest Florida-managing to attract a crowd of more than six million sophisticated visitors annually coupling upscale high-rise condominiums with championship-style golf courses and a line of larger than life nightspots. Destin, Florida attracts a chic sect of vacationers thirsty to take in a slice of the scenic stretches of sand dotted with dunes and cottages along the beaches of Southern Walton County. Grayton State Park, nominated as one of America's finest beaches, is in Destin. Destin's "No Cars Allowed" Victorian village of Seaside was erected on a slab of sandy surf in the 1980's. The tiny Destin community's cluster of quaint shops, off-beat art galleries has attracted an artsy resident population painters and writers. Seaside's signature honeymoon cottages alongside the Gulf has solidify the Destin, Florida enclave as one of Florida's most traveled romantic getaways. The Destin/Fort Walton Beach community has been dubbed seven consecutive times by Southern Magazine as having the "Best Beaches in the South." The down-to-earth traveler finds the ultimate Northern Florida escape right next door in the Destin's sister city of Fort Walton Beach. Fort Walton Beach enjoys a private stretch of beach just along the rich surf of Okaloosa Island. The exclusive resort community is the home of the expansive Elgin Air Force Base, the largest air base in the world. The U.S Air Force's Armament Museum, stationed at Elgin, is a popular tourist destination for Fort Walton's "Top Guns." Destin and Fort Walton Beach accommodations provide weekend or week long retreats from reality. Area accommodations aim to exude the exceptional featuring amenities that include air cafes, five-star restaurants, beachfront swimming pools, poolside bars, golf courses, and tennis courts. Snag a stay beside lush green seaside gardens, rocky waterfalls, or canopied cabanas.

Popular Destin Hotels

Comfort Inn Destin
19001 Emerald Coast Parkway

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Destin, FL
4415 Commons Drive East

SummerPlace Inn Destin
14047 Emerald Coast Parkway

Wingate by Wyndham Destin FL
117 Palm Street

Holiday Inn Destin on the Beach
1020 Highway 98 East

Hampton Inn Destin
1625 Highway 98 East

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Top rated attractions in Destin

1.	Destin Commons Destin Commons is an upscale open air town center featuring impressive cobblestone paths amidst massive marble fountains. Exuding a golden hue of light as it sits beneath the Florida moon, by day Destin Commons is an area retail giant, sporting shops like Abercrombie & Fitch, Lucky Jeans, Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, Wet Seal, and Hollister. « hide
2.	United States Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Walton The U.S Air Force Armament Museum is located on the grounds of Elgin Air Force Base, the world's largest air force base. A warplane graveyard, the Armament Museum uses aviation to trace the roots of the United States Air Force from World War II through Operation Desert Storm. The S-71 Blackbird Spy, Reconnaissance, Fighter, and Bomber Planes are on display at the Armament. « hide
3.	Eden Gardens State Park The 115 acre estate at Eden Gardens State Park features the grand Greek designed Wesley Mansion, originally erected in 1895. Overlooking the calm Choctawhatchee Bay and enclosed in a mass of Spanish moss oak trees, the mansion has been restored with a splattering of captivating nineteenth century antiques. The Wesley Mansion hosts one of the most extensive collections of Louis XVI's furniture in the United States. Eden Gardens is a flood of camellias and azaleas. Picnicking available of plantation grounds. « hide
4.	Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park Big Kahuna's is Destin's supersized land/water adventure starring over forty flying and floating attractions. The lush and lavishly landscaped Water Park at Big Kahuna's features is an underwater adventure of caves, lagoons, wave pools, white water tubing, and the largest man-made waterfall in the world, Tiagara Falls. Tiagara Falls floods 250 feet of mountainous granite rock with 30,000 gallons of crisp emerald-green water. Tadpole Pond, Pirate Ship, Jumanji, Bombs Away Bay, Maui Pipeline Speed Slides, and the Grand Prix Raceway are other Big Kahuna attractions. « hide
5.	Indian Temple Mound & Museum The Indian Temple Mound & Museum features the largest collection of ceramic artifacts derived from southeastern Native American tribes in America. Over 6,000 ceramic artifacts are housed at the museum. Exhibits at the Mound & Museum recreate the lifestyles of four of the Native American tribes that resided around Choctawhatchee Bay for more than a century. « hide
6.	Explore Florida's Gulfarium Florida's Gulfarium is plopped down on a sunbeaten patch of beach along the Gulf of Mexico on Okaloosa Island. The Gulfarium opened in 1955 and is Florida's second oldest Marine park. Three live marine shows, The Dolphin Show, the Sea Lion Show, and the Multi-Species (or MSP) Show, are the three main attractions at the Gulfarium. A family of Bottlenose Dolphins perform acrobatic high jumps and flips in a 500,000 gallon tank during the Dolphin Show. The Gulfarium's California Sea Lions enjoying playing Frisbee and tossing a basketball with their trainer during their Sea Lion Show. The dolphins and sea lions entertain the crowd as a pair during the Multi-Species Show. Trainers often host a question and answer period where visitors have the opportunity to gain an increased marine life education and pet the dolphins.Shark, penguin, and otter feed demonstrations precede the daily sea life shows. « hide
7.	The Track Family Recreation Center The Track Family Recreation Center is family entertainment complex where "kin folk" kick it into high-gear on while hitting go-karts, miniature golf, bumper cars, sky-flying, or even bungee jumping just fifteen minutes outside of Seaside! See website for 10% OFF the price of tickets. « hide
8.	Dancing With The Dolphins Florida's beautiful bottlenose dolphins demonstrate playfulness giddiness as they twirl and leap from the shallow grounds of the Detin Harbor or the Santa Rosa sound. Snag a seat in one of the sand dunes on the side of the beach and watch the dolphins go to play. « hide
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Top rated restaurants in Destin

1.	Beachwalk Cafe Destin's Beachwalk Cafe features outdoor seating and a breath-taking ocean view to accompany it's massive Sunday Brunch, Weeday Lunch, and Dinner and Dessert Menus. Spicy Smoked Tomato and Shrimp Soup, Classic Caesar Salad With Chicken or Shrimp, and Crab Cake are diner faves. Major Credit Cards Accepted. « hide	6.	Captain Kidd's Seafood Buffet Captain Kidd's Seafood Buffet is Destin's family-friendly home of Alaskan Snow Crab Legs. A casual seafood restaurant with a view of the boat docked on Destin Harbor, Captain Kidd's is an all-you-can-eat buffet. The buffet includes Dungeoness Crab Legs, New England Clam Chowder, Fried Oysters, Stuffed Flounder, Scallops, Ocean Perch, Crawfish, and Fried Catfish. An impressive selection of non-seafood entrees are also featured as part of the buffet, those dishes include Fresh Country Vegetables, Corn Dogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Prime Rib, Corn-On-The-Cob, and Mashed Potatoes. Major Credit Cards Accepted. « hide
2.	Buffalo's Reef Buffalo's Reef has been serving "Fort Walton Beach's Favorite Buffalo Wings Since 1990." With two Emerald Coast locations in Destin and Fort Walton Beach, the casual Buffalo's Reef, an area favorite for Happy Hour, showcases a menu featuring Parrott Burger, Chilli Burger, Jumbo Hot Dog, Chicken Finger Salad, and of course, "Florida Famous Buffalo Wings." Major Credit Cards Accepted. « hide	7.	Bay Cafe Fort Walton's Bay Cafe is a French bakery featuring a menu of sandwiches, pastries, and drink specials. Mastercard & Visa Card Accepted. « hide
3.	Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill Fudpucker's is a beachside bar and grill with a sushi bar housed in a mega-restaurant that includes eight dining rooms, several game rooms, a playground, and a collection of pond-bound alligators at Fudpucker's Gator Beach. A popular spot for snagging a seat on sports night, Fudpucker's live entertainment venue, Club Key West, make Fudpucker's one of the area's most sought after hotspots. Major Credit Cards Accepted. « hide	8.	Big City Coffeehouse Cafe The Big City Coffeehouse Cafe is located near Fort Walton Beach's Brooks Bridge and is one of the area's ideal spots for cheap salads, soups, and sandwiches. The family-owned establishment featuring Herb Roasted Chicken with Apples, Walnuts, and Tarragon Dressing as a salad selection. Mastercard & Visa Card Accepted. « hide
4.	Floyd's Shrimp House & Oyster Bar An eclectic seafood joint found by a local guy who lost his arm in a shrimping boat accident. The traditional casual seafood house dabbles in all arenas of fresh catch, with a particular interest in shrimp and oysters. « hide	9.	Donut Hole Fort Walton's Donut Hole offers an around the clock Southern breakfast menu of Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles, Gravy Clad Biscuits, and Fresh Doughnuts. Deli sandwiches fill the Donut Hole's old-fashioned pharmacy counter and spacious booths during the lunch time rush. Hefty burgers and piled-up salads are resident house specials. Credit Cards Not Accepted. « hide
5.	AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar is situated on the Destin Beach Harbor and cranks out tunes by Jimmy Buffet as the fresh catches of the day make their way from the dock, perched just outside, and into AJ's kitchen for grilling and frying. Grilled Fish, Fried Fish, and Apalachicola oysters are popular menu items-especially with Emerald Coast residents. AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar hosts Club Bimini, a very popular outdoor bar and live music venue, that is open nightly. Major Credit Cards Accepted. « hide

Destin Insider tips

1.	Visiting the Welcome Center The Okaloosa County Visitors Welcome Center is located in a tin-roofed building along the beach just off Miracle Strip Parkway. Brochures, maps, and other information for tourists. This visitor center is Open Daily Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. « hide
2.	Free Island Shuttle The free Island Shuttle trolley travels during the summer months along the entire length of Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island. Two trolleys run every 30 minutes, Sunday through Thursday from 7am to 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 7am to 1am. « hide

Destin nightlife

Nightown

Destin's Nightown is the largest dance club in Northwest Florida. Voted one of the State's Best Nightclubs by Nightclub & Bar Magazine, Nightown is open from 8pm-4am nightly with accompanying drink specials and loud renditions of the latest rock music chart toppers. The two room club features 14,000 square feet of dance floor and twenty-eight moving lights to match the 180 square foot video wall that captures each pop and lock with the luck of special effects. Two blocks east of Destin Beach, Nightown sports bar games, Play Station stops, and twenty television set spotted throughout the mega-complex for live sports broadcasts. Nightown caters to the college aged and mid-twenties crew, but Nightown management has created The Side Door to serve as the facility's jazz and blues. « hide

Seagull

Country music and dancing just opposite the Gulfarium . A popular spot for Elgin Air Force Base pilot, who have affectionately dubbed the honky-tonk bar, "The Dirty Gull." « hide

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