Guidebook for Destin
Food Scene
Back Porch Restaurant station
Beach front great restaurant
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
414 Harbor BlvdBeachfront great sea food
McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin
33 US-98Try their huge sized Nachos
Shopping
Silver Sands Premium Outlets
10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy WDestin Commons
4100 Legendary DrRestaurants
Destin area has many great restaurants. I will list my favorite local places, otherwise you would note the chain restaurants on the main road. Highly recommend installing Nowait app to your phone. You can avoid long waitlist in restaurants where reservations are not accepted and Nowait app is used.
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
414 Harbor BlvdMcGuire's Irish Pub of Destin
33 US-98Nachos!
The Back Porch
1740 Scenic Hwy 98Pepitos Mexican Restaurant
757 Harbor BlvdShake's Frozen Custard
1065 US-98For a late afternoon desert
Ciao Bella Pizza
4400 E Hwy 20For a casual relaxed afternoon pizza
Brotula's Seafood House & Steamer
210D Harbor BlvdAJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar
116 Harbor BlvdGator Beach
20001 Emerald Coast Pkwybar & grill with live alligators
Mimmo's Ristorante Italiano
979 U.S. 98The Boardwalk on the Okaloosa Island offers 6 unique dining options including Rockin Tacos, The Crab Trap, The Black Pearl, Floyd's Shrimp House, Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar, and Pino Gelato. Angler’s Beachside Grill provide breakfast but not on all days
59 locals recommend
Crab Trap, Fort Walton Beach
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEThe Boardwalk on the Okaloosa Island offers 6 unique dining options including Rockin Tacos, The Crab Trap, The Black Pearl, Floyd's Shrimp House, Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar, and Pino Gelato. Angler’s Beachside Grill provide breakfast but not on all days
Family activities
HarborWalk Village is always a great place to take the whole family. Shopping, dining, adventure, events, nightlife, and live music. Here you can find waterfront shopping, paddle board and kayak rentals, pontoon and jet ski rentals, parasailing, glass bottom boats, world class fishing, pirate ship excursions, dolphin cruises, zip lining, concerts and live music, weekly fireworks, seasonal festivals, weekly Fat Tuesday parades, live entertainment, and an array of restaurants, including Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and Harry Ts, to satisfy all tastes. AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar has live music most of the nights in the summer.
295 locals recommend
HarborWalk Village
34 Harbor BlvdHarborWalk Village is always a great place to take the whole family. Shopping, dining, adventure, events, nightlife, and live music. Here you can find waterfront shopping, paddle board and kayak rentals, pontoon and jet ski rentals, parasailing, glass bottom boats, world class fishing, pirate ship excursions, dolphin cruises, zip lining, concerts and live music, weekly fireworks, seasonal festivals, weekly Fat Tuesday parades, live entertainment, and an array of restaurants, including Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and Harry Ts, to satisfy all tastes. AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar has live music most of the nights in the summer.
The Boardwalk on the Okaloosa Island offers 6 unique dining options including Rockin Tacos, The Crab Trap, The Black Pearl, Floyd's Shrimp House, Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar, and Pino Gelato. Angler’s Beachside Grill provide breakfast but not on all days.
59 locals recommend
Crab Trap, Fort Walton Beach
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEThe Boardwalk on the Okaloosa Island offers 6 unique dining options including Rockin Tacos, The Crab Trap, The Black Pearl, Floyd's Shrimp House, Al's Beach Club & Burger Bar, and Pino Gelato. Angler’s Beachside Grill provide breakfast but not on all days.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin features an array of boutiques, eateries, galleries and nightlife. It is a great place to spend an evening, and very popular with visitors and locals and families. There is live music and entertainment too. Also do not miss the fireworks. Sunset is also great there.
89 locals recommend
Village of Baytowne Wharf
9300 Baytowne Wharf BlvdThe Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin features an array of boutiques, eateries, galleries and nightlife. It is a great place to spend an evening, and very popular with visitors and locals and families. There is live music and entertainment too. Also do not miss the fireworks. Sunset is also great there.
Entertainment & Activities
Pirate cruise is a lot of fun for kids. We highly recommend it for kids.
We also recommend the Dolphin tour. We heard that morning tours are much better. You may see the dolphins up close also with the Jet Ski’s. There are 4-5 tour operators for the dolphin tours at the Destin Marina.
Kids Fishing Trip is a fun activity geared towards kids.
Deep sea fishing is another fun activity for fishing enthusiasts. HarborWalk Charters, Swoop and Charter Boat Huntress are a few recommendations.
Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone, Gulf Breeze Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Eden State Gardens, and Emerald Coast Science Center are other entertainment facilities that can be visited.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEBig Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park is right across the street from Pelican Beach Resort. It has lots of water activities with a wave pool, water slides, lazy river, kids play areas, miniature golf!
314 locals recommend
Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park
1007 US-98Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park is right across the street from Pelican Beach Resort. It has lots of water activities with a wave pool, water slides, lazy river, kids play areas, miniature golf!
HarborWalk Charters
100 Harbor BlvdDeep sea fishing
You can rent Pontoons with your car driver license and sail around the Crab Island (under the bridge) or around. There are play parks in the sea. Google ‘Destin Pontoon Rental’ and call them for availability.
17 locals recommend
Destin Water Fun Pontoon & Jet Ski Rental
214 Harbor BoulevardYou can rent Pontoons with your car driver license and sail around the Crab Island (under the bridge) or around. There are play parks in the sea. Google ‘Destin Pontoon Rental’ and call them for availability.
Henderson Beach State Park is a park with limited facilities (restrooms, grill area) but a nice beach. Topsail Hill State park is a further and larger national park, where you can walk in the woods or rent bikes around the lakes and to the shore. Entrance is from W County Hwy 30A. Bike rental closes at 5 o’clock but you can drop your bikes back when they are closed.
208 locals recommend
Henderson Beach State Park
Emerald Coast PkwyHenderson Beach State Park is a park with limited facilities (restrooms, grill area) but a nice beach. Topsail Hill State park is a further and larger national park, where you can walk in the woods or rent bikes around the lakes and to the shore. Entrance is from W County Hwy 30A. Bike rental closes at 5 o’clock but you can drop your bikes back when they are closed.
Wild Willy's Adventure Zone
1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy SEGulf Breeze Zoo
5701 Gulf Breeze PkwyEmerald Coast Science Center
31 Memorial Pkwy SW