Area Information
Destin, Florida

By Mara Lee 
Vacation Rentals

Beaches Many visitors inquire about the unique beauty of Destin's coastal scenery. Mother Nature deserves the credit.  The sugar white sand beach is not silicon; it is granulated quartz. The gulf waters appear emerald green because light reflects off the photo synthetic algae that is suspended in the clear water.

Beach Tips Enjoy a leisurely peaceful stroll on the beach in the early morning or late afternoon.  Sandcastle building is fun for everyone! Make it an art! At night, come to the beach and chase little sand crabs with a flashlight. OOOEEEE! Kids like to toss a glow-in the-dark football at night on the beach!  Sweethearts like to kiss under the moonlight!

Destin Harbor Florida's largest fishing fleet calls Destin's Harbor home sweet home. Known as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village," deep sea fishing is one of the specialties offered by Destin's fleet. Many families enjoy a sunset cruise in search of friendly dolphins on the SEABLASTER, the world's largest speedboat. Kids can captain. Call for reservations: 850-837-1166.

Golf Face the challenge of Destin's finest golf courses! Located near Maravilla Resort and Seaspray Community. Regatta Bay, voted #1 Favorite Golf Course in NW Florida! 18 hole course for every skill level. For more information, call 850-650-7800.  Emerald Bay, 18 hole course. Breathtaking views of Choctawhatchee Bay. For more information, call 850-837-5197. Seascape, 18 hole course. One of Destin's most popular courses to play. Challenges shot accuracy, golf course winds through woods and around lakes. For more information, call 850-654-7888.

Fishing Catch the Big One! All types of saltwater game fish can be caught off the shores of the Emerald Coast. Red Snapper, grouper, warsaw. amberjack, scamp and triggerfish can be caught year round. The season for cobria is March-November, followed by Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna. Destin's fishing rodeo tournament from Oct. 1-31 awards over $100,000 in prizes to pier and surf fishermen, trollers, bottom fishermen and off shore anglers.

Maravilla Resort Everyone loves Maravilla Beachfront Resort because it offers 2.5 private acres of the world's whitest sand beach. Maravilla's amenities are perfect for family vacations: 2 swimming pools (1 heated) spa, clubhouse with exercise equipment, tennis courts, & shuffleboard.

Recreation The most popular snorkel area is the Destin Jetties (located in Destin's East Pass Channel). It is known to attract game fish and tropical fish.  Scuba divers will discover a variety of natural rock reefs and boat wrecks. Sail and snorkel charters, waverunners, parasailing and speed boats offer thrilling adventures on the Emerald Coast.

Restaurants The freshest and largest variety of seafood in Florida can be savored in the local restaurants in Destin. Sample Southern favorites such as Gulf shrimp, fried grouper, oysters, blacken amberjack, Louisiana crawfish gumbo, red snapper, and yellow fin tuna.  Dining at the Lucky Snapper, AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar, or the Flamingo Café offers panoramic waterfront views of the Destin Harbor. Located near Maravilla and Seaspray are popular waterfront restaurants: Crab Trap, Captain Dave's, Pompano Joe's, and The Whale's Tail. For those who enjoy a variety of fare, don't miss McGuire's Irish Pub and Brewery at Harborwalk.

Shopping Your trip to Destin isn't complete without taking the kids to Wings or Alvin's Island! Have fun shopping for Destin's T-shirts, beachwear and souvenirs. For more shopping adventure, check out the Silver Sands Designer Outlet Mall, offering savings up to 70%. More shopping paradise at Harbor Walk and Sandestin's Market Shops!

Things To Do Head for Henderson Beach State Park, a wonderful beach featuring 6000 feet of Emerald Coast shoreline for swimming and fishing. Bring the picnic basket and kites, make a day of fun in the sun!  James's Lee Public Beach Park, also close to Maravilla and Seaspray, has playground equipment on the beach. It's a perfect location to enjoy ice cream or a favorite beverage and watch the sunset! Hold onto your flip-flops! The Track is another popular attraction for miniature golf, go carts and bungee jumping. The Big Kahuna, a slip-sliding water park, is fun for the entire family!

Weather So, how beautiful is the weather in Destin, Florida? You will find that Destin and Ft. Walton Beach enjoy a subtropical climate with mild southern breezes. Typically, this area has little cloudiness, low rainfall, and high temperatures.  The "Sunshine State" is an apt nickname because of the 300+ days the sun shines on Florida each year. There is plenty of opportunity for sunbathing with high temperatures in the summer from 80 to 91 degrees. From Panama City west to Pensacola, there are excellent and dazzling white beaches. The gentle slope of the beaches along the Emerald Coast shoreline has made them a major recreational asset.  The winter highs range from 50 to 75 degrees. The mild winter weather is perfect for year round outdoor activities including walks along the beaches, nature sightseeing, golfing, fishing and shopping.  Rainfall averages between 50 and 60 days per year, so few days are without sunshine.
Month	High Temp	Low Temp	Rainfall	Water Temp
January	61°	42°	4.0"	64°
February	63°	44°	4.3"	64°
March	68°	50°	6.0"	66°
April	76°	58°	4.5"	72°
May	83°	65°	3.4"	78°
June	89°	74°	5.2"	81°
July	89°	74°	7.2"	83°
August	90°	74°	7.1"	85°
September	87°	70°	6.8"	84°
October	80°	59°	3.2"	84°
November	69°	48°	3.4"	72°
December	63°	44°	5.0"	64°
Source: Okaloosa Tourist Development Council/National Weather Service

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