IF YOU GO
Here are a few websites worth checking out before your visit. They’ll help you navigate your accommodations, dining, activities and shopping.
Were it not for the palm trees, the soft white sand and the deep emerald waters, you might think for a fleeting moment that you’re in metro Atlanta.
Driving along U.S. 98, you’ll spot scores of cars with Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb license plates and could easily run into someone you know at the outlet mall or grocery store. Welcome to Destin, Florida, the one-time fishing village on the Gulf peninsula that has become a popular vacation destination for many Georgians. According to Emerald Coast tourism figures, Atlanta is the top market for visitors by car.
At a little more than 300 miles away, Destin is less than a six-hour drive from downtown Atlanta (depending on the driver, of course). Not to mention that you gain an hour once you enter into its Central Standard Time zone. If you’re not interested in driving, Delta offers direct flights from Atlanta to two area airports: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and Northwest Florida Regional Airport.
Just what makes this beach town a draw for Atlantans? Well, first it’s the simple beauty of the Emerald Coast, which includes Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. Feeling your feet sink into the pillowy sugar white sand as you make your way to the glistening green ocean is like experiencing a piece of heaven.
But more than that, Destin is the kind of place that has wide appeal — whether you’re on spring break with your family, on a girls’ or guys’ weekend to the annual Sandestin Wine Festival or there for a wedding on one of its beautiful shores. Having visited the area for all three reasons over the years, it can be hard to tell you where to start. There are an abundance of places to stay and plenty to do for almost every generation.
Accommodations
The first time I visited Destin was to attend a good friend’s wedding. She and her fiance decided that they wanted to get married on the beach at sunset. So they rented a $1.5 million house on Scenic Gulf Drive for about $5,000 for the week and hired a chef friend to come in from Texas for the weekend to not only cook for the wedding reception but for the two days leading up to their big day. The house easily accommodated about 15 people, and was big enough to host the wedding reception for about 50 people and gave them a luxurious honeymoon spot once the guests left. Some would call that a pretty good bargain.
The next few times I visited were for spring break. My three sisters and I usually coordinate our spring breaks so that our kids get a week to hang out together. It usually makes more sense for us to rent a big house instead of paying for separate hotel rooms for seven days. Using vbro.com, we found homes that had big kitchens and living space, enough rooms and beds for up to 18 people and that were in walking distance of the beach. The homes weren't million-dollar mansions; we typically paid around $2,500 for a seven-day stay. For four families, it averaged out to less than $100 a night for each of us. The kids always had a great time, we had room to spread out and cook and the beach was nearby.
This past spring, my daughter and I visited on our own for a long weekend, so a big house wasn’t necessary. We stayed at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort — a 2,400-acre resort that’s about 15 minutes from Destin and 45 minutes from Panama City. It’s also just a couple of miles from the Silver Sands Premium Outlets mall. For $180 per night (plus taxes and resort fee), we stayed in a grand studio at the Grand Sandestin. I chose the resort mainly because it was hosting the 28th annual Sandestin Wine Festival, and I’ve always been curious about the accommodations there, having seen it year after year on my drive in to Destin.
It ended up being the perfect spot for us. I got to check out the wine tastings and seminars at the festival while my daughter and her teenage friend rode complimentary bikes around the resort and lounged on the beach. While the resort had nice workout facilities, I opted to walk the beautiful grounds each morning — as did dozens of other guests. In addition, the Village of Baytowne Wharf is located at the resort. The village offers shopping, dining, nightlife for adults and adventure zones and arcades for the kids.
While there are plenty of chain hotels in the Destin area, if you're looking for a condo, a home or a villa, try rental sites such as vrbo.com and vacationrentals.com.
Things to do
Like most vacation spots, the Destin area has an abundance of attractions. For family fun, there are water parks like the Big Kahuna, places to snorkel, zip-line or ride a Jet Ski, and entertainment complexes where the kids can bungee-jump or race go-karts. Nearby Fort Walton Beach has a marine center, and the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park offers something a little different than the typical city zoo.
For adult activity, there are deep-sea fishing charters (this is a fishing village after all), golfing, and sunset cruises and sailings. During my recent stay at Sandestin, I went on a seafood lunch cruise aboard the Solaris on SunQuest Cruises. The lunch and sunset cruises feature three courses along with tea or coffee for $55 to $70 per person. The cruises are very popular among couples. Just be prepared to be away for at least three hours.
If you’re into festivals, there’s typically one going on most weekends. In July, the Village of Baytowne Wharf (located inside the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort) will host the Red, White, and Baytowne celebration on July 4. There are also food festivals such as the fall Seafood Festival and Taste of the Beach as well as the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and Sandestin Wine Festival, which typically run in the spring.
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