When looking for luxury, beachfront real estate, hopeful buyers and renters need look no further than Destin, FL for their getaway needs.  Located on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay in southern Okaloosa County, Destin prides itself on its maritime connections, sporting over 12 beach access points within the city, and claiming the largest fishing fleet in the state of Florida – earning it the moniker of “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”  The city is best-known for fresh-caught seafood, high-end shopping, and beach-related tourism, boosted by the city’s beaches – made from finely ground quartz, and counted among the whitest beaches in the world.

Neighborhood Make-up

Most real estate in Destin is made up of privately-owned vacation rentals.  While most of these are located south of Hwy 98 – closer to the Gulf – local residents are usually found on the northern edge of the peninsula, on the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay.  Properties in the area range from high-rise condos and luxury beach homes with panoramic views of the Gulf, to townhomes, studios and cottages – as well as a large array of hotels & motels catered to your vacationing or relocation needs.

Take a look at all Destin has to offer here.

Dining

First and foremost, Destin is known for its seafood.  From Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House, to the ichthyoid delights of the multiple location Dewey Destin’s Seafood – named after its founder, and descendent of Leonard Destin, who founded the town in 1835 – the fishing culture of the Destin area is perhaps best conveyed through its food.  Outside of this staple, Destin also has many other great food choices, such as breakfast at Crackings, Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill, the Destin location of McGuire’s Irish Pub – a Pensacola staple since the late 70s, before opening a second location in 1996 – and many more.

Entertainment

Destin is also a great place for those looking to cut loose.  For music lovers, Graffiti & Funk Blues Shack – considered one of the best live venues on the Emerald Coast, and home to many American culinary classics – and Club LA are must visits!  Outside of more adult entertainment, Destin also offers a wide assortment of family-friendly options such as the MAXIMUM Magic Show at the HarborWalk Theater, Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone – featuring mini-golf, a roller coaster, and arcade – among countless other day-trip options and outings. 

Shopping

For those more interested in shopping than sunbathing, there is no place like Destin.  From the many shops of Destin Commons, voted “Best Place to Shop” by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine, to the sprawling HarborWalk Village – home to such niche stores as Naples Soap Company, Life Is Good, and Kitty Hawk Kites – Destin more than proves itself as a shopper’s paradise.  Other great options include The Copper Closet boutique, and Frill Seekers Gifts.

Attractions

Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park

One of the best places for good, outdoor fun in Destin is Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park.  Opened in 1986, the park features over forty water-themed attractions, as well as a number of thrill rides located in the properties Adventure Park.  Whether its flying down one of the high-intensity water slides, or drying out hundreds of feet in the air on the Sky Coaster or Cyclone Twister, no trip to Destin is complete without a stop at Big Kahuna’s.

Henderson Beach State Park

As is common throughout Northwest Florida, one of the best experiences in the Destin areas comes in the form of a State Park.  Henderson State Park – located on the southern side of the peninsula – offers visitors the perfect location to enjoy all the natural beauty common of the barrier island areas of the Panhandle.  Whether you prefer camping, fishing, swimming, or biking there isn’t much you can do when visiting the park. 

Crab Island

If spending the day out on the water is more your style, Crab Island is the place for you!  The ‘island’ – once a true isle, but now only a raised sandbar – is the perfect place to laze in the sun and enjoy all of Destin’s subtropic beauty.  Surrounded by shallow, clear water, experiences around the island include obstacle courses, floating bars with a range of refreshments, inflatable slides on the water, and many other fun options. 

For a better idea of what Crab Island has to offer, click here.

Schools

Destin is served by the Okaloosa Public School District.

·         Destin High School – Public, 9-12

·         Destin Middle School – Public, 5-8

·         Destin Elementary School – Public, PK-4