Destin, Florida -- the Crown Jewel of the Emerald Coast!  What can we say about Destin, it has everything while still retaining it beachside charm.  

First over the Destin bridge from Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island (West side of Destin) is the harbor/Holiday Isle area.  Here you will find charter fishing boats, water recreation rentals, harbor front casual to fine dining, dinner cruses, nightlife, shopping stores, harbor boardwalk, shopping centers, snorkeling off of the jetty's, vacation condos, resorts, hotels and beachside homes.  Wow, that is just the beginning!

Next is the central area of Destin with plenty of condos, hotels, resorts and vacation homes.  This is also the center of things to do such as a water park, amusement center, bumper cars, arcades, and bowling.  A nice cross selections of restaurants from casual to waterfront fine dining.  

The west side of the island consist mostly of a large selection of condos and resorts with a few eating establishments, beach parking and beach entrance with showers and life guard station, and service businesses.  The mid section of the island features the Boardwalk, Gulfarium, restaurants, shopping, watersports, water park, boat ramp, miniature golf and batting cage center, and the west side of the island (towards Destin) is mostly long sand beaches with several beach access and gulf side parks. 

Accommodations: 

• Great selection of gulf front condos, hotels and resorts in all price ranges, gulf front, bay/sound front. Not many beach houses.
• Inexpensive lodging available on the bay/soundside of the island.

Airports:

• Drive time from Fort Walton Beach airport 20 minuets, Pensacola airport 1.5 hours, Panama City airport 1.5 hours.

Beaches and Parks: 

• Over six miles of family oriented white sand beaches featuring youth activities, nightlife, boardwalk, volleyball, parks, playground, beachside restaurant, surfing, fishing, water recreation, beach services, pavilions, parking lots, beach showers, life guards, boat ramp.
• Largest Boardwalk in the Destin area.
• Volleyball and child's playground located at the Boardwalk.
• Beach access with parking lots, showers and life guard stations available throughout the Island.
• Boat ramp and park located on Okaloosa Island on the Intercoast waterway/Choctawhatchee Bay side just over the Brooks bridge from Destin.
• Parking lot available at the East side of the island (at the foot of the Destin bridge) where you will find rock jetties for snorkeling.
• Eglin Offices club, located on the Gulf just before the Destin bridge, features a large parking lot, pavilions, outside covered seating for beachside weddings and events, and 
• Beasley State Park features: boardwalk, pavilion, 
• The best body and board surfing waves for the Destin area is at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island.  Best tide: low going high, Best swell direction: E, SE, Best size: waist- to head-high on inside days, double overhead on outside days, Best wind: N, Bottom: sand, Ability level: average to expert, Bring your: shortboard, longboard, weather radio, Best season all, Access: Park in the Pier parking lot.

Recreation/Things To Do:

• The 1261 feet Okaloosa Island fishing pier is the only fishing pier servicing the Destin area. 
• Home of the Gulfarium, family fun and aquatic entertainment.
• Jets ski rentals, parasailing, airplane rides, beach umbrellas and beach services available throughout the Island.
• Minature golf center with batting cages located on the island.

Restaurants/Entertainment/

Shopping: 

• Shopping: Island shopping consist of beach shops, shopping malls located in Fort Walton Beach and Destin.