Destin, Florida Information

Destin, FL Information

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

GOLF

SHOPPING

CHARTER'S & CRUISES

FISHING

SNORKELING & SCUBA

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Destin Area Golf

Golfing the Emerald Coast is impeccable weather coupled with lush natural surroundings and championship tees.

The gold courses in the Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island area are among the most challenging in the country. Set in the beautiful woods and wetlands, these links provide spectacular scenery and that extra impetus to play better.

These popular courses are reasonably priced, too. So grab your bag, your shoes and your glove and head for the fairways. It’s tee time on the Emerald Coast!

Bluewater Bay Resort
(2 courses) Holes: 18, 18 Par: 72, 72
For more than ten years, visitors to the Emerald Coast have come to Bluewater Bay for one of the best golfing experiences to be found. Bluewater Bay offers 36 holes of top related golf. Course designed by Tom Fazid and Jerry Pate.
1950 Bluewater Blvd.
Niceville, FL 32578
Phone: (850) 897-3613

Emerald Bay Club
Holes: 18 Par: 72
Semi-private, 18-hole championship course with driving range, putting greens, satellite yardage system, club rentals and snack bar.
4781 Clubhouse Dr.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-5197

Ft. Walton Beach Golf Club
(2 courses) Holes: 18, 18 Par: 72, 72
Two courses: The Oaks, 833-9530, off Lewis Turner Blvd. (across from the Fairgrounds); and The Pines (country club location), 833-9529. Pro shop at The Pines. Public courses with a total of 36 holes. Lighted driving range, club rentals and snack bar.
Fort Walton Beach
Phone: (850) 833-9530

Indian Bayou Golf and Country Club
(2 courses) Holes: 18, 9 Par: 72, 36
Semi-private, 27 holes, driving range, putting greens, club rentals, pro shop and restaurant.
One Country Club Dr.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-6192

Island Golf Center
Holes: 9 Par: 27
Par-three golf course, nine-hole pitch and putt and miniature golf. Rental clubs.
Hwy. 98
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Phone: (850) 244-1612

Kelly Plantation Golf Course
Holes: 18 Par: 72
The Fred Couples Signature Golf Course is a semi-private, soft-spike facility with four sets of tees. Practice facility, rental clubs, golf packages, satellite yardage system. Full restaurant & bar. Beverage carts.
Hwy. 98 just west of Mid Bay Bridge
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 650-7600

Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club
Holes: 18 Par: 72
Public course featuring 18 holes of championship greens designed by golf course architect, Robert C. Walker. New clubhouse, pro shop, full - service restaurant. Open daily. Proper golf attire required.
465 Regatta Bay Blvd.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 337-8080

Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club
Holes: 18
Semi-private, 18-holes, putting green, driving range, club rentals and clubhouse. Grill room & full bar.
334 Golf Club Dr., C.R. 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Phone: (850) 267-2229

Seascape Resort Golf Club
Holes: 18
Public, 18-hole course with driving range, putting greens, club rentals and a snack bar.
100 Seascape Dr.
Destin, FL
Phone: (850) 837-9181

Shalimar Pointe Country Club
Holes: 18 Par: 72
Semi-private 18-hole course, putting green, driving range, club rentals, restaurant and pro shop.
302 Country Club Rd.
Shalimar, FL 32579
Phone: (850) 651-1416

The Club at Hidden Creek
Holes: 18 Par: 72
Semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course, clubhouse facility, pro shop, restaurant.
3070 PGA Blvd.
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: Phone: (850) 939-4604

The Golf Garden
Holes: 9 Par: 29
Public nine-hole lighted golf course, practice area with six multi-pin target greens, a snack bar and pro shop.
12958 Hwy. 98 W.
Destin, FL 32550
Phone: (850) 837-7422

The Moors Golf and Lodging
Holes: 18 Par: 70
Semi - private club, 18 holes, putting green, driving range, pro shop and snack bar.
3220 Avalon Blvd.
Milton, FL 32583
Phone: (850) 995-4653
Official Website

Tiger Point Golf and Country Club
(2 courses) Holes: 18, 18 Par: 72, 72
Semi-private, two 18-hole courses, driving range, putting green, club rentals, restaurant.
1255 Country Club Rd.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: (850) 932-1333
Official Website

SHOPPING

The charm and southern hospitality you’ve found elsewhere during your stay here extends into our malls and shopping areas.

While you’re enjoying our paradise, spend a day out of the sun and visit the many shops, boutiques and outlets all around the area, where you’ll find treasures to suit every taste.

Spend a lot or save a bundle. From trendy boutiques and specialty stores to malls and factory outlets, Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island offers world class shopping.

Shopping Centers

Destin Commons
A unique, open air town center, featuring upscale shopping, casual and fine dining, Bass Pro Shop, movie theater and more.
4300 Legendary Drive Suite 200 Destin, FL
Phone: (850) 337-8700

Destin’s Harborwalk
Hwy. 98 E., Foot of Destin Bridge
Destin, FL
Phone: (850) 654-6500

Fort Walton beach Main Street
180 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy.
Ft. Walton Beach
Phone: (850) 243-2627

Santa Rosa Mall
300 Mary Esther Blvd.
One block north of Hwy.98 W
Mary Esther, FL
Phone: (850) 244-2172

Shoreline Village Mall
Corner of Hwy.98 and Gulfshore Dr.
Destin, FL

Silver Sands Factory Outlet
Hwy.98 E.
Destin, FL
Phone: (850) 654-9771

Uptown Station
99 N. Eglin Pkwy.
Ft. Walton Beach
Phone: (850) 243-2627

Charter's & Cruise's

Legend:
Charter Boat:
(P) Party Fishing Boat
(S) Sightseeing Boat
(D) Dive Boat
(W) Weddings

Name Phone Number Name Phone Number
AL LIN (850) 837-8615 Miss Destin 3 (850) 837-2298
American Spirit (850) 837-1293 (P) Miss Pat (850) 837-1905
Anastasia III (850) 837-6433 Mother Lode (850) 897-3474
Back Down II (850) 837-9551 No Alibi Charters (850) 650-8050
BackLash (850) 837-6800 One of A Kind (850) 654-5174
Big John (850) 837-1947 Patti Ann (850) 243-8384 (D)
Blue Runner II (850) 837-2777 Pescador III (850) 837-7732
Bounty Hunter (850) 650-1534 Phoenix (850) 837-9734
Break Away (850) 543-4369 Reel Deep Charters (850) 376-6115 (P)
Cover Girl (850) 837-7121 Reel Doc (850) 837-4946
Daybreak (850) 837-2320 Reel Legends (850) 496-1096 (P)
Desparado (850) 837-1909 Rita Kay (850) 837-2930
Destin Princess (888) 837-5088 (P) Scamp (850) 863-9430
Elizabeth Ann (850) 837-6732 Sea Cobra (850) 837-1933 (D)
Emerald Magic (850) 837-1293 (W) Sea Notes (850) 837-4780
Emmanuel (850) 837-6313 (D) Sea Pal II (850) 837-6255
Enterprise (850) 837-4610 Seascape (850) 837-6570
Excitement (850) 654-9653 Shooting Star (850) 837-6367 (S)
Finest Kind (850) 837-6629 Silver Lining (850) 243-7304
First Light (850) 837-2320 Small Change (850) 837-6152
Fishing Fool (850) 837-9401 Solaris (850) 243-1800 (P)
Follow Me (850) 243-6212 Southern Star (850) 837-7741 (S)
Four Winds (850) 837-0195 Sportsman II (850) 244-5397
Gentle Winds (850) 837-7095 (P) Stress Relief (850) 863-7028
Glory (850) 837-0854 Strike Zone (850) 837-0631
Gulf Winds (850) 837-7095 (P) Summer Wind (850) 837-2320
Gulf Winds II (850) 837-7095 (P) Sunrise (850) 837-2320
High Cotton (850) 837-1905 Super Sea Catch (850) 837-6631
How Nice (850) 882-2724 Sweet Jody (850) 650-2500 (P)
Inshore Angler (850) 862-9722 SWOOP (850) 337-8250 (P)
Lady Em (850) 837-6717 Thearpy (850) 837-4808
Lady Eventhia (850) 837-6212 (P) Trade Winds (850) 243-1769
Lady K (850) 837-6541 Tropical Winds (850) 837-7095 (P)
Lady Tina (850) 654-9644 Twilight (850) 837-2320
Mary Anne (850) 897-5805 (D) Un Reel (850) 837-7521
Maverick Charter Boat (850) 259-7876 Wahoo (850) 837-6098
Mindy Lou II (850) 837-1790Wendy Dawn (850) 654-9556 (D)
Miss Celeste (850) 837-6609

World's Luckiest Fishing Village

Famous fruitful waters are internationally recognized. The offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot (30m) depths within 10 miles (16km) -- the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf.

Widest Variety of Catches in Florida Gulf
Up to four times more than most destinations, 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs.

Largest Charter Boat Fleet in Florida
Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters. All offer deep sea, inshore and bottom fishing for as little as $25 a half-day. Free fish cleaning for the day's catch provided by many charters.
See Charters & Cruises above

Offshore
More billfish are caught each year off the coast of Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than all other Gulf ports combined. Offshore trolling begins only 27 miles (43km) out. Prime months run April-October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo.

Bottom
Year-round concentrations lure red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish.

Inshore
The elusive cobia begins running in March. Lasting through November, subsequent runs include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna.

Water's Edge
1,200-foot (360m) Okaloosa Pier is lighted for night fishing and known to shelter 100-pound (45kg) tarpons. Casting from finger jetties, sandy shores and the 3,000-foot (900m) Destin Bridge Catwalk hooks speckled trout, white snapper and redfish.

Bay and Bayou
Catch sheepshead, white trout, channel bass, croaker, sailcat, bluefish and buckets of blue crab all year.

Freshwater Fishing
Some of the best fishing is found in Blackwater, Shoal and Yellow rivers -- teeming with bass, bream and catfish.

An array of stocked ponds, such as the 350-acre (140ha) Hurricane Lake in Blackwater River State Park, are filled with channel catfish, large-mouth bass, bluegill and shellcracker.

Snorkeling & Scuba

Rarity -- No Boat Necessary
Exceptional exploring close inshore as the 100 Fathom curve draws closer to Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than to any other spot on the Gulf.

Underwater shelling is world-renowned. Brilliant green finger and four-foot (120cm) basket sponges flourish. Also prevalent are aqua and purple sea whips, and reef clusters of white star and ivory tree coral.

Deep water close inshore attracts one of the widest arrays of marine species in Florida, from vibrant yellow angelfish and playful dolphins to six-foot (180cm) manta rays and 350-pound (158kg) loggerhead sea turtles. Lucky divers are often "submerged" amidst schools of migrating mackerel, amberjack and cigar minnows.

Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest brimming with lobsters, sponges and sea squirts, offers unique explorations, as do sunken luxury liners, ships, barges, railroad box cars -- even airplanes.

Nine dive shops offer theme excursions: spear fishing, deep sea, shell and lobster with certification classes and half-day "resort classes."

Dive Shops
Emerald Coast Scuba
Dive with the Under Pressure. Clean, fast, never crowded. Four-day PADI certifications. Also offering sightseeing cruises.
Located Behind the Taco Bell
Destin, FL
Phone: (850) 837-0955

Kokomo Snorkeling Adventure
Located on the Destin Harbor. Join Capt. Donnie Brown and his crew for three hours of snorkeling - both in the bay for shelling and around the jetties in Destin Pass to enjoy the sights of this underwater fairyland. Snorkeling gear and instruction included, if needed. Sunset cruises. Trips available daily.
500 Hwy. 98 E.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-9029

Scuba Tech
Full-service scuba and snorkeling facility offering: retail, rental, air, nitrox and all levels of instruction. Enjoy the Gulf waters on scuba charters aboard the 20-passenger Sea Cobra. Snorkel charters of the Destin Jetties aboard the Mongoose pontoon boat.
301 Hwy. 98 E.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-2822
Official Website

Snorkel Destin
"The Gulf Coast’s best and friendliest snorkeling value!" Enjoy a scenic boat ride to the area’s premier snorkeling. Mask, fins and snorkel provided. An incredible underwater excursion awaits. The Reef Runner departs three times daily, Mon. - Sat. Call for reservations.
392 S. Shore Dr.
Destin, FL 32550
Phone: (850) 654-4655

Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park
Oversized water park offers more than 40 exciting water attractions. Includes three tropical mini golf courses, two wild and fast go-kart tracks and three high-thrill rides.
1007 Highway 98 E Destin, FL 32541
Phone: 850-837-4061

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Camp Walton Schoolhouse
107 First St.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 833-9595

Emerald Coast Science Center
A child’s fantasy museum of science, it stimulates the imagination with exhibits such as a reflecting Castle of Mirrors, "adult-sized" bubble makers, a literally hair-raising Vandergraph generator, an electrifying Illuma Storm and more.
139 Brooks St.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 664-1261

Ft. Walton Beach Skating Center
202 Racetrack Rd. NW
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 863-1222

Goofy Golf
401 N. Eglin Pkwy.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 862-4922

Gulfarium
America’s second oldest marine park (1955), it hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Peruvian penguins, Ridley turtles and more in 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Dolphin stars Princess and Delilah delight with feats from comedic soccer games to 18-foot (540cm) leaps toward the clouds.
1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 244-5169

Indian Temple Mound And Museum
The 6,000-piece exhibit, showcasing America’s largest collection of Southeastern Indian ceramic artifacts, journeys through 10,000 years of four prehistoric tribes. The largest Indian mound discovered along saltwater (1400 A.D.) stands guard beside the museum.
139 S.E. Miracle Strip Pkwy.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 833-9595

Island Golf Center, Fenway Park Batting Cages, Lost Lagoon Golf
1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 224-1612

Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier
1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: (850) 244-1023

Old Destin Post Office Museum
Stahlman Ave. (across from library)
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-8572 (library)

The Track Family Recreation Center
The Track in Destin is your family headquarters for fun! Our action-packed recreation center features everything from the ultimate in go-cart tracks, like our Wild Woody three-tiered go-kart/roller coaster hybrid, to big fun for little tykes at Kids Country. Challenge your friends to miniature golf, Bumper Boats, or test your courage at our bungee jumping tower. See our website for 10% OFF and FREE shipping on tickets!
1125 Hwy. 98 E.
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 654-4668

U.S. Air Force Armament Museum
Riddled with bombs, the only U.S. museum dedicated to the display of Air Force armament is "protected" by 25 reconnaissance, fighter and bomber planes such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane. Four wars -- WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf -- are spanned through a fighter cockpit simulator, thousands of weapons, war films, photography exhibits and more.
Hwy. 85 (outside main gate Eglin AFB)
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
Phone: (850) 882-4062