Destin Vacation Rentals

When you’re searching for Destin vacation rentals don’t forget to look for one that is nearby plenty of amenities for watersports. There are lots of different ones to choose from along the Emerald Coast. Whether you’re an expert in the water or just a novice, whether you want your time on the water to be fast and adventurous or calm and relaxing you’ll find fun things to do in the water in Destin.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Because Destin’s water is deep so close to the shore, it attracts a wide variety of marine life. From playful bottlenose dolphins to brilliant yellow angel fish, from Loggerhead Turtles to Manta Rays, the submerged world is teeming with beautiful underwater creatures, and you can become a part of that world. There are several professional scuba diving and snorkeling crews throughout the Destin area. You can easily arrange equipment rental, instruction and dive trips. Canoeing and Kayaking There are plenty of opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this part of the Florida Panhandle. Some Destin condos even have their own private docks leading to the water. The Choctawhatchee Bay is a great place for putting your canoe or kayak in.

Waverunners

If you want the thrill of fast action on the water you can rent a four-stroke waverunner and have a blast with one of Destin’s ultimate watersports. You must be 22 or older to ride a waverunner, or else have a state approved boating license.

Pontoon Boats

If you prefer your time out on the water to be a little more relaxing, why not rent a pontoon boat. You and you friends and family can enjoy swimming, sunbathing and picnicking on the nearby sandbars in the comfort of your own boat.

Parasailing

This unique sport will give you a whole new perspective of the beautiful Emerald Coast. Once you try it you’ll gain an astounding panoramic view of Destin’s sun-soaked beaches. Rent a state-of-the-art parasail boat for you and your friends with triple, double or single flights. Boats are driven by an experienced captain to ensure you are safe and have a great time. Parasail boats depart from Destin Harbor and can carry up to twelve passengers.

YOLO

YOLO boarding or paddle boarding is a fun new sport that involves standing on top of a longer version of a traditional longboard and using a paddle to move across the water. Both a relaxing activity and a good workout, YOLOing has often been likened to performing “yoga on water.”

Surfing

The best time to enjoy surfing in Destin is during the spring, autumn and winter. Though there are generally a few days of surf during the summer months, the Gulf is usually quite calm and flat. If you are surfing during the winter months you will need to wear a wet suit as the water will often get quite cold.

If you have an artistic bent and you are looking for Destin condos and Destin vacation rentals close to creative communities, look no further than Highway 30-A. Scenic Highway 30-A extends from Destin to Panama City Beach and is sprinkled with artistic communities, each with their own unique flair.

Blue Mountain Beach

One of the creative hotspots is the Blue Mountain Beach area. The local was so named by explorers who from their ships saw what appeared to be blue mountains on the shore of northwest Florida. When they came ashore they realized that they were not mountains at all, but sand dunes covered with the indigenous blue lupine flower. This laid-back beach is famed for its cozy cottages, eclectic cuisine and the Timpoochee Trail. It is also an artist retreat. Blue Mountain is home to renowned artist Justin Gaffrey, renowned for his extravagant blobs of vibrant sculptured paint on canvas. His paintings capture the stunning landscapes and marine life that is native to the Emerald Coast region. Gaffrey began his career as a painter after working as a chef for many years. In 2000 he was inspired by a Caribbean folk painting and attempted to paint in a similar style. From them he never looked back, and now paints every day using his own unique primitive folk style.

Seagrove Beach

Seagrove Beach is another haven for artists. The location gained its name from the dense grove of oak trees that line the beach. This unique seaside community has much to offer. Eastern lake is a great place to watch the tiny fish and enjoy the calm water. It is also a great spot for landscape painters and sketch artists. There are a number of vacation rentals that cater specifically to those with an artistic bent and the evening sunsets are unsurpassed in their beauty; a must for all artists whatever their medium. When you’re ready to put down your brushes you can enjoy browsing the local stores. For inspiration explore the Roland Day Art Gallery. Day’s paintings comprise an eclectic mix of vibrant, mixed-media abstract paintings on canvas, nudes in many forms and religious paintings. Day works with an impasto texture in a style that evokes Georges Roualt.

Artists At Gulf Place

You will find this cooperative of eight artists at Santa Rosa Beach. The creative endeavors consist of hand-crafted pottery by Dwight Ward, John Hollan’s photography, painted windows by Chastane, Kris Ogden’s wild textiles, mixed media art by Sally Sisters, Maxine Orange’s bright, abstract paintings, Patti Scholtterlein’s art made from reclaimed materials and jewelry by La Vie Est Belle. As well as viewing and purchasing art from this team of creative, visitors can also enjoy hosting your child’s birthday party at Gulf Place, where the kids can participate in tie-dying and face painting. You can also attend one of their many creative workshops.

You can read about more fun, exciting and interesting "off the beaten path" activities on Highway 30-A on the Perfect Places vacation rental blog.

Known as “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin, Florida has long been a popular holiday destination. There are many resorts offering Destin condos and Destin vacation rentals throughout the summer months. Whether your stay is a long weekend or several weeks, you will enjoy the superb sugar-white sand beaches, world-renowned fishing and world-class golf courses that make this coastal city unique.

There’s no need to worry about the weather in Destin. The Emerald Coast enjoys a subtropical climate with an average annual temperature of 67.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the winter months are relatively mild, there is just enough of a temperature fluctuation of signify the passing of four seasons. Summer high temperatures range from 80 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, making this the perfect time for dipping into the crystal waters. Average annual rainfall is only 50-75 days so you can enjoy blue skies on most days. Best of all, the Gulf of Mexico is warm enough to swim in all year round.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Destin has plentiful resorts that offer luxury condos, beachfront rentals, snug hotels and apartments. All have full amenities and will make your vacation a memorable one. Whether you choose from Destin condos or other Destin vacation rentals, the city is a welcoming place for the whole family. There are many child-friendly resorts with plenty of attractions including museums, parks and aquariums, not to mention all the beaches, so you can be sure your kids will spend hours on fun-packed activities.

When you’re in the mood to shop, Destin has no shortage of options. Destin commons is a focal point of activity combining a selection of stores with restaurants and movie theatres. You can also stop by the Silver Sands Factory Stores to check out the latest designer-brand outlets and grab a bite at one of the many eateries.

If you’re a golfing enthusiast you will love Destin. The city boasts more than ten world-class golf courses including the scenic Baytown, Burnt Pine, Raven, and Links at Sandestin Resort and the semi-private Emerald Bay and Kelly Plantation. If you’re heading to Florida for Golf, there are a number of Destin condos and vacation rental packages at the golf resorts.

Destin is a lively city with many events taking place throughout the year. Throughout May and June, you can enjoy live concerts every Thursday at The Village Green of the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. From June 1st-4th Destin celebrates the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in memory of the scoundrel of the seas William Augustus Bowles. The event has live music, pirate grub, games for the children and fireworks. You’ll never forget Fourth of July in Destin. Fireworks and activities for kids and adults abound. Live music extravaganzas begin on most beaches on July 1st and continue through to the 4th. Act 4 Murder is a delightfully funny comedic murder mystery troupe who perform original murder mystery or comedy productions for dinner theatre. You can catch their weekly shows in Destin and Sandestin from early June through late August.

More than 23 miles of white sandy beaches extend along Florida’s Emerald Coast, where the shoreline meats the crystal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This unique sand is composed of pure Appalachian quartz and has the ability to stay cool even in the subtropical heat of Florida’s summers. By reflecting sunlight up through the surf, it gives the waters the emerald green color that defines them. Once a small fishing village, Destin has now grown to a world-famous holiday resort. It’s easy to find Destin vacation rentals and Destin condos overlooking the sugar-white sand beaches and emerald colored water.

Rosemary Beach

Rosemary Beach is a piece of paradise located between Panama City and Destin on the northwest Gulf Coast. This neo-traditional town can easily be reaches by car and is just a thirty minute drive from the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Developed in 1995, Rosemary Beach is comprised of a 107 acre, town built on the Gulf shores. The long stretches of pristine beach are covered in sugar-white sand and enjoy year-round mild temperatures. The sands are usually not too crowded and you can enjoy the natural beauty and the complimentary architecture. The beach has many amenities including parks, tennis courts, dune walkovers, pools and shopping.

Santa Rosa Beach

This is one of the area’s most tranquil beaches. Named one of the “10 Best Beach Destinations for 2011” by Yahoo Travel, Santa Rosa Beach is located on the Emerald Coast between Destin and Laguna. This locale is famous for is beach and golf club where guests can spend the afternoon on the links and after enjoy dinner and drinks overlooking the crystal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Fort Walton

There is no shortage of things to see and do at Fort Walton Beach. Visit the Heritage Park and the Temple Mound Museum to get a taste of Native America’s past. This family friendly beach offers many attractions including year-round fishing and golfing as well as nature trails along the coastal dune landscape.

Inlet Beach

Inlet beach has a relaxed atmosphere and a welcoming vibe for all visitors. Located at the eastern edge of South Walton, this area is comprised of an eclectic mix of contemporary multi-storey homes and quaint beach cottages. You can spend the day fishing from the Gulf or take a meandering walk round the streets, stopping to grab a meal of fresh, local seafood from one of the local restaurants.

Grayton Beach

First developed in the 19th century, Grayton Beach was the first of the communities of South Walton. You may feel you have travelled back in time as you walk down its streets paved with oyster shells, past the old wooden homes surrounded by oak trees. A town with a quaint and cozy character, Grayton has a range of charming rental cabins as well plenty to do at Grayton Beach State Park. Enjoy hiking through this scenic area and canoeing or kayaking from the public dock on Western Lake.

Fishing is one of the most enjoyable sports on the Emerald Coast, so when you’re getting ready to look for Destin vacation rentals, remember to check out the nearest fishing opportunities. Destin is not called “the world’s luckiest fishing village,” for nothing. It is home to one of the most expansive deep sea charter boat fleets in the United States. Boats can be chartered by individuals, companies or groups. Destin Harbor has a number of companies offering boats for hall-day and full day fishing trips. Because its location is close to an offshore shelf within the Gulf of Mexico, the waters are always teeming with a diverse variety of species of fish. Once you try fishing in Destin, you’ll be hooked.

Pier Fishing

You don’t have to have a boat to enjoy fishing in Destin. The Emerald Coast waters are home to many fish that can by caught from the beach pier and jetty. The best time for this type of fishing in the Gulf is from April through October. For pier and jetty fishing you can use, frozen, live or artificial bait to catch Blue Runner, Sheepshead, Pompano, Sail Cat, Bluefish, Redfish, Channel Bass, Whiting, Cobia, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel and Bonito.

You can enjoy year-round fishing in the Choctawhatchee Bay, where you can expect to find Bluefish, Flounder, Channel Bass, Speckled Sea Trout, White Trout, Redfish and Sail Cat, Blue Crabs area also common along the bay’s shore.

Bottom Fishing

Destin’s fishing fleet specializes in bottom fishing and you can participate all year round. Boats can be chartered for a whole day, a half day and overnight. Party boasts which accommodate 25-105 passengers are also available for all day and half-day excursions. When you bottom fish you can expect to catch Amber jack, Scamp, Snapper, Cobia, Trigger, and Grouper.

Inshore Trolling

The season for inshore trolling runs from March through to November, commencing with the spring run of Cobia. It can also produce catches of Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel and Bonito. Boats for inshore trolling trips can be chartered for all day and half day excursions.

Offshore Trolling

Offshore trolling takes place beyond the 50 fathom curve, approximately 27 miles southwest of Destin. Fishing in this area can produce Dolphin Fish, Wahoo, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, and Billfish.

Fishing Tournaments

From March to October Destin hosts a wide range of fishing tournaments including the World Cobia Tournament in March, The Pinfish Classic in May, September’s Annual King Mackerel Classic, and the Destin Fishing Rodeo in October. The rodeo kicks off with the Destin Seafood Festival where seafood aficionados can sample many deep-water seafood dishes including fried alligator, shark kabobs and crawfish cheese bread. It’s a great event for all the family.

Fishing Licenses

All Florida residents and visitors must have a saltwater fishing license unless they are fishing form a chartered boat which holds a Vessel saltwater Fishing License.

Dolphins

You won’t want to miss out on the Destin’s delightful marine life. Destin harbor is home to one of Florida’s most alluring marine animals; the bottlenose dolphin. You can enjoy watching these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat while taking a glass-bottom boat trip, a tour-guided wave runner excursion, sailing on an old-fashioned sailing ship or taking a modern, family dolphin cruise. Whichever you choose, you won’t forget these delightful creatures and your excursion can be captured for posterity on video. You can read about dolphin cruises on our vacation rentals blog.

Crab Island

Crab Island is a must-see while you’re staying in your Destin vacation rental. It’s easy to find on the bay side of the bridge adjoining Okaloosa Island to Destin. What makes Crab Island so fascinating is that is not actually an island at all; it’s almost all underwater. The depth ranges from knee to shoulder-high, which makes it the perfect playground for splashing around. You can enjoy walking around the small sand bar, and the water is calm enough here for children to play in. Why not rent a jet ski and enjoy the surrounding waters or go snorkeling? There’s even a floating hamburger bar nearby.

(Shelling) Sea Shells

If you enjoy shelling, you won’t be short of Destin vacation rentals to choose from. Destin’s beaches are very popular with shelling enthusiasts, probably because the 100-fathom curve touches closer to Destin’s shores than anywhere else along the Gulf Coast. This makes it one of the world’s top five shelling destinations. Destin and the surrounding area offers many dive shops which cater for snorkeling and scuba adventures as well as themed excursions such as deep sea fishing, lobster and shell classes. Check out our vacation rentals blog for more tips on cruises.

Spas

After a few days soaking up the sun on Destin’s beaches there’s nothing better than a trip to the spa. The area is home to a number of day spas close to many Destin vacation rentals, such as The Edge of Paradise, The Art of Relaxation and the Spa at Emerald Cove. These are all close to Destin’s vacation rentals and you can enjoy a number of enervating and rejuvenating treatments such as hot stone and Swedish massages, and facials. Ensure you always look perfect on the beach with a new summer hairstyle, manicure, pedicure and body waxing. Many spas also have facilities such as steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis so where you can relax your body and your mind.

Shopping

In recent years, the Florida Panhandle has become one of the Southeast’s primo shopping destinations. Why not take a break from the beaches and spend a day checking out the wide range of shops the area has to offer. There are a number of shopping centers that cater to many different tastes. If you are looking for a mixture of retail, eateries and cinemas, you will find it at Destin Commons. If designer outlets and factory stores are more to your taste, look no further than Silver Sands Factory Stores. Whichever you choose, in Destin you can certainly shop till you drop!

Flea markets or street markets/Harbor Walk

Florida visitors who stay in Destin vacation rentals often enjoy a trip to Harborwalk. Located on Route 98, the village is a shopper’s haven that is packed with retail outlets, entertainment and activities for all the family. As well as waterfront shopping you can find water sports, pontoon and boat rentals, firework extravaganzas and live entertainment. If you enjoy flea markets you won’t be disappointed. Just a short drive away, Fort Walton Beach is famous for is flea market which is open 7 days per week. There, you can search among a treasure trove of used books, vintage closes, antiques and collectables.

Transportation to Destin

There are a number of options for travelling in and around Destin. The nearest airport is the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, located in Fort Walton Beach. This is only a 25-minute drive from Destin. Another option is Panama City Beach Airport (PFN), though this is not a conveniently close as Fort Walton. To travel from the airport to your accommodation you can use the Sunshine Shuttle if you choose not to rent a car. Watch out for traffic on Saturday’s as it can get particularly hectic coming into the city. Taxis can be expensive, particularly during the tourist season.

Transportation in Destin

Hiring a car to reach your Destin vacation rental is a simple as making a phone call. Cars can be picked up from the airport and dropped off or collected when you are done. As an alternative, Okaloosa County Transit service runs buses throughout the Destin area from 8 a.m. till 7 p.m. during the summer months, with shuttles arriving at designated destinations every 20 minutes. If you want to really travel in style, why not rent a limousine from 654 Limo? The company offers luxury services with professional drivers 24 hours a day to and from anywhere in the Panhandle region.

Restaurants

No one takes a vacation in Destin without sampling the area’s deliciously fresh seafood, and there is no shortage of choices. You can try the eclectic menu at the Marina Café; “Destin’s Most Awarded Restaurant,” or for more casual fine dining and a menu offering pizza and steak as well as local seafood, check out the Café Thirty-A. Destin’s La Paz Restaurante and Cantina combines mouthwateringly fresh seafood with southern Tex-Mex cuisine. The Smiling Fish Café is a great family-run restaurant where you can take the kids and enjoy the local seafood, Angus Beef and signature salads.

Nightlife

There’s always something to do at night in Destin. If you’re looking for a choice of live bands or a DJ spinning tunes you can get down to, check out The Swamp. If you want a more relaxing atmosphere, visit Harbor Docks for a taste of local food, jazz and country music and meet owner and local character Charles Morgan. The Angler’s Sports Bar is a great place for a night out with the boys, with its two 9-foot projection TVs and 14, 32 inch TVs. For something totally unique, try the White Sands Party Bus. Hire a limo bus for you and up to 24 friends to party on with two dance rooms, dance poles and separate sound systems.

Best places to buy fresh seafood

While staying in your Destin vacation rental, you will need to know the best places to buy fresh seafood so you can enjoy the mouthwatering local fare. Dewey Destin Seafood is a popular favorite and has two locations at Crab Island and Destin Harbor. It offers a host of fresh, local seafood including crab and tuna appetizers and steamed shrimp, scallops and crab by the pound. If you want to prepare it at home then visit Sexton’s Seafood or Destin’s Ice and Seafood, both of which have a wide range of outstanding local seafood and shellfish.

Eco-tourism

Florida has a number of beach ecotourism locations; perhaps the most popular is Sandestin, home to many Destin vacation rentals. Sandestin is also a regular nesting site for the amazing Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles. They come ashore to lay their eggs in April and May and the young turtles hatch in August and October. If you enjoy cycling and want to help the environment, the Sandestin bicycle tour takes place in May of each year, and the proceeds go towards the Alaqua Animal Refuge. This project is an independent non-profit organization that provides shelter and helps to prevent pet overpopulation.

September to Spring Break (around March) is generally considered off season in Destin. And if you're looking for a lot of heat, you might want to travel even further south or try a Caribbean vacation rental. But if you enjoy cooler nights, warm days and the sense that you "own the place," off season in Destin is something you'll probably enjoy. Many Destin vacation rentals offer cheaper rates during off season and the crowds are gone, which means you'll have beaches and restaurants more to yourself. Many, if not most, amusement attractions stay open, though you may find some closed. Shop owners will be glad to see you, so you'll get personal treatment. Call ahead as you plan your itinerary. While the ocean temperatures drop steadily during the fall and winter, it still feels warm to snowbirds, no matter how cold it feels to Floridians. An added bonus: the humidity that Florida is famous for virtually disappears during the fall and winter. It's one of the reasons northerners started coming to Florida in the winter decades ago.