Active Pursuits

Boating

Pontoon boats are highly popular for use on the back bays and for Sunday-afternoon floating parties in East Pass. Several companies rent them, including Gilligan's Watersports (tel. 850/650-9000; www.destinadventure.com) and Brooks Bridge Bait and Tackle (tel. 850/243-5721; www.destin-ation.com). Expect to pay about $80 for a half-day, $125 for a full day.

Fishing

Billing itself as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village," Destin has Florida's largest charter-boat fleet, with more than 140 vessels based at the marinas lining the north shore of Destin Harbor, on U.S. 98 east of the Destin Bridge. Arranging a trip is as easy as walking along the Destin Harbor waterfront, where you'll find the booking booths of several agents, such as Harborwalk Charters (tel. 800/242-2824 or 850/837-2343; www.harborwalkfishing.com), Pelican Charters (tel. 850/837-2343), and Harbor Cove Charters (tel. 850/837-2222). Rates for private charters range from about $100 per person to $300 per person, depending on the length of the voyage.

For additional information on small and large group charters, check out FishDestin.com (tel. 850/837-9401 or 585-0049; www.fishdestin.com). If you're a die-hard angler, consider coming in October for the Destin Fishing Rodeo (tel. 850/837-6734; www.destinfishingrodeo.org), a month-long fishing extravaganza.

You don't have to go to sea to fish from the catwalk of the 3,000-foot Destin Bridge, over East Pass. The marinas and bait shops at Destin Harbor can provide gear, bait, and fishing licenses. In Fort Walton Beach, you can cast a line off Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, 1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy. E./U.S. 98 (tel. 850/244-1023; www.okaloosaislandpier.com), open 24 hours a day. Adults pay $7 to fish, seniors $6; children 12 and under pay $4. Observers pay $1. Bait and equipment rentals are available.

Golf

For advance information on area courses, contact the Emerald Coast Golf Association, P.O. Box 304, Destin, FL 32540. Also look for South Coast Golf Guide, the free annual directory published in Pensacola. Be sure to ask whether your choice of accommodations offers golf packages, which can mean significant savings.

For course information, go to www.golf.com or www.floridagolfing.com, or call the Florida Sports Foundation (tel. 850/488-8347) or Florida Golfing (tel. 866/833-2663).

On the mainland, nonresidents are welcome to play at the city-owned Fort Walton Beach Golf Club, on Lewis Turner Boulevard (C.R. 189) north of town (tel. 850/833-9530). The club has two 18-hole courses -- the Pines and the Oaks (tel. 850/833-9528) -- plus a pro shop. Greens fees at both courses are about $40 year-round, including cart.

In Destin, scenic Indian Bayou Golf and Country Club, off Airport Road (tel. 850/837-6191; www.indianbayougolf.com), has three 9-hole courses with large greens and wide fairways. They look easy, but watch out for water hazards and strategically placed hidden bunkers! Greens fees, including cart, are about $79.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort , on U.S. 98 East in southern Walton County (tel. 850/267-8211 for tee times; www.sandestin.com), is the largest facility here. Its 72 holes are spread over three outstanding championship courses. The Baytowne and Links courses overlook Choctawhatchee Bay. Fees for 18 holes are $95 to $149 for resort guests, $115 to $169 for nonguests.

Some of the 18 championship holes at Emerald Bay Golf Club, 2 miles east of the Mid-Bay Bridge on U.S. 98 (tel. 850/837-5197; www.emeraldbaygolfclub.com), run along Choctawhatchee Bay; the water adds both beauty and challenges to the otherwise wide and forgiving fairways. Greens fees are about $95 with cart, $75 in winter.

In southern Walton County, the semiprivate Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club, off C.R. 30A in Dune Allen Beach (tel. 850/267-2229; www.santarosaclub.com), offers a challenging 18-hole course through tall pines looking out to vistas of the Gulf. The club has a pro shop, a beachside restaurant, a lounge, and tennis courts. Fees are about $95 in summer, $79 during off season.

In Niceville, a 20-minute drive north via the Mid-Bay Bridge, nonguests may play golf (four 9-hole courses) or tennis (21 courts) at the Bluewater Bay Resort (tel. 850/897-3241; www.bwbresort.com), which also has condominiums for rent.

Call ahead for reservations and current fees at all these clubs; also ask about afternoon and early-evening specials.

Sailing

Sailing South, on U.S. 98 at Destin Harbor (tel. 850/837-7245; www.sailingsouth.com), has half-day cruises aboard the 72-foot schooner Daniel Webster Clements. The 2 1/2-hour afternoon cruises stop for swimming and snorkeling virtually under the Destin Bridge; these cost $40 for adults and $25 for kids 11 and under. It also offers 2 1/2-hour sunset cruises for the same price. The 54-foot schooner Nathaniel Bowditch (tel. 850/650-8787; www.bowditchsailing.com) will take you on sunset cruises, $35 per person, and half-day shelling excursions, $40 per person.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

At least a dozen dive shops are located along the beaches. Considered one of the best, Scuba Tech Diving Charters has two locations in Destin: at 301 U.S. 98 E. (tel. 850/837-2822; www.scubatechnwfl.com) and at 10004 U.S. 98 E. (tel. 850/837-1933), about a half-mile west of the Sandestin Beach Resort.

Watersports

Hobie Cats, WaveRunners, jet boats, jet skis, and parasailing are available all along the beach. The largest selection of operators is at the marina just east of the Destin Bridge, behind the Hooters and Fat Tuesday's pubs. These include Boogies (tel. 850/654-4497) and 331 Watersports (tel. 888/357-2608 or 850/837-7755).