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Destin and Fort Walton Beach Attractions
7 Results
- Museum
Air Force Armament Museum
History buffs will want to make a stop here to check out the impressive collection of over 25 reconnaissance, fighter, and bomber planes on display. The SR-71 Blackbird spy plane is a big draw, with its streamlined, space age look. There's also a serious collection of …$ - Park/Garden
Deer Lake State Park
The lake in the name of this park is a rare coastal dune lake. Very few exist worldwide, and this is one of the few in the United States, all of which are found along the Gulf Coast. Along its shores, and elsewhere in the park, rare plants grow, like the Gulf coast lupine, pitcher… - Historic Site
Eden Gardens State Park
These 115 acres house the 1895 Greek Revival-style Wesley Mansion, which has been restored and richly furnished with period antiques. The second-largest collection of Louis XVI furniture in the country is here, along with a Chippendale nightstand worth about $1 million. The mansion… - Attraction
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
The country’s second-oldest marine park (it opened in 1955) presents ongoing 25-minute shows with penguins, otters, sea lions, dolphins, reptiles, and seals. Exhibits include the Living Sea, with windows for viewing undersea life. During one of the shows, a scuba diver explains the… - Museum
Indian Temple Mound and Museum
This ceremonial mound, one of the largest ever discovered, dates from A.D. 1200. The museum showcases some of its 6,000 ceramic artifacts from southeastern American Indian tribes, the nation's largest such collection. Exhibits depict the lifestyles of the four tribes that lived in… - Park/Garden
Tate's Hell State Forest
How the hell did this park get its name? The story goes that a farmer went off into the forest looking for the panther that killed his livestock. The farmer got lost for 7 days and was bitten by a snake, and when he finally emerged in Carrabelle, he said, “My name is Cebe Tate, and I… - Museum
U.S. Air Force Armament Museum
Although this museum is not on a par with Pensacola’s National Museum of Naval Aviation, it will be catnip for folks who are into warplanes (not so much for other visitors). Located on the world’s largest air base, it traces military developments from World War II to Operation Desert…
Destin and Fort Walton Beach Shopping
Some 26 art galleries line Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A, many of which exclusively show the works of local painters and sculptors. You can see a full list of galleries at the website artistsof30a.com. Our favorites include the Woodie Long Art Gallery and Museum at 1066 Bay Dr., which shows the accomplished folk art of this self-taught artist; and Big Mama's Hula Girl Gallery at 2048 E. County Hwy 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. The latter is joyous kitsch central, and sells handcrafted jewelry, furniture, sculpture and vintage items.
Santa Rosa Beach's Artists at Gulf Place (7 Laura Hamilton Blvd.) is another showcase for local artists who sell their works from colorful, seaside open-air kiosks.
Seaside's Ruskin Place, at 123 Quincy Circle, was originally intended to be an artist’s colony, but the real estate became too pricey. There are, however, some art galleries still here, housed in architecturally appealing buildings. A combo farmer’s and flea market is held Saturdays 9am to noon here.
Elsewhere in Seaside, and in Rosemary Beach, are a number of mom-and-pop shops selling books, artisanal foods, fashion, fragrances, art, and kitsch in an atmosphere that’s about as far from a mall as you can get.
The half-charming, half Disney-esque Village of Baytowne Wharf, 9300 U.S. Hwy. 98 W. (tel. 850/267-8117), on the water in the Sandestin resort development, has non-chain shops in cute little houses, plus live music, restaurants and bars.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Silver Sands Premium Outlets (10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W, Miramar Beach) has over 100 upscale brands—Tory Burch, Coach, Michael Kors and more—selling their fashions at what's often a steep discount.
Destin and Fort Walton Beach Nightlife
Destin, Florida Nightlife
Several restaurants provide entertainment nightly in summer, and on weekends in the off-season. The dockside AJ’s Club Bimini, 116 U.S. 98 E. (tel. 850/837-1913), is like perma-Spring Break with DJs and live bands playing under a thatched-roofed deck.A somewhat older, if not more sober, crowd gathers at the Deck, on U.S. 98 E. at the Harbor Docks restaurant, overlooking the harbor (tel. 850/837-2506).
Tailfins Waterfront Grill, 172 Harbor Blvd. (tel. 850/650-1200) also has a pulsing bar scene in season.
For Irish tunes nightly year-round, head for McGuire’s Irish Pub & Brewery ★★, in the Harborwalk Shops, U.S. 98 east of the Destin Bridge.
The Sky Bar at Edge Seafood, 302 Harbor Blvd. (tel. 850/659-3549), is a view-rich, adults only harborside rooftop bar that draws the after-dinner crowd from the Back Porch and other adjacent restaurants. Another fab rooftop bar is at The Henderson Beach Resort.
For more of a roadhouse vibe, Nashville import The Red Door Saloon ★★ has a location at 240 Harbor Blvd. (tel. 850/424-5974) has a fantastic outdoor patio and is open daily until 2am.
Out toward Sandestin, Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill, 20001 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (tel. 850/654-4200), opposite the Henderson Beach State Park, offers double the fun with two summertime stages.
Fort Walton Beach Nightlife
Country music and dancing fans should head for the High Tide Oyster Bar, at Okaloosa Island off the Brooks Bridge (tel. 850/244-2624). Papa Joe’s Hideaway, 104 S. Perry Ave. (tel. 850/244-5599), is another great hangout for live music—everything from country and blues to experimental jazz—and, on Thursdays and Saturdays at 6:30pm, final table poker.Docie’s Dock, 24 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE, (tel. 850/810-5555), is the oldest watering hole in town, a beloved dive bar with live music Thursdays through Saturdays and the area’s best bourbon and whiskey selections.
Beaches of South Walton/30A Nightlife
For a mellow night out, Rosemary Beach’s Courtyard at Pescado, 74 Town Hall Rd. (tel. 850/213-4600), is a New Orleans-style oasis featuring live music nightly from 6pm to 10pm, except on Tuesdays.In Alys Beach, NEAT, 11 N. Castle Harbour Dr., (tel. 850/213-5711), is a cool bottle shop and tasting room dedicated to craft cocktails and spirits with live music and wine tastings.
The Old Florida Fish House at 33 Heron’s Watch Way, Santa Rosa Beach (tel. 850/534-3045) is best known for The Porch—literally a screened in porch overlooking Eastern Lake and featuring live music and lots of locals lingering and lounging.
Over in Seaside, sunset or late-night drinks are a must at the Roof-Deck Bar, upstairs at Bud & Alley’s (tel. 850/231-5900). But it’s the Red Bar (tel. 850/231-1008) that sees the funkiest crowd, from rowdy locals to bona fide celebrities. As the night goes on, the place gets crazier. Brace yourselves.
Want more local color? Redd’s Fueling Station, 2320 W. County Hwy 30A, Blue Mountain Beach, (tel. 850/325-0252), is a local dive bar best known for the bawdy beltings of owner Redd, who goes by the moniker “The Singing Bartender.” She takes requests for tips. They also play “Dirty Bingo” here to raise money for local charities. It’s an experience that’s fun sober or otherwise.
