Recently, I had the chance to get the inside scoop on what to do and where to stay along the Emerald Coast of Florida. As a gal who grew up traveling to the Gulf Coast in the summertime, it was a real treat to spend some time with a few locals who showed us some of their favorite places in Destin, Ft. Walton Beach, and Okaloosa Island.
Where to Stay: Right in the heart of Destin, you can find the sweetest little bed & breakfast, the Henderson Park Inn. It’s right on the beach, with rooms perfect for afternoon naps with the ocean breeze coming in through the open balcony doors. This little inn would be the perfect place for an anniversary or just a fun weekend getaway. One of my favorite features is that you’d never know you’re right smack in the middle of a tourist city, just minutes from anything you could possibly need.
Grab a cocktail: Once you’re checked in to your cozy room at the bed & breakfast, make sure to wander down to the beachside bar for happy hour. After a long day of travel, not much is sweeter than having a cocktail on the beach and watching to the sun go down.
Where to Eat: After cocktail hour, we walked back over to the Beach Walk Cafe at the hotel. After the drive down to Destin, it was a relief to be able to wander right over to the restaurant instead of getting our in the traffic to find a some dinner. We snacked on fresh fruit, cheese, and local honey while we decided on which of the local dishes to order. (I finally decided on the Grouper Vince…YUM.) Don’t pass up the dessert here, even if you just have a bite. We passed the desserts, so we could all have a taste and the Key Lime Pie and the layered Oreo Pie are the treats to try.
Keep an eye out over the next couple of weeks for Part 2 and 3 of my Emerald Coast Travel Guide!
