A couple of weeks ago, I got to take a little break and wander off for a weekend away with a few friends. I hit the road with Mae, Lacey, and Beth for a visit to Florida’s Emerald Coast. We checked into The Henderson Destin, FL on Friday afternoon, and were ready to kick off summer with a great girls’ weekend!
The Henderson Destin, FL
The view from the rooms was pretty much perfection, since The Henderson Destin is right next to a beautiful state park–you won’t see another resort right next door. And the Emerald Coast lives up to its name–you can’t beat seeing that beautiful water outside your window. The rooms are warm and welcoming…and just nautical enough to give you a little bit of a beachy vibe. I’m not gonna lie, I fell right into that bed by the windows after our drive down.
Happy Hour at Horizons
After a little rest and recovery from the trip, we got ourselves together and made our way down to their unique bar, Horizons, for cocktails and appetizers. As you can see, the sushi rolls are really something special. That one with the kiwi on top was my personal favorite! The sushi chef whipped up a couple of his own creations for us (definitely order the chef’s special when you find your way to Horizons). My second favorite dish of the night? That crispy cauliflower! Oh. My. Goodness.
We ordered a round of cocktails to sip on while we shared our appetizers, too. I chose a refreshing gin cocktail with jalapeno, lime, and cucumber called “The H” that was pretty perfect paired with our food. Other cocktails? Aboslutely: Elderflower Citrus Lemonade and a Rosemary Citrus Margarita were included in round, too!
How to Spend a Saturday at the Henderson Destin, FL
We started Saturday in one of my favorite ways, with an hour of yoga on the beach. (Luckily my friends are kind enough to wake up early and do yoga with me!) Around 8:00 a.m., we made our way down to the fitness center and wandered over to the beach with the sweetest yoga instructor. There’s just something special about practicing yoga on the beach, don’t you think?
After our yoga class, we spent a little bit of time sitting out on the beach before exploring a bit. Lunch was found and enjoyed while overlooking the harbor, and after lunch? After lunch we found ourselves in the spa.
My appointment at The Salamander Spa was around 2:00, so I wandered into the spa just after lunch. After a quick tour, I changed a cozy robe, locked my bag + phone away in a locker, and made my way into the lounge to relax before a 50-minute Swedish Massage. Talk about the perfect afternoon, y’all. After my massage, I spent some more time in the lounge, then ended my visit with a little time in the Lavender Steam Room. By the time my spa afternoon was over, I was walking on a cloud. (Next time I’m in Destin, they’ll absolutely be seeing me on the books at The Salamander Spa again.)
Dinner at Primrose
Once everyone finished up their afternoons at the spa, we met up for dinner at Primrose. We opted for a table outside, so that we could enjoy the sunset and the beach breeze while we ate. We ordered another round of cocktails, sparkling water, and more of chef’s special sushi. In addition to our sushi, we ordered Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs and Crab Cakes.
After appetizers, we decided to order a few dishes and enjoy them family style, so we ordered the Daily Catch, the Grilled Snapper, and a side of Truffle Potato Puree. It was a perfect night overlooking the pool with cocktails and good food. After a couple of hours on the patio, we decided to keep things going with a dessert platter and cappuccinos all around. It was one of those dinners where you lose track of time in the talking and laughing. That’s the best kind you can have on a girls’ weekend, too.
Wrapping Up our Weekend at The Henderson Destin
After our long dinner at Primrose, we all took a little time on Sunday morning to sip coffee on our balconies. We packed up all of our bags, so we’d be ready for checkout time and then it was back down to Primrose for a late breakfast before heading out to the pool. Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s were ordered, along with all the coffee we could get! Breakfast was ordered to share, mostly because we couldn’t decide on one thing each! A waffle sandwich, bagels & lox, breakfast tacos, a veggie omelet, and big bowls of fresh fruit made a happy group out of us. Oh, and a stack of pancakes for good measure. (My personal favorite was the waffle sandwich. I mean, LOOK at that thing!)
