Luke's Travel Destinations: Destin, Florida

Hi Blog Readers!

My name is Luke Driskell, and I am a freshman sports management major from Dayton, Ohio.  I will be blogging about travel destinations in the United States that I have personally traveled to. I will include information about the location, activities to do there, places to stay, restaurants to eat at, and my opinion on the location. I plan on discussing travel destinations in Florida, North Carolina, and Wyoming. 

Now let's talk travel! 

This week's travel destination is Destin, Florida. 

Nicknamed the Emerald Coast because of its watercolor, Destin is located in the Florida panhandle. Destin is an hour east of Pensacola and an hour west of Panama City Beach. Destin is a popular location for spring breakers and snowbirds. 

If you plan to drive to Destin, be prepared to pay a toll to drive over the Mid-Bay bridge. If you plan to fly, book a rental car six months or more in advance because they will book up quickly due to the popularity of Destin. 

For places to stay, I suggest renting a house in the Villages of Crystal Beach or staying in a condo on the beach (all of them are good options). Both are affordable and will create the best vacation experience for you. 

There are many activities to do during your time in Destin including a trip to the beach, riding bikes, paddleboarding, renting a boat, or spending the day at Crab Island. My recommendation is to rent a pontoon from Luther's. On their website, the price of a 24-foot pontoon in the spring season for 8 hours is $450. The price is worth it to get to Crab Island. 

Crab Island is a sandbar with 3–4-foot, light blue water, that is close to the Destin bridge. There are vendors, floating stores, and activities to do at Crab Island. It should be on your to-do list if you visit Destin. 

For places to eat, I highly recommend McGuire's Irish Pub and Boshamps.

McGuire's is located just before the Destin bridge. They are known for the signed dollar bills on their walls and ceiling, and their burgers and Irish boxtys are favorites. Make sure to reserve a table or arrive for an early dinner because wait times can be extremely long. 

Boshamps is a seafood restaurant on the water near McGuire's. The price is high but if you like seafood this is the place for you. I personally recommend ordering the snapper Destin or the pan-roasted gulf grouper. But you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the water from inside or out on their deck when eating. 

Now that you have read all of this information, here is my personal opinion about Destin. 

I love Destin. Every time I go, I have a great time with family and friends. There are a lot of things to do, and you will never get bored of seeing the beautiful views. 

If you decide to travel to Destin, have a great time and enjoy every moment.

Please leave feedback on your thoughts on Destin and ask any questions about Destin.