Emerald Coast Guidebook

Monica
Emerald Coast Guidebook

Food Scene

We love the food, drinks, and it has a lovely outdoor beach area. Great for a night out or a place to bring the whole family.
106 locals recommend
The Gulf
1284 Marler Avenue
106 locals recommend
We love the food, drinks, and it has a lovely outdoor beach area. Great for a night out or a place to bring the whole family.
Walking distance from the condo and our favorite sushi place in the local area.
28 locals recommend
SoiBistro
234 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW
28 locals recommend
Walking distance from the condo and our favorite sushi place in the local area.
Great California style Mexican food. Really good fish tacos.
90 locals recommend
Burrito del Sol
201 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
90 locals recommend
Great California style Mexican food. Really good fish tacos.
Best seafood in the local area. Pricey and expect a wait of 1-2 hours. They don't take reservations but they have a really nice area in the back to wait for a table. Also has a beach area for the kids.
243 locals recommend
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
414 Harbor Blvd
243 locals recommend
Best seafood in the local area. Pricey and expect a wait of 1-2 hours. They don't take reservations but they have a really nice area in the back to wait for a table. Also has a beach area for the kids.
Amazing doughnuts and coffee! So good you will be planning your next visit just to get another taste.
12 locals recommend
Parlor doughnuts
9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy
12 locals recommend
Amazing doughnuts and coffee! So good you will be planning your next visit just to get another taste.
Great little coffee place in Destin. Not a lot of food options and limited seating but you won't be disappointed.
9 locals recommend
East Pass Coffee Co.
121 Harbor Blvd
9 locals recommend
Great little coffee place in Destin. Not a lot of food options and limited seating but you won't be disappointed.
Hidden gem in Fort Walton Beach, authentic ramen, sushi, and more. Always crowded so call ahead for take-out or be prepared to wait for a table.
37 locals recommend
Domo Café
1823 Hurlburt Rd
37 locals recommend
Hidden gem in Fort Walton Beach, authentic ramen, sushi, and more. Always crowded so call ahead for take-out or be prepared to wait for a table.
Great chicken place with a drive through and right around the corner from the condo.
Slim Chickens
131 Miracle Strip Parkway Southwest
Great chicken place with a drive through and right around the corner from the condo.
Great seafood and atmosphere.
104 locals recommend
Dewey Destin's Seafood Restaurant
9 Calhoun Ave
104 locals recommend
Great seafood and atmosphere.
Great atmosphere with delicious Irish food and drinks. If you don't like Irish food try Vinny McGuire's (pizza) or McGuire's Sushi, both in the same strip mall as McGuire's.
318 locals recommend
McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin
33 US-98
318 locals recommend
Great atmosphere with delicious Irish food and drinks. If you don't like Irish food try Vinny McGuire's (pizza) or McGuire's Sushi, both in the same strip mall as McGuire's.
Amazing pub food and drinks. Our favorite place to go for a burger.
16 locals recommend
The Craft Bar - Fort Walton Beach
99 Eglin Pkwy NE
16 locals recommend
Amazing pub food and drinks. Our favorite place to go for a burger.
Hidden gem for authentic Mexican food!
7 locals recommend
Super Market Mi Gente
699 Beal Pkwy NW
7 locals recommend
Hidden gem for authentic Mexican food!
Come get some local brews and great food!
32 locals recommend
Props Brewery & Grill
255 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
32 locals recommend
Come get some local brews and great food!
Hidden brewery in Destin where you can get some local brews. Check their website for current hours and they don't have any food options, great place to grab some drinks before heading out to dinner in Destin
12 locals recommend
Destin Brewery
505 Mountain Dr
12 locals recommend
Hidden brewery in Destin where you can get some local brews. Check their website for current hours and they don't have any food options, great place to grab some drinks before heading out to dinner in Destin
Beautiful view and amazing seafood and steak. Great place for a date night.
105 locals recommend
Louisiana Lagniappe
775 Gulf Shore Dr
105 locals recommend
Beautiful view and amazing seafood and steak. Great place for a date night.

Sightseeing

Great beach location with lots of food options. Gets crowded so plan to show up early!
52 locals recommend
The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
52 locals recommend
Great beach location with lots of food options. Gets crowded so plan to show up early!
Movie theater with dinner and drinks. Only has one screen but is a great location for a date night or a rainy day, check their website for more information.
16 locals recommend
Suds and Cinema
174 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
16 locals recommend
Movie theater with dinner and drinks. Only has one screen but is a great location for a date night or a rainy day, check their website for more information.
Great location for the family with small kids or any ocean lover. Right next to the beach so can combine your trip with a day at the beach.
232 locals recommend
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
232 locals recommend
Great location for the family with small kids or any ocean lover. Right next to the beach so can combine your trip with a day at the beach.
If you want a less crowded, more natural beach, check out this free public beach on Okaloosa Island.
55 locals recommend
John C Beasley Park
1550 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
55 locals recommend
If you want a less crowded, more natural beach, check out this free public beach on Okaloosa Island.
Great for any military and/or history buffs.
87 locals recommend
Air Force Armament Museum
100 Museum Dr
87 locals recommend
Great for any military and/or history buffs.
Food and fun for the whole family. Lots to do and multiple choices for food. Gets crowded and be prepared to pay for parking and activities.
295 locals recommend
HarborWalk Village
34 Harbor Blvd
295 locals recommend
Food and fun for the whole family. Lots to do and multiple choices for food. Gets crowded and be prepared to pay for parking and activities.
Crab Island is a must for any visitor. We recommend the above company but there are lots of options. We also recommend hiring a boat captain so everyone can enjoy drinking and relaxing (plus crab island gets very crowded and can be difficult to navigate).
Crab Island Destination Tours, LLC
10 Miracle Strip Parkway Southwest
Crab Island is a must for any visitor. We recommend the above company but there are lots of options. We also recommend hiring a boat captain so everyone can enjoy drinking and relaxing (plus crab island gets very crowded and can be difficult to navigate).
Wine and painting, great for a date night or rainy day activity
6 locals recommend
Painting with a Twist
255 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
6 locals recommend
Wine and painting, great for a date night or rainy day activity
Arcade, obstacle course, mini-golf, go-karts. Lots to do here if you want a break from the beach.
93 locals recommend
Wild Willy's Adventure Zone
1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
93 locals recommend
Arcade, obstacle course, mini-golf, go-karts. Lots to do here if you want a break from the beach.
Nice little park with playground equipment, a splash pad, and a small bay side beach. Great for families with small kids.
7 locals recommend
Captain Leonard Destin Park
101 Calhoun Ave
7 locals recommend
Nice little park with playground equipment, a splash pad, and a small bay side beach. Great for families with small kids.
Amazing time for families with small kids. The kids will have a blast and there are drink options for the parents.
62 locals recommend
Buccaneer Pirate Cruise
100 Harbor Blvd
62 locals recommend
Amazing time for families with small kids. The kids will have a blast and there are drink options for the parents.
Fun little Tiki boats. Can take a tour to crab island, sunset cruise, or harbor cruise. They book by the seat, so a great option if you are alone or as a couple and don't want to rent an entire pontoon boat.
31 locals recommend
Cruisin Tikis Destin
288 Harbor Blvd
31 locals recommend
Fun little Tiki boats. Can take a tour to crab island, sunset cruise, or harbor cruise. They book by the seat, so a great option if you are alone or as a couple and don't want to rent an entire pontoon boat.

Traveler advice

Getting around

Traffic

If you want to avoid the worst traffic plan to head to the beach early, get there before 10am, and leave before 4pm. Lots of people are heading to the beach around 12pm and will leave around dinner time, so do your best to avoid being on the road at those time.
Don't miss

Rainy Day Fun

We have a pretty unpredictable climate here. Here are some activities to do if the weather is looking grim. Jump Parks - Urban Air in Destin and Surge in Fort Walton Arcades - Wild Willy Adventure Zone on Okaloosa Escape Rooms - Lots of these in the area, our favorite is Escapology in Destin Movie Theaters - Regal and Suds in Fort Walton, AMC in Destin
Don't miss

Water Activities

There is a lot to do out on the water if you have some money to spend and don't get seasick! Fishing Charters - Go fishing! Depending on the season you can catch grouper, red snapper, tuna, or amberjack and take home pounds of delicious seafood. Dolphin/Sunset Cruises - Great time to relax, have some drinks, and enjoy the beautiful view of the Emerald Coast Snorkeling Tours - Go snorkeling and see some wildlife and maybe take home some seashells. Jet Ski Rentals - Go fast! Lots of fun, especially if the water is calm.