In this article, we look at the best day trips from Destin, from Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, and more!
Let’s dive in.
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1. The Boardwalk On Okaloosa Island Beach And Pier
A little further into Fort Walton Beach, beyond Beasley Park and National Seashore, is one of my favorite public beaches near Destin, Florida: The Boardwalk Beach and Pier on Okaloosa Island.
This place has everything for a day of fun, from the nice beach to the pier, to shopping and restaurants!
Restaurants here include Rockin’ Tacos, Angler’s Beachside Grill, Floyd’s Shrimp House, The Crab Trap, and Al’s Beach Club Burger Bar.
Come to Angler’s for a beachside breakfast on Saturdays and brunch with unlimited mimosas on Sundays! They also have daily Happy Hour specials.
The Boardwalk also has a few gift shops/clothing stores and a coffee shop with pizza and ice cream!
Enjoying the view from The Okaloosa Pier
It’s $2 to walk the pier. The pier has a store with fishing supplies, soft drinks, and candy.
Fishing off the pier is $8 and $5 for kids, 12 and under. Kids 5 and under are free.
Popular fish to catch here include Red Drum, Black Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Amberjack, and even Atlantic Sharpnose Shark!
From Memorial Day weekend until August, they have fireworks at the pier every Wednesday night. My family and I stayed for a quick fireworks show while we were here.
Enjoy one of the best day trips from Destin, Florida, at the Boardwalk of Okaloosa Island!
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Looking for an activity in Fort Walton to do with family or friends?!
Try a Snorkeling and Dolphin Tour where you can see these creatures in their natural environment.
2. Miramar Beach
Great beaches, boating, fishing, and parasailing are just a few of the fun things that Destin and Miramar Beach, Florida, have to offer. Here, you can do it all!
It was a perfect place to spend our day on the 4th of July!
My sister and her family rented a townhouse just a couple of blocks away from Miramar Beach, so we spent quite a bit of time here on this trip.
We went to the main public beach, next to Pompano Joe’s. The beach is on Scenic Highway 98, which takes you along the coast. (This road is great to take a cruise on!)
This is one of the nicest public beaches in the Destin area, with its sparkling, white sand and incredible Gulf views. It’s a must-visit while you’re on the Emerald Coast.
The beach offers passes for parasailing and features other fun water activities, including Banana Boat Rides.
There’s also a big, free parking lot for the beach and Pompano Joe’s. It does fill up fast during the peak months, so come early for a spot!
Miramar Beach is about a 10-15 minute drive from Destin.
3. Santa Rosa Beach
Santa Rosa Beach is one of the highlights of South Walton, Florida, and runs along Scenic 30A Highway.
Other cities/beaches that are right along this Gulf Coast road and are listed in this post include Grayton Beach and Seaside. Not listed are Dune Allen Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Watercolor, and Seagrove.
These beaches are nice because they seem a little quieter and the cities give you more of a small-town feel than Destin, but they still have a lot of activities to offer!
Santa Rosa Beach is located 30 minutes east of Destin, halfway between Destin and Panama City Beach.
This particular public beach is Ed Walline Beach Access and is right across the street from several restaurants, shops, and colorful art displays.
Ed Walline Beach has free parking, picnic areas, restrooms, and seasonal lifeguards.
Also, watch the people playing in the water or try to spot a dolphin from the second-level viewing platform that overlooks the beach!
4. Grayton Beach
Grayton Beach is about 40 minutes from Destin, Florida, but these area beaches make it worth the trip!
The South Walton area has some of the most beautiful beaches in America, and Grayton Beach is no exception.
It’s an artsy, authentic beach town that offers fun things to do around Destin.
Grayton Beach also has great places to stay year-round with lots of charm and character you won’t find anywhere else in Florida!
This public beach is nice and wide and offers soft, white sand and clear blue Gulf waters.
Grayton Beach is an awesome day trip from Destin!
5. Van Ness Butler Jr Beach- Seaside
This is one of my new favorite beaches, not just near Destin, Florida, but anywhere!
Its picturesque views, beach houses, and old beach town feel make this place a memorable experience.
Van Ness Butler Beach is right at the edge of Watercolor and Seaside.
There is a free parking lot located at 20 Western Lake Drive, which is close to the beach and not far from activities in both Seaside and Watercolor! There are restrooms here, too.
The beach has bike racks, and lifeguards during peak season, and is free!
Seaside beaches are some of the most fun places to go! Seaside is about a 40-minute drive from Destin.
If the area looks familiar to you, it could be because the movie, The Truman Show was filmed here!
6. Russell-Fields Pier/Beach- Panama City Beach
Just an hour away from Destin, my family and I enjoyed some sun at the Panama City Beach Pier and the beach.
There is a dog-friendly public beach right across the street from Pier Park.
Pets are also welcome at Pier Park, as long as they are in the outdoor areas and on a leash.
The pier and beach area was a nice place to go and hang out after seeing everything at Pier Park. The dog-friendly beach is just west of the City Pier.
The pier is one of the biggest around at 1,500 feet! It’s $4 to walk the pier and $7 if you want to go fishing.
7. Explore The Village Of Baytowne Wharf
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is an entertainment and shopping destination just minutes from Destin.
There are lots of things for you and your family to do at this waterfront attraction in Miramar Beach, including shops, restaurants, galleries, and more!
Kids’ attractions include Adventure Land Playground, a zipline, carousel, arcade and laser maze, ropes courses, tower climb, and more!
But Baytowne Wharf isn’t just for kids; there are concerts, shopping, restaurants, beer festivals, and bars for adults to enjoy!
Restaurants and bars here include Rum Runners, Marlin Grill, Hartell’s, Fat Tuesday, Slick Lips, Seaside Sweeteries, Roberto’s Pizzeria, Village Door, Hammerheads, Crazy Lobster, and Drunken Goat Saloon.
Its beautiful waterfront location on Choctawhatchee Bay makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Miramar Beach.
8. Watch Dolphins And Sea Life At Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
The Gulfarium is located right next to the Okaloosa Pier. It’s an aquarium like no other.
You can see dolphins and other marine life swimming right next to you. They also have Siamese crocodiles!
The Gulfarium offers several different animal encounter packages where you can get up close to the dolphins, stingrays, seals, reptiles, penguins, sea lions, alligators, and turtles. See their website for costs.
Their team works every day to make sure visitors have the best time possible when they come through the doors.
If you’re looking for a break from the beaches and a fun, family-friendly attraction in Destin, Florida, be sure to check out what’s going on at Gulfarium!
9. Play Mini Golf And More At Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
If you’re looking for a little more excitement for the kids, Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone is just across the highway from The Boardwalk.
They have go-karts, laser tag, restaurants, and more. We played mini-golf and arcade games, and everyone loved it.
Don’t forget to grab some frozen yogurt at Yogo Mogo’s while here. It’s right next to Wild Willy’s.
10. Visit Northwest Florida’s State Parks! Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
I visited Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach and loved it. This state park is just a half-hour east of Destin, towards Panama City Beach.
If you like hiking and biking, this park is for you! It is almost 1700 acres and has plenty of trails, more than 15 miles worth!
And if you just want to go to the beach, while here, you can do that, too.
The beach is really nice, and it’s also a great place for canoeing and kayaking. There are restrooms right down by the beach area.
They have all sorts of rentals here: kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, bikes, beach carts, and more.
The path to the beach (and Campbell Lake Bike Path) is paved, which makes it convenient for walking and biking.
There are 3 tram stations in the park that will pick up about every half hour. The rides are free.
Many people come here to camp, as they have tent camping, RV campsites, bungalows, and cabins. See online for costs and details.
11. Visit Pier Park For Entertainment, Shopping, And Dining
We spent a day of our trip in Panama City Beach. PCB, as it’s called is arguably the most well-known city in the Florida Panhandle, and there are many fun things to do here.
It’s an hour away from Destin, but definitely worth the drive with all the fun activities!
Our group went to Pier Park, an outdoor shopping area with lots of restaurants and entertainment.
It’s free to walk around here, and parking is free too.
The park has plenty of large-chain retail stores, gift shops, and candy stores.
Pier Park has a large Ferris wheel called the SkyWheel. We did the Mirror Maze here and the entire family had a good time.
Pier Park Restaurants
They also have places that are more unique to the area, such as Great White Pizza, Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill, The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House, along with many other restaurants to choose from.
The Brass Top is a popular bar at the park.
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Palms Of Destin & Hyatt Place Are Great Place To Stay In Destin
On my first trip here, my group stayed in a condo at the Palms of Destin Resort.
These condos have a full kitchen and balcony. The resort has a fitness center, coffee shop, large outdoor pool, restaurant, and bar.
Also, we were able to see an awesome 4th of July fireworks show from our balcony!
The only thing I didn’t like about the hotel was the parking since you have to park in a parking ramp.
Other than that, the place is great.
From the Palms of Destin, you’re just a couple minutes’ walk from local attractions, such as Big Kahuna’s and The Track (family race track).
2 of the best public beaches in Destin, Florida- June White Decker Beach and Henderson Beach State Park are both just a short drive away.
For restaurants, the Palms is right by Wingstop, Hooters, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Merlin Pizza, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and The Back Porch.
There’s also a Walmart just a block away for your shopping and grocery needs.
My sister and her family stayed in Miramar Beach, just a couple of blocks from the public beach and Pompano Joes Restaurant.
There are nice condos and resorts in this area too.
On my most recent trip, I stayed at Hyatt Place in Miramar Beach. It’s a little further from the beach (Miramar Public Beach), about a 10-minute drive, but still a nice place.
It has an outdoor pool, free parking and they do a free buffet breakfast, too.
The Hyatt is just a few minutes to The Village at Baytowne Wharf. It’s a great place to stay to do all the best things in Miramar Beach and is about a 15-minute drive to Harborwalk Village and Crab Island in Destin.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of great day trips to take while in Destin!
From Pier Park in Panama City Beach to spending the day in Santa Rosa Beach or Seaside, I’m confident that you will enjoy these day trips on Florida’s panhandle!
Safe travels!
Booking a last-minute trip to Destin?
If so, we have you covered. Here are some top recommended tours and experiences!
Top Tours in Destin
Crab Island Sandbar Adventure (Crab Island has been my favorite experience in Destin!)
Crab Island 12 Passenger Pontoon Boat Rentals (Half or full-day rentals)
Sunset Dolphin Watching Cruise (one of the most beautiful cities to catch a sunset)
Tikis Harbor Lights Cruise (Fantastic Destin Harbor Nighttime Cruise)
Dolphin-Watching Speedboat Ride (Dolphin Watching Off The Coast of Gulf Mexico)
Top Hotels In Destin
Hotel Effie Sandestin – (Top Rated Hotel With Lots Of Activity Options)
The Grand Sandestin – (Best Rated Hotel In Destin)
Hyatt Place Sandestin – (Hotel Near Miramar Beach Destin)
Holiday Inn Express Destin E – (Highly Rated Budget To Mid Range Hotel)
Looking To Get Around In Destin?
Check out rental car rates here! 🚗
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