Destin, Fl area

There is a nice Air Force museum in Fort Walton Shalimar area thats worth checking out too.

We stayed at Topsail last summer for a week and enjoyed it. I was stationed at Eglin for 7 years so know the area well.

Destin is a traffic mess all the time due to being a tourist destination.

You have to plan accordingly to get somewhere because of that. It is beautiful on the Boardwalk area in Destin and nice to walk down in the evening. Plenty of restaurants and things to see and do. All the fishing boats come in and you can see them clean all the fish they catch.

Based on your parameters, I concur stay more West, either Navarre Beach or Topsail as suggested. You'll still get beach, etc. but less touristy and more history.

Naval Aviation Museum is a don't miss. Unless it's changed, there is a great section on life in the U.S. during WW II. Ft. Pickens is also good.

Another Vote for Topsail in Santa Rosa Beach.

I'd stay in Navarre... Less built up and touristy.

Good campgrounds are Topsail and Navarre Beach Campground. The air flight museum at Pensacola Naval air station is very nice.