Destin, Fl area

[Kentucky_Joe]

Thinking of spending about a week in the Destin area in mid October. Never been in this area. Are there things to do besides fishing, boating,shopping, eating at various restaurants, and sitting at the beach? No kids. Enjoy history, museums, theater, unique attractions, sight seeing. Or is there another city in that general area that we should look into? Any suggestions appreciated.

[Bird_Freak]

jspringator wrote:

garmp1 wrote:
Fort Pickens is a must. Either to camp or just to see. It's a Federal park and not as commercial as Top Sail. By that I mean it's more of a campers park, rather than a RV park.

Pickens is our choice in the area. We hate McGuires. Get seafood at Jo Patti's and cook at camp.

I would do this for a couple of days and see the museum and area. Then head to Topsail for the rest of my trip.

[brrit]

We love staying at Camp Gulf (camp gulf.com). We get their beach sites, which put your rig's wheels right in the sand. Now, you'll be a bit crowded, but there are miles of beach to stroll down. More expensive than Topsail, but, man, we love it every year.

[jspringator]

garmp1 wrote:
Fort Pickens is a must. Either to camp or just to see. It's a Federal park and not as commercial as Top Sail. By that I mean it's more of a campers park, rather than a RV park.

Pickens is our choice in the area. We hate McGuires. Get seafood at Jo Patti's and cook at camp.

[garmp]

Try The Breakfast Table in Destin. Great food. DW claims it's the best biscuits & gravy she's had since a child.

[rr2254545]

FordDiesel250 wrote:
Eat breakfast at the Donut Hole!

Over rated- sit down breakfast is average but donuts are good

[FordDiesel250]

Eat breakfast at the Donut Hole!

[flyfishing48]

X2 or 3 on Ft Pickens and Naval Air Museum. Santa Rosa or Topsail would be my pick. Or Fort Pickens for part of the time.

[garmp]

Fort Pickens is a must. Either to camp or just to see. It's a Federal park and not as commercial as Top Sail. By that I mean it's more of a campers park, rather than a RV park.

[rr2254545]

The Back Porch restaurant is right on the beach with great views, their fried gulf shrimp entree is great have it every time

[VoodooMedicineM]

Mcguires Irish Pub

[lj2654]

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.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

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.

[sch911]

Another Vote for Topsail in Santa Rosa Beach.

[Rangerman40]

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