24 Apr Destin, a jewel in the Florida panhandle’s crown
Spring 2022
I have been to many of Florida’s most popular vacation locations, but this was our first trip to the Emerald Coast area. Destin is in the panhandle of Florida on the Gulf Coast, and I was most drawn to the images of the amazingly clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. I also love that it’s a very family-oriented vacation spot, offering tons of experiences geared toward making memories with your family.
We chose an Airbnb condo with one bedroom across the street from private beach access. The condo was located within a resort called Sandpiper Cove, which boasted several amenities, including pools, tennis, and laundry facilities. We absolutely loved easily crossing the street and going to the beach whenever we wanted.
I really wanted to try some of the more highly recommended restaurant experiences on this trip, so we were adventurous in our dining choices. Fudpuckers, a unique restaurant offering entertainment and food, was really cool. We had a two-hour wait to eat, so I was glad they had live alligators outside to view and many other exhibits to check out.
The whole vibe was very colorful and exciting, the gift shops were very cool, and you could get drinks while waiting for your seat. My daughter even got a turtle henna tattoo.
I wasn’t expecting the food to be amazing, but it was delicious. I especially loved the house-made honey blue cheese dressing. It was unlike any other blue cheese I’ve had.
Another favorite spot was the Pancakery, a popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch offering within walking distance of where we stayed. The breakfast was excellent. I had a shrimp omelet which was literally the best omelet I’ve ever had, and my husband had eggs benedict, which was also lovely. The kids enjoyed a couple different pancake varieties, and we all felt plenty full for the day ahead when we left.
Many people recommend McGuire’s Irish Pub, which isn’t somewhere I would choose. Being by the ocean, I usually want seafood options, but McGuires was impressive. It’s a massive, sprawling place covered inside with dollar bills which my kids found to be very interesting, and our waiter informed us there were over 2 million throughout the restaurant.
It was dark inside, with a cool Irish pub vibe and the food offerings were unique and wonderful. They even brew their root beer in house. My kids both enjoyed some. I ordered an amazing steak and mushroom pot pie dish, and my husband got a seafood alfredo.
We absolutely loved our dinners and the warm, brown bread served with honey butter. They also have daily specials, and we each tried a unique martini for just $3.50, quite a steal! The gift shop was also amazing, and we had a wonderful time there.
Also highly recommended was the Donut Hole, a breakfast spot and bakery that we walked to on our last day of the trip. The breakfast was filling and delicious, and the donuts were amazing.
They had all sorts of flavors. We shared a dozen different choices like blueberry, key lime, red velvet, cinnamon sugar, strawberry angel, and others. One tip is to arrive early as possible, as the lines to get in and lines for the donuts grow long quickly!
Other honorable mentions are Capriccio Coffee shop and Olin Marlin’s boat tours. Capriccio Coffee Shop is a small, unique coffee spot with awesome drinks, crepes, and breakfast items. We took an incredible boat tour and saw many dolphins and cool sites around the harbor walk area with Olin Marlin’s boat tours. I even noticed a Coyote Ugly Saloon, which I thought was super cool. The saloon is based on a movie from the year 2000. If we ever go back to Destin sans kids, I will check it out!
We loved Destin and all it had to offer and will likely return. God bless, and happy vacationing! Click the photos above to visit each site or look at the links below as you plan your next Florida vacation.
This review is independent. We did not receive payment for this review.
Cristina Rosano
Posted at 17:13h, 29 AugustOh wow! I have never been to Florida, but I completely get why you called this place a jewel! it’s amazing and not only the landscape, that pancakes look delicious! x