Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Destin Is My Destination of Choice

What is summer without a trip to the beach?  Nothing quite matches a vacation to the beach and there are no more beautiful beaches than the beaches in Northwestern Florida.  And, my favorite beach in the region is in Destin.  With white sugary sand and turquoise water, it is hard not to love this place!





Destin is historically known as the "World's
Luckiest Fishing Village" and it has been
bringing fisherman here for over a century.

It is truly a fisherman's dream with the
abundance of grouper, tuna, snapper and many
other fish just off the shores of Destin.

In case you are not a fan of fishing, you can
purchase fresh seafood as well as a great assortment
of ready-to-eat meals, deli items, wine, spices,
appetizers,  desserts, seasonings, sauces and mixes.

Located in the heart of Destin, it's always
my first stop.

And, they will pack your fish for travel or ship the fish
overnight so that you can bring it home!

You haven't really had key lime pie until you've
had key lime pie from Donut Hole.  Donut
Hole is open 24/7 just in case you get a
hankering for some good food in the
middle of the night.  Expect a crowd
because it really is an institution in Destin!

And, of course, they have the best donuts
around.  I dream about their key lime-filled donuts,
red velvet donuts and devil's food cake donuts.

For an elegant dinner along the harbor, head strait to
Marina Cafe.

A beautiful bar greets you at the entrance.

And a gorgeous view awaits you at your table.



Beautiful ambience in the interior.

And exceptional food makes for a great evening.

For Northern Italian Cuisine, head over to
Guglielmo's.  Hands down the best Italian
food in Destin!  

For casual dining on the harbor, head over
to Harbor Docks.

Indoor/outdoor dining....

and fresh seafood and vegetables makes
it one of my favorites.

Of course, these restaurants must be really good because they take me away
ever so briefly from this gorgeous view!

There are souvenir shops practically on every
corner in Destin, but none even come
close to Banana Bart's.

It is my go-to place for Destin souvenirs...

...and other cool, unique gifts that, yes, I
do have to have!


For great antiques and gifts,  I never  go to Destin without
stopping at Smith's Antiques Mall.

Voted time and time again as the best antique
market in Northwestern Florida.

Their 25,000 square foot showroom has
an incredible selection of high-quality
antiques and collectibles.  

I never go home empty-handed from Smith's.

I cannot remember a time when I didn't go to the Back Porch
for fun dining on the beach.

You can wander off the beach in your
bathing suit to this institution in Destin.


Casual setting and great burgers, chicken,
fish, salads and fun drinks.

And the view from Back Porch isn't so bad either!


Another go-to place for on-the-beach dining
is the Crab Trap.



You never mind the long line to get in because you get
to sit at the bar and enjoy that great view and gulf breeze!

Indoor as well as this great outdoor dining is available.


A stroll home along the beach is in order after consuming
one of their great seafood meals.


Even thunderstorms are beautiful in Destin.


No trip is complete without a meal at Louisiana Lagniappe.

It is a little off the beaten path by road, but sits proudly
on the Destin Harbor.

Plan to go home with a smile on your face and
a very full belly when visiting Lagniappe.
Maine Lobster and Shrimp Etoufee is
oh-so good!

And their grouper cannot be beat!


Even with all of this good food and shopping, my very favorite spot is right under that
umbrella just soaking in that beautiful view!



DESTIN IS MY DESTINATION OF CHOICE INDEED!

TRAVEL M GIRL


No comments:

Post a Comment