DESTIN VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA

Let the dolphins mesmerize you as they play within the breeding ground of the shallows along the Santa Rosa Sound and the Destin Harbor. Daily dune side seating is always available! Walk along our 24 miles of white, powder-soft beaches that are ranked in the top 10 in the country and you’ll forget the cares of the real world. With over 60% of the beaches in Destin protected by the law, feel free to seek shells, tan in the sun, build a sand castle or just enjoy sun-drenched solitude. 4 beachfront parks – Beasley Park, James Lee County Park, Marler Memorial Park and Wayside Park – and 6 mini-beach parks feature handicapped accessibility, showers and bathrooms. Remember to pay close attention to the beach flag system for updates on beach safety.

Exceptional diving opportunities are available in and near Destin, which is well known for its underwater shelling opportunities. Brilliant green finger and 4-foot basket sponges abound. Also prevalent are aqua and purple sea whips, and reef clusters of white star and ivory tree coral. Deep waters close to shore attract an array of marine species, from vibrant yellow angelfish to 6-foot manta rays and 350 lb loggerhead sea turtles. Be surrounded by schools of migrating mackerel, amberjack and cigar minnows.

Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest, is full of lobsters, sponges and sea squirts among sunken ships, barges, railroad boxcars and airplanes.

The “World's Luckiest Fishing Village” is internationally recognized for its fruitful waters and anglers can plan a long vacation by choosing one of the Destin condos and Destin beachfront vacation rental homes to indulge in their favorite pastime - fishing. Destin’s offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot depths within 10 miles. Nearly 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs. Prime months run April-October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo. The elusive cobia begins running in March and lasts through November. Subsequent runs include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and black fin tuna. Year-round concentrations lure red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish. Catch sheepshead, white trout, channel bass, croaker, sailcat, bluefish and buckets of blue crab all year.

Some of the best fishing is found in Blackwater, Shoal and Yellow rivers -- teeming with bass, bream and catfish. Casting from finger jetties, sandy shores and the Destin Bridge Catwalk hooks speckled trout, white snapper and redfish. An array of stocked ponds, such as Hurricane Lake in Blackwater River State Park, are filled with channel catfish, large-mouth bass, bluegill and shellcracker.

Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters. All offer deep sea, inshore and bottom fishing for as little as $25 a half-day. Free fish cleaning for the day's catch provided by many charters.

The nearby Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier is open daily, year-round. From mid-October to mid-March, the pier’s hours are from 6 AM to 10 PM. Visitors ages 6 and above who do not plan to fish can enter for $ 1 per person. For those who choose to fish, the rates are $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for seniors age 65 and above, $3.50 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. The pier is lit for nighttime fishing.

All daily admissions are good from entry until midnight. You may come and go throughout the day at no additional charge. Rods and reels rent for $6 (medium) and $7.50 (large). Beverages, snacks, bait and tackle are available. No fishing license is required to fish at the Okaloosa Fishing Pier.

Blackwater River State Park has some of the purest sand bottom rivers in the world. Florida’s largest state park is named after the river, which begins 45 miles upstream in Alabama and continues its southerly journey by emptying into Blackwater Bay. The river attracts paddlers from near and far and is a Florida canoe trail---the last 2 miles of the trail are located within the park. The area, characterized by many streams, includes Juniper Creek, Coldwater Creek and Sweetwater Creek. A certified portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Juniper Creek Trail (8.8 unpaved miles) runs through the state forest parallel to Juniper Creek. For other trails, try the Wiregrass, Sweetwater, and Bear Lake Trails.  Nature lovers will enjoy the terrain and plant life in the park, as well as the white-tailed deer, bobcats, turkeys, river otters and Mississippi kite. Guided walks for park guests are offered seasonally. The park is open from 8 AM to sundown, year-round.

A permit is required to access approximately 280,000 acres of the Eglin Reservation, which is conditionally open to public recreation. Outdoor recreation permits and a comprehensive map and regulation summary are available from the Natural Resources Division office (commonly known as Jackson Guard. Eglin has many exceptional natural features and offers many outdoor recreational opportunities. Try hunting deer, turkey and feral hogs or join in mobility impaired and youth hunts. Fish in Eglin's 21 ponds, go canoeing, mountain bike in the Timberlake Recreation Area or hike the Florida National Scenic Trail. For nature lovers, Eglin offers more than 63 globally rare plant and animal species. Included in this list is the endangered Okaloosa darter. Eglin has the largest contiguous acreage of old-growth longleaf pine in the world and the 4th largest red-cockaded woodpecker population. Eglin is a site on the Great Florida Birding Trail, offering many birding opportunities. The Anderson Pond Recreation Area is open to the public year-round. This area has an elevated boardwalk, a picnic shelter and a pier, all of which are handicapped accessible. For information regarding outdoor recreational opportunities and licensing/fee information, contact the Natural Resources Division.

Pontoon boating, parasailing, water skiing, windsurfing and additional adventures await you in the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay. Lessons and equipment rentals are found easily.

This 400-acre park features rolling sea oat-covered dunes and wide, white sand beaches. Slash pines and southern magnolia trees can be found in the dunes, along with pine flatwoods and scrub inside the park. Western Lake is ringed by extensive salt marsh. Shorebirds are numerous on the beach, and sea turtles often nest here during the summer months. Foot traffic is prohibited on sand dunes and in nesting areas. Swimming is popular. Fish along the park's 1 mile of shoreline and catch saltwater species in the surf or launch your boat off the lake’s ramp to seek fresh and saltwater fish. The park is equipped with picnic tables, grills, water and electricity. A large picnic pavilion overlooking the Gulf waters may be reserved for group activities. The self-guided Grayton Beach Nature Trail begins near the beach parking. The park is open from 8 AM to sundown year-round.

Henderson Beach State park offers beautiful white sand beaches and over 6,000 feet of picturesque shoreline bordering the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Step out of your Destin condo to swim, sunbath, fish, or hike the nature trail. Enjoy a rare glimpse of a coastal dune ecosystem and its abundant wildlife. An air-conditioned and heated bathhouse facility is available, as is a separate beach access boardwalk, outdoor showers and a playground. The park is open from 8 AM to sunset.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore stretches from Cat Island in Mississippi to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island in Florida. There are white beaches, blue waters, coastal marshes and maritime forests enough to thrill nature lovers. Visitors can explore 19th century forts, enjoy a picnic or go hiking. Kayaking and canoeing are good ways to explore this natural wonder. The park’s Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center, located in the Florida portion of the park, is open year-round from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.