5-Day Destin Itinerary for Nature & Eco Travelers

Your day-by-day plan

1. 1

   Coastal Scrub Primer

   Morning:Henderson Beach State Park: walk the nature trail through some of the Panhandle's last coastal scrub, then swim.

   Breakfast & coffee:Hardee’s

   Afternoon:A slow beach afternoon. Learn the flag system and the dune rules (stay off them; sea oats hold this whole coast together).

   Shopping:Smile, Mon!

   Evening:Sunset at Norriego Point, then dinner at Dewey Destin's original on the water.

   Drinks & nightlife:The Block

   Insider Tip:May through October is sea turtle nesting season: lights off the beach at night, fill in your holes, pack out everything.

2. 2

   Coastal Dune Lakes Day

   Morning:Paddle Western Lake at Grayton Beach State Park. Coastal dune lakes exist in only a handful of places on Earth, and 30A has fifteen of them.

   On the water:Miramar Beach Paddleboard Rentals LLC

   Afternoon:Lunch at Stinky's Fish Camp, then the boardwalk at Deer Lake State Park, usually gloriously empty.

   Shopping:Tillys

   Evening:Dinner at The Red Bar in Grayton.

   Drinks & nightlife:Hammerhead's Bar & Grille

   Insider Tip:Watch for a dune lake outfall, the rare moment a lake breaches the beach and pours into the Gulf.

3. 3

   Preserve Day

   Morning:Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The long walk (or tram) to one of Florida's most pristine stretches of beach is the point.

   Shopping:Little Red

   Afternoon:Hike or bike the Point Washington State Forest trails (Eastern Lake loop options run 3.5 to 10 miles).

   Bike rental:Cruiser 30A Electric Bike + Beach Rentals

   Evening:A quiet dinner, then stargazing from a dark stretch of 30A.

   Drinks & nightlife:Taco Bar

   Insider Tip:The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in nearby Freeport is a superb conservation education stop. It's primarily a school facility, so check the public-day schedule.

4. 4

   Bay & Marine Life Day

   Morning:A clear-kayak or eco-paddle tour on the calm side: seagrass beds, rays, and the occasional dolphin escort.

   On the water:Marina Cafe

   Afternoon:The Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center. The sea-turtle rescue and rehab operation is the reason to go.

   Family fun:Starcade Billiards

   Evening:A low-key harbor dinner. Note which restaurants serve local, in-season Gulf catch and vote with your order.

   Family fun:Grayton Beach State Park

   Insider Tip:Anchor only in sand at any sandbar. Seagrass beds are protected and propeller scars take years to heal.

5. 5

   Springs or Sanctuary

   Morning:Choose your finale: Morrison Springs (a crystal 68-degree spring, free) or the drive west to Navarre Beach, where the Sea Turtle Conservation Center and the near-shore snorkel reefs of the marine sanctuary make a perfect half-day.

   Snorkeling:Destin Snorkel

   Afternoon:Late lunch, last swim.

   Family fun:Camp Watercolor

   Evening:Depart lighter than you came. That's the leave-no-trace joke.

   Golf:Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill

   Insider Tip:Navarre's snorkel reefs sit a short swim off the beach. Bring your own mask and you've got a free aquarium.