A DESTINATION FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Photo of Lady Luck Adventures by John Barnes;Dine for a Cause courtesy of the Mac & Cheese Festival A DESTINATION FOR ALL OCCASIONS

By Heather Turk

Red snapper is a common catch on one of Lady Luck Adventure charters

Relaxation & adventure await in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Florida may be known for its beautiful beaches, but arguably no stretch of sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters is more captivating than what visitors will discover along the shores of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Boasting more than a 20-mile stretch of beach, the Northwest Florida destination is the perfect place to not only unwind, but also rediscover one’s adventurous side.

Dine for a cause at the Mac & Cheese Festival

Naturally, the best way to explore the area is by getting in the water. The deep water off Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s coast attracts one of the widest varieties of marine life in Florida, making the destination a popular spot with divers. It’s not uncommon to spot flounder and various tropical fish while exploring the area’s many artificial reefs, wrecks and even a limestone shelf at depths of up to 90 feet. Divers can rent SCUBA gear or book an excursion with ScubaTech, which offers classes for both experienced divers as well as first-timers. scubatechnwfl.com Continued on page 14

Help control the Gulf of Mexico’s invasive lionfish population during the Emerald Coast Open

The area’s calm waters also make Destin-Fort Walton Beach a spectacular place to go snorkeling. For those who don’t have their own snorkel equipment, Destin Snorkel resumes operations for the season in mid-March. The local excursion company offers a variety of adventures in, on and under the water, including a 3-hour Two Stop Snorkeling Tour where guests can go snorkeling, shelling and dolphin watching. SNUBA Tours are also available for guests ages 8 and older, providing them with the opportunity to see marine life not visible during snorkel tours — like burrfish and sea anemones — while diving as deep as 20 feet underwater. destinsnorkel.com

Given that Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” it should come as no surprise that fishing is another popular pastime in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. With the 100-Fathom Curve — the area along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline where it drops off 600 feet — located just 10 miles offshore, the destination provides guests with the fastest access to deep sea fishing on the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly 200 fishing charters call Destin home, making it easy for travelers to reel in the catch of a lifetime with an experienced captain and crew. Lady Luck Adventures, for example, offers inshore bay and nearshore wreck fishing charters that take off from Destin and Okaloosa Island, as well as night fishing and children’s trips. ladyluckadventures.com

Visitors can also rent fishing poles and buy bait at The Island Pier, which stretches 1,262 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. Even if aspiring anglers don’t catch

No trip to Destin-Fort Walton Beach is complete without booking one of the area’s fishing charters Photo of Lionfish Removal, fishing charter, Destin Commons and Island Pier courtesy of Destin-Fort Walton Beach; Women Veterans Monuments courtesy of the Okaloosa County BCC Public Information Office; Destin Sorkel courtesy of Destin Snorkel

Veterans’ Park’s new Women Veterans Monuments

Shop, dine and be entertained at Destin Commons

The Island Pier is a great fishing spot for families The world’s largest lionfish tournament, the Emerald Coast Open, returns to Destin this spring as well. Even though lionfish only arrived in the Gulf of Mexico in 2012, Northwest Florida currently has the world’s highest concentration of them. Guests can register online to participate in the two-day tournament May 13 and 14 to help remove the invasive fish from local waters and lessen their threat to native wildlife, as well as sign up for the pre-tournament through May 12. Guests can also learn more about the species and taste a variety of delectable dishes made from the fish at the 8th annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival May 14 and 15, which coincides with the final tournament weigh-in and awards ceremony. emeraldcoastopen.com

Destin-Fort Walton Beach has several other fun events and interesting attractions on land. One of the area’s cheesiest events (literally speaking, of course) actually returns to Destin Commons on March 6 when the 4th annual Mac & Cheese Festival takes place from noon to 3 p.m. Families can cast their votes for the best mac & cheese in town as they sample an array of gourmet, chef-inspired twists on the South’s favorite comfort food from local restaurants. Afterward, guests can walk off some of those excess calories by shopping at the popular outdoor shopping center, home to more than 95 stores and restaurants. destincommons.com

For a truly eye-opening experience, Veterans’ Park on Okaloosa Island recently welcomed one of Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s most enlightening attractions. The 17.5-acre park, which pays respect to those in the military who played an integral role in sculpting the community, unveiled its Women Veterans Monuments last November. Guests can see eight life-size bronze statues of female patriots on display as they walk along a picturesque, tranquil trail that is home to native vegetation and wildlife. myokaloosa.com/bcc/womenveterans-memorial

With so much to experience, visitors will likely be planning their next trip to Destin-Fort Walton Beach before they even leave! destinfwb.com

Guests who book a snorkeling trip with Destin Snorkel often see a variety of sea life during their excursion