Destin tourism is the engine that drives the city. This one-time sleepy fishing village has enjoyed a boom in popularity in the past few decades, largely because of its just about perfect location along the northwestern Gulf Coast of Florida. Destin travel now accounts for a significant portion of the millions people who travel to the Emerald Coast each year. Destin is known for its pristine beaches whose sand is made from Appalachian quartz, the emerald waters, amazing fishing, golf, diving, and seafood.

The best time to go to Destin Florida is a question for debate. Some find that the summertime, when the beaches are the central focus of the city’s activities, is the best. Others might argue that late spring and early fall, when the weather is mild and dry and there are lots of festivities going on, is preferable. No matter your personal preference, the good news is that Destin enjoys approximately 340 days of sunshine each and every year. There is not really a bad time to travel to this part of Florida, but doing some advance planning will ensure that you can make the most of your vacation.

There are advantages and disadvantages to summer Destin travel. Clearly an advantage is that the weather cannot get much better, the beaches are in full gear, and the seafood establishments, bars, and clubs are alive with activity and excitement. A drawback for some people is that the sheer volume of tourist traffic can make things a bit more stressful when it comes to waiting in lines, paying higher prices for hotel rooms, and the like. If you are not so much concerned with tourist traffic, and even see this as an opportunity to meet new people and have more fun, then summer may be the best time to go to Destin Florida for you. There are also lots of water sports and activities including kayaking, parasailing, diving, snorkeling, dolphin cruises, and much more.

Destin Map

There is another train of thought that suggests that you can have the best of both worlds when it comes to Destin tourism, simply by traveling during the late spring and early fall months. The Destin weather is already beginning to be more than agreeable in April, with high temperatures reaching nearly 80 degrees and the sunshine and warm weather carries on into October and November. You can enjoy Destin without as many crowds and with milder temperatures. For those people whose central focus is not beach activities, you may consider these times of year. And this is not to suggest that there is not plenty going on at the harbor and around the local beaches during late spring and early fall. There are festivals dedicated to everything from music and visual arts to beer and wine, motorcycles to boats, and fishing. The milder temperatures and dry climate make for the perfect environment in which to celebrate a vast array of events and festivals. Enjoy sunset cruises, wine tastings, shopping at HarborWalk Village, and a generally convivial atmosphere when you travel to the most popular city on Florida’s Emerald Coast.