Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park (Harbor Front)
Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza is a waterfront public park in Destin, Florida, nicknamed the "Gateway to the Harbor
Finding your next coastal moment…
Finding your next coastal moment…
A little local discovery
Great food. Beautiful beaches. Places worth finding.
Explore the Emerald Coast, your way.
Explore the Emerald Coast
20 places on this page · More to explore
A fresh mix each visit, with room for less-searched places to be discovered. Your mix stays consistent while you browse pages or return with Back. Paid placements are shown separately.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza is a waterfront public park in Destin, Florida, nicknamed the "Gateway to the Harbor
Community ranking balances the average rating with the number of published reviews. Paid placements do not affect this order. The rating shown on each card is the actual review average.
Recommended businesses need at least three published reviews averaging 4 stars or higher. Recommendations update automatically as eligible reviews change.
Discover mixes all eligible places on each new visit. Every fourth position gives room to a place from the least-searched quarter of the matching results. With no search history, the mix is entirely random. This gives lesser-known places a chance to be found; it is not a measure of business size. Payment never affects this mix or rating order.
Highest rated uses the actual average, then review count to break ties. Most searched uses selections from our search results over the past 30 days, with repeated selections limited. It does not measure sales or all visitors to a business.
Community recommendation calculation: (total stars + 17.5) ÷ (review count + 5). Five prior reviews at 3.5 stars reduce the effect of very small samples. Only published reviews from active, non-demo accounts count.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Miramar Beach
Poppy’s Crazy Lobster, promoted on its website as Poppy’s Seafood Factory, is a seafood restaurant on Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin. Its multilevel waterfront setting includes indoor dining and an outdoor deck overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay. Seafood dishes, cocktails and live music are part of the relaxed wharf atmosphere.
Discovery pick
Beach · Santa Rosa Beach
Pelayo Beach Access provides a neighborhood route to the Gulf in Seagrove Beach, across Scenic Highway 30A from Pelayo Avenue and Hidden Beach Villas. A boardwalk passes through coastal trees toward the beach. The access has a shower and bicycle rack, but no public car parking; arriving on foot or by bike is recommended.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Destin Princess and Destiny offer guided deep-sea fishing trips from Destin Fishing Fleet Marina. Choose family-friendly half-day outings, full-day adventures, extended offshore trips, or private charters. Bait, tackle, and fishing licenses are included, with experienced crews helping anglers of different skill levels fish the Gulf.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Santa Rosa Beach
Los Rancheros serves Mexican dishes at 5524 US Highway 98 W in Santa Rosa Beach. The locally owned restaurant offers tacos, fajitas and other familiar favorites, along with margaritas and a children’s menu. Guests can dine in or order takeout from this casual Mexican grill and bar.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Destin Harbor cafe serving New Orleans-style beignets dusted with powdered sugar, specialty beignets, coffee drinks, and breakfast bites near the waterfront.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Fatboys on Harbor Boulevard in Destin serves made-to-order burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches and fries in a casual setting. The menu includes meatless choices and gluten-free buns, and a full-service bar offers beer, wine and cocktails. Dine-in, takeout and online ordering are available at the Destin location.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Jewel Melvin Park is a small neighborhood park along the southern shoreline of Twin Lakes in Destin. The city lists nature trails, benches, picnic tables and an improved parking area at its Cordgrass Court entrance. Open daily from dawn to dusk, it offers a quiet setting for a short walk or a lakeside break.
Discovery pick
Beach · Santa Rosa Beach
Sugar Dunes Beach Access provides a neighborhood route to the Gulf at the end of Beachside Drive in Seagrove Beach, east of Eastern Lake. A short boardwalk crosses the dunes to the sand, and a shower is available near the access. It is about half a mile south of Scenic Highway 30A.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Mattie Kelly Park and Nature Walk is a 10.13-acre public bayou park on Beach Drive in Destin. The natural area includes wetlands, a boardwalk, a pier, a small beach area and picnic space. It offers a quiet setting for walking and enjoying the waterfront. The city lists park hours as daily from dawn to dusk.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Santa Rosa Beach
Lakeside water sports rental service featuring paddleboard and kayak excursions.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Miramar Beach
Jimmy John’s at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach serves sub sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, wraps and smaller Little Johns, with chips, cookies and drinks. This location offers online ordering, pickup, delivery and catering, including sandwich platters and boxed lunches. Find the shop in suite 110 at 780 Grand Boulevard near Sandestin Lane.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Miramar Beach
An upscale Mexican restaurant at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, with dishes inspired by Mexico City cuisine. Cantina Laredo serves grilled seafood, chicken, and steak with house sauces, alongside tacos, enchiladas, guacamole, and fresh-lime margaritas.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Destin
Cruisin' Tikis Destin offers captained outings aboard floating tiki boats from Destin Harbor. Cruise choices include Crab Island trips, harbor sightseeing, sunset excursions, snorkeling, and seasonal fireworks outings. Public and private bookings are available, with coolers, ice, bottled water, and music provided aboard the boats.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Panama City Beach
Emerald Wake offers eFoil and electric surfboard lessons, rentals, sales and service along Florida’s Emerald Coast. Its current headquarters and warehouse are at 169 Griffin Boulevard, Unit 108, in Panama City Beach. The company is an authorized Fliteboard dealer and service provider. Lessons take place at designated water locations, so confirm the meeting point when booking.
Discovery pick
Resort · Destin
Sandpiper Cove is a vacation condominium property on Gulf Shore Drive in Destin. Rental choices include studios and larger condos in beachfront, canal, golf-course and pool-view settings. A nine-hole, par-three golf course is among the property’s amenities; individual units and available features vary by reservation.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Santa Rosa Beach
The Wine Bar at WaterColor pairs an extensive wine selection with lunch and dinner along Scenic Highway 30A. Guests can dine indoors or on spacious outdoor patios in an informal setting. The location also includes Wine World retail, making it a stop for a meal, a glass of wine or bottles to take home.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Miramar Beach
Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue brings Texas-style barbecue to Miramar Beach. The menu includes oak-smoked brisket, pulled pork, turkey, sausage and pork ribs, with combo plates, sandwiches and family packs. Scratch-made sides include potato salad, collard greens, baked potato casserole and cornbread. Guests can dine in or order barbecue to go.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House is a beachfront Destin restaurant on Scenic Highway 98, serving Gulf seafood since 1974. It is known for its amberjack sandwich, raw and baked oysters, casual dining and Gulf views.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Miramar Beach
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a waterfront shopping and entertainment district within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort along Choctawhatchee Bay. Visitors can explore boutiques, galleries, restaurants and nightlife, with outdoor concerts, festivals and seasonal family events held throughout the year. Check the village calendar for current activities and event details.