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
Beach · Miramar Beach
Open Gulf Street Beach Access is a neighborhood Gulf access in Miramar Beach at the end of Open Gulf Street. The entrance is two blocks south of U.S. Highway 98 near Silver Sands Premium Outlets, just south of the U.S. 98 and Scenic Gulf Drive intersection. A public walkover leads from the neighborhood to the beach.
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.
Photo source: Jade East Towers — View source (www.google.com)
Discovery pick
Resort · Destin
Jade East Towers offers two- and three-bedroom beachfront vacation condos in Destin. Rentals feature private balconies with Gulf views, with the property across from Big Kahuna’s Waterpark and a short drive from Destin Harbor. Check the property website for current amenity availability and guest updates.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Miramar Beach
The Sand Bar at Hilton Sandestin Beach offers drinks and lunch right on the resort’s beach. Guests can order frozen tropical drinks, signature cocktails and the lunch menu from Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill, including seafood, sandwiches and salads. This listing is for the Hilton Sandestin location in Miramar Beach.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Empanola Destin is an empanada and coffee shop on Opa-Locka Lane. Its menu combines Latin American flavors and New Orleans-inspired fillings, including Argentine beef, Peruvian chicken and crawfish étouffée, alongside vegetarian choices and sweet empanadas. Espresso drinks, matcha and cold brew are available, with dine-in, pickup, delivery and catering options.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill is a locally owned Destin restaurant and family entertainment destination operating since 1982. Its colorful venue on Emerald Coast Parkway combines casual dining, drinks, live entertainment and a souvenir shop with the on-site Gator Beach alligator attraction. The menu includes seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · santa Rosa Beach
Local Catch Bar & Grill is a casual restaurant on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, serving coastal food with Southern influences. The venue pairs seafood and drinks with a relaxed bar setting and scheduled live music, with dine-in and takeout available.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Locally owned Italian café in Destin specializing in gourmet coffee, pastries, crepes, sandwiches, and salads. The café serves breakfast and lunch, with coffee, meats, and cheeses imported from Italy.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Waterfront seafood restaurant on Destin Harbor serving Southern-inspired Gulf seafood, raw and baked oysters, and cocktails. Casual indoor and outdoor dining, harbor views, and live music create a relaxed setting for lunch or dinner.
Discovery pick
Venue · Destin
Club LA is a live music venue at Hurricane Lanes on Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin. Its concert calendar features touring musicians, local performers and tribute acts in an indoor performance space. Upcoming shows and ticket information are available through its RockDestin website.
Discovery pick
Hotel · Destin
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Destin is located on Emerald Coast Parkway across from Henderson Beach State Park. The hotel offers guest rooms and suites, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fitness center. Shops, restaurants and Destin attractions are nearby.
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
Attraction · Destin
Joe’s Bayou Boat Launch provides public boating access at 800 Beach Drive in Destin. The 1.5-acre city facility has five launch ramps, parking and public restrooms, with daily hours from dawn to dusk. A daily launch fee applies; residents within incorporated Destin can obtain a free pass with the required residency and vessel documentation.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Santa Rosa Beach
Scenic public park with boat launch facilities and fishing access.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Santa Rosa Beach
Lively Cajun sports bar featuring an outdoor pool and signature dishes like gumbo and crawfish.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Destin
Coastal restaurant and café at Crystal Beach in Destin. The café serves breakfast and lunch, while the evening restaurant offers Gulf seafood, sushi, and other dinner dishes, with seafood supplied by Harbor Docks Wholesale Seafood Market.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Santa Rosa Beach
The Shrimp Shack & Boardwalk Bar in Seaside serves Gulf seafood, lobster rolls and drinks near the beach. Visitors can order from the walk-up window or settle into the open-air Boardwalk Bar for full-service drinks, including cocktails, frozen beverages, wine and beer. Online ordering is also available.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Watersound
Fusion Art Glass & Fine Jewelry is a gallery at The Big Chill in Watersound, featuring handcrafted glass art and fine jewelry from studio artists. Established in 1996, it offers glass sculptures, decorative vessels, wall art, and ceramic and metal pieces alongside artist-made jewelry.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Santa Rosa Beach
Outdoor adventure rental service providing paddleboards, kayaks, e-bikes, and beach gear across Scenic 30A.
Discovery pick
Restaurant · Santa Rosa Beach
P.F. Chang’s at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin serves Asian-inspired and Chinese dishes, including sushi, dim sum, noodles and its signature chicken lettuce wraps. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner, patio dining, vegetarian and gluten-free menu options, plus takeout, delivery and catering. Reservations and larger group events can be arranged through the restaurant.
Discovery pick
Attraction · Santa Rosa Beach
Rock Paper Scissors 30A is a creative studio in Grayton Beach offering walk-in art activities and take-home project kits. The studio is upstairs in the Art Loft at 37 Logan Lane; enter through Mahalo Grayton. Check its social media for current walk-in hours before visiting.
