In Destin and along the Emerald Coast, Ocean Reef Resorts offers hundreds of distinctive vacation rentals that include everything from luxurious mansions to cozy coastal cottages to beachfront condominiums. For over thirty years it has been our pleasure to provide excellent rental accommodations for families and friends who have flocked to Destin for vacations on the jewel toned waters of the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico. Although the sugar white beaches and emerald green waters are a mainstay throughout this part of Northwest Florida, the beach areas vary and offer their own distinct amenities, lifestyles, and appeals. Over the next few days, we will take an individual look at several of the top beach areas in Destin.  We'll start off by taking a broad look at Destin Beaches and follow up with articles about some of the smaller individual beach areas.

Prior to major developments and new communities being created here, just about everything between Destin and Panama City was considered to be "Destin." Over the years these beaches have received numerous top awards for beauty, deep sea fishing adventures, boating, and championship golf. Destin has always been known for commercial deep sea fishing which began back in the mid 1800s. Tourists began to arrive to try their luck at angling by the late 1890s and by the 1920s Destin became known as "The Bill Fish Capital of the Gulf of Mexico." As more tourists arrived and the nation began to discover not only the great fishing but also the sugar white Destin beaches it became billed as "The Luckiest Fishing Village in the World." Destin's most recent award was announced on the nationally syndicated Good Morning America news program. Thousands of nominations were submitted to the network from viewers across the nation for "The Most Beautiful Place in America." All of these nominations were gleaned down to ten which included Destin's Beaches as being voted among the best. Famed chef Emeril Lagasse who now resides in our area conducted a local video tour for GMA. He said "walking through Destin feels like strolling down an exotic beach" with its "sugar white sand and emerald green waters." The tours included the Destin marina at Harborwalk Village which abounds with restaurants, bars, lively musical entertainment as well as special seasonal events and is also home to the largest private charter fishing fleet in the entire state of Florida. It also featured nearby Crab Island that Lagasse described as a "floating playground." Long time Destin residents and visitors would be quick to agree since every weekend spring thru fall, pontoon boats and big yachts congregate there in the waist deep, crystal clear waters to party hardy. In addition to this latest recognition for local beauty, Destin and the Emerald Coast have consistently been rated in Southern Living Magazine as "The Number One Beach Destination" for many years by its readers throughout the southeast. It has also touted the beaches as a perfect place to have a beach wedding which has become ever increasingly popular. After all, what's not to like? A beautiful white gowned wedding bride on a pristine white quartz crystal beach with emerald green waters in the background is hard to beat and exceedingly romantic. World renowned Frommer's, an established source of on web and print travel guide periodicals often names the Destin area beaches as among the "Most Beautiful Beaches in the World" and names it in the Top Ten beach travel recommendations worldwide.

View some of our Destin Vacation Rentals and check back tomorrow as we continue our tour of the Destin Beaches as we take a look at the centrally located Holiday Isle.