Posted on 10/29/2010By the Ocean Reef Editorial Team
Just as Destin dazzles the senses in the daytime with sugar white sand beaches and shimmering emerald green waters, it also delights our Ocean Reef guests with a vibrant nightlife. Delightful diversions offer dancing, live music, comedy and even dueling pianos. Kick off your flip flops and put on your dancing shoes, because there's a wide array of Destin places to visit for those seeking a night of fun and frolic!
A good place to start is at HarborWalk Village located on the mouth of Destin's harbor. This locale offers spectacular views of the waters, as well as the bustling marina which is home to the largest private fishing fleet on the Gulf of Mexico. Emerald Coast magazine readers voted it the Best place to be Seen in 2010 and for good reason. It is a great place for people watching which includes attractive, "casual resort" attired tourists, hard working local fishermen, beautiful, bikini clad women on yachts, and a myriad of others with lots of sun tans. Special festivals here celebrate every major holiday and then some! Many are accompanied by fireworks over the harbor with live music provided in an open air amphitheater for musical celebrations. Besides a number of fine restaurants, bars and retail shops to be found, dancing thrives at Club Aqua. This waterfront night club provides a swank, luxurious interior and was recently voted Best DJ by readers of Beachcomber magazine. Nearby Harry T's was voted Best Outdoor Dining for 2010 and often features live bands and an active Destin nighlife as well.
About ¼ mile east and within easy walking distance along the harbor, is the celebrated AJ's Seafood Oyster Bar and Club Bimini. Besides the restaurant, it's been a popular night time, party destination for over twenty-five years. Sitting on a bluff that overlooks Destin Harbor, it offers expansive views of the marina and Gulf. In fact, it was recently named Best Outdoor Bar for this reason. Two live bands play here every night in both the downstairs bar and the upper level deck.
A popular hot spot for the younger crowd in Destin is called Nightown, located at 144 Palmetto Street. This thirty year old Destin landmark boasts the largest dance floor around with seven bars, a powerful beat and occasional live reggae bands. The popular Destin Night Club does not open until 9pm but stays open until 4am so you can literally party the night away. (Now Closed)
Just west of Destin, off Highway 98, is Okaloosa Island's Boardwalk which features Howl at the Moon and The Swamp. Both are on the beach and offer a fun filled evening of live entertainment. At Howl at the Moon, there are dueling pianos playing a rock n roll show Tuesday thru Sunday nights starting at 7pm. There is a lot of audience participation here as guests dance, sing and gyrate to their favorite tunes. On Sunday evenings at 9:00 they have a special Comedy Zone which includes some of the top touring acts in the country. Ladies Night on Wednesdays offers $1 drinks to that gender and Thirsty Thursdays offers drink specials for everyone. Next door is The Swamp which produces a spectacular light and rhythm show on their dance floor featuring local as well as national music groups. Some of the nationally known bands that perform here include: Cracker, Collective Soul, Fuel, Hoobastank, Papa Roach, Salavia and Sponge. When the live music is not playing, international DJ spin offs please the crowd with top hits. There are bar tending competitions to spice things up as well as a springtime Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Contest and the MTV's Fashionably Loud show.
The Best Place to Go Dancing, (2010 award by Emerald Coast magazine readers), is located just east of Destin at The Village Door. Located at Baytowne Wharf in the five star Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, this night spot opened in 2002 as a spinoff of John Wehner's famous original on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. This club is two stories of action with an open loft upstairs which looks down upon the dance floor below. A wrap around outdoor deck looks out onto the bay and a marina filled with yachts. An excellent sound and light show accompanies live performances of pulsating music. In-between shows, the extensive DJ play list includes everything from the nostalgic early days of rock to disco, classic rock, college favorites, rhythm and blues, beach music and today's top hits. Another popular adventure can be had at Rum Runners which also has dueling pianos and a great outdoor patio with seating that overlooks the Village Green. Speaking of which, many events are held on the green throughout the year at the Events Plaza Stage, with live musical celebrations, often accompanied by fireworks. Another local and tourist favorite is at Hammerhead's, an open air bar and restaurant located next to the long wharf that juts out into the bay. This is the perfect place to enjoy the awesome summer sunsets, feel the gentle breezes and listen to some excellent live bands. It provides a beautiful, festive atmosphere as does the entire Village of Baytowne Wharf. Music runs from rock and reggae to rhythm and blues as well as beach classics.
No matter where you plan to go, Ocean Reef bids you and yours many safe, pleasure-filled, memorable evenings during your Destin Vacation.
The Ocean Reef Editorial Team leads the market in vacation rental, real estate, and coastal lifestyle content, with decades of Destin & 30A expertise behind every story. As the area's largest locally owned and longest continually operating vacation rental company, we welcome over 200,000 guests each year and reach millions who dream of the beach. Our guides serve travelers, homeowners, and locals alike, sharing authentic knowledge you can trust-because this coast isn't just where we work, it's where our story began, and where we'll continue to welcome generations to come.
