Okaloosa Island is the
stretch of land between Destin and Fort Walton Beach.
The Marler Bridge connects Okaloosa Island to Destin,
and the Brooks Bridge connects the island to Fort Walton
Beach. Much of Okaloosa Island is owned by the U.S.
government and is used for military purposes. The west
end of the island abounds with hotels, and recent
development brought several entertainment venues, which
attract both day- and night-time visitors.
Destin Central refers to the
area of Destin along U.S. 98 that lies between the
Marler Bridge and Airport Road. The locals call this
area �Old Destin,� because at one time that�s all
there was to this small fishing village. Despite the
eastward expansion of Destin, Destin Central remains a
focal point of the town because of its location along
the Destin Harbor, which is lined with docks that house
the Destin Fishing Fleet. Restaurants along the harbor
offer unbeatable views all day, especially in the late
afternoon when the sun is setting.
Crystal Beach/Miramar Beach
areas lie along U.S. 98 and Old Highway 98 between
Airport Road and Sandestin. The residential
neighborhoods in this area offer spectacular beach
cottages in an array of pastel colors. Old Highway 98
abounds with hotels and motels, some of which are new
and some of which have been around for decades.
Commercial development along U.S. 98 in the Crystal
Beach/Miramar Beach areas is somewhat new. As Destin
continues to become more popular, the town is rapidly
expanding eastward to accommodate the needs and desires
of visitors and new Destinites. Restaurants, shops and
other businesses line U.S. 98 in this neighborhood.
The
Sandestin area stretches
from the convergence of Old and New Highway 98 to Scenic
Highway 30-A. Sandestin offers upscale resort
accommodations, shops and restaurants. It is also home
to Silver Sands Factory Outlet, which offers name-brand
merchandise at discounted prices.
Scenic Highway 30-A is
actually not part of Destin at all; rather it is a
unique destination all on its own. This area has been
included as part of DestinDirect.com because it attracts
so much interest from visitors to Destin, and vice
versa. 30-A runs through several small beachside
communities, each with a unique artistic flair. Seaside,
Seagrove, Blue Mountain Beach, and Grayton Beach all lie
along 30-A. These small villages abound with
one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops, which offer a wide
variety of locally made art, furnishings, and clothing.
Perfect for a lazy day of sunbathing, shopping and
eating.
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