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Beach Conditions

See what some of our favorite publications have to say about us!

2023

Corporate & Incentive Travel – Florida: Sun, Sea, Sand & So Much More (Print)

Southern Living – These Florida Towns Are Better in The Winter
An incredibly popular destination in the summertime, and for good reason, Destin is just as lovely to visit in the winter months. Imagine having the sugar-white sand beaches to yourself for a sunrise walk; go kayaking in Blackwater River State Forest just north of I-10; or make a visit to Henderson Beach State Park and feel like you have the entire place to yourself…

Luxury Travel Magazine – The Best Beaches to Visit Near & Far for Every Season
Beautiful sunsets, sugar-white crystal quartz sand, and warm, clear water capture only some of what makes Destin-Fort Walton Beach so special. Tucked away along Florida’s glittering gulf coast, the vibrant air, endless outdoor adventures both on and off the water, and near-perfect weather, year-round attract visitors from all over the world…

Wherever Family – Best Domestic Beaches to Visit in 2023
The beautiful sunsets; sugar-white, crystal sand; and warm blue waters are only a few of the reasons Destin-Fort Walton Beach is a must-visit destination. Located along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the weather is perfect for year-round outdoor adventures…

Travel + Leisure – 15 Best Family Beaches in Florida
A relaxing Northwest Florida family beach vacation practically plans itself when you venture to Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Panhandle, where shallow, Caribbean-blue waters and sugar-fine beaches make it easy to do nothing but soak up the sun all day long…

Mommy Poppins – 10 Best Florida Beach Vacations for Families
Part of the Florida Panhandle’s “Emerald Coast”—a 100-mile stretch of beach along the Gulf of Mexico—Destin is brimming with gorgeous beaches, interactive museums, amusement parks, animal adventures, and great restaurants. Frolic on the sand and enjoy the nature trail at Henderson Beach State Park…

DeeperBlue – New Artificial Reef Set Up Off Florida’s Gulf Coast
A new artificial reef is now in place in the waters off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.The former research vessel R/V MANTA was deliberately sunk approximately 16 nautical miles (30km) offshore on January 15th, 2023…

TripAdvisor – 5 Black-owned places on the Emerald Coast
My love for the water goes back to my childhood when my father taught me to fish and catch everything from trout to sharks. After living in Alaska for three years, I honed my expertise in fishing in all types of terrain. Now, I teach others how to fish with my company, Lions Tale Adventures, in Destin…

MSN – Sun, Sand, and Smiles: Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida
From its stunning white sand beaches and emerald green waters to its vibrant local culture, delicious cuisine, and endless opportunities for outdoor activities, there is no shortage of things to do in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Whether planning a family trip, a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure, Destin-Fort Walton Beach is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life…

Forbes – The Best Hotels To Visit Near State And National Parks In 2023
If you’re looking for a state park experience, the Henderson Beach Resort and Spa in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is an excellent choice. Tucked between the aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the lush greenery of the Henderson Beach State Park, this 200-acre gem is a beach lover’s paradise…

Allegiant – nonstoplife – Spring 2023 East Coast Edition – Dive Into Fun

Travel + Leisure – 24 Best Weekend Getaways in Florida
Glittering Gulf of Mexico waters and powdery sands, with lots of ways to get out into nature off the beach, too, make the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area appealing for a few days away…

Travel + Leisure – This Mile-long Beach on Florida’s Emerald Coast Has 20,000-year-old Quartz Sand — and It Was Just Named One of the Best in the U.S
Florida’s Emerald Coast, stretching about 100 miles along the northwestern part of the state, has no shortage of picture-perfect beaches and dreamy Caribbean-like views that draw more than seven million visitors annually…

Mommy Poppins – 12 Best Places To Visit in the South, USA with Kids
With hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and year-round warm weather, there’s never a bad time to visit Florida’s beach towns…

Convention South – Event Planners’ Guide To Florida

Forbes – The Best Places To Travel In The U.S. In 2023, According To The Experts
Family-friendly Destin-Fort Walton Beach offers near-perfect weather year-round, a growing hotel scene, rich ecotourism that the destination is working hard to protect, plus “a fishing community so vibrant that the beach town has come to be known as ‘the world’s luckiest fishing village,’” says Kate Schweitzer…

Travel + Leisure – These Florida Beach Towns Have Locals on Call to Give You Live Travel Tips
While the tech world is focused on chatting with AI and robots, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL, tourism board has launched a “Mom Chat” to provide visitors with expert local advice…

Yahoo Life! (Syndication) – Yahoo Life
Travelers looking to visit the coastal towns, which have a combined 20+ miles of sandy beaches, can log onto the local tourism website to have a live chat with a local mom — officially called an “Online Scout” — who will provide insights such as where to find the most family-friendly beaches and where to find a safe place to eat for children with peanut allergies…

Trazee Travel – VisitThese 5 Patriotic Memorials and Museums in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, offers a variety of family adventures and sites sure to inspire a patriotic adventure for Memorial Day weekend…

Islands Magazine – The Island and Coastal Resorts Offering the Best Mother’s Day Deals
Looking for a convenient escape with your kids for Mother’s Day? A peaceful yet fun getaway awaits at Henderson Beach Resort in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL, where the entire family can enjoy access to the picturesque private beach, a lazy river, and an array of services…

The Washington Post – Old ships are getting second lives as fish housing
A crash, a splash, a scuttled boat and now a new home for fish: That’s what happened this week off the coast of the Florida Panhandle when local officials sank a former oil industry ship to create an artificial reef…

Wherever Family – 3 Family Travel Experiences To Live Out Your Childhood Dreams
Down in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, families can go snorkeling or scuba diving. While scuba diving or snorkeling, look for offshore artificial reefs built to preserve and protect marine life. Dolphins, redfish, crabs, sea horses and sea turtles also roam these waters…

MSN – Four Family Travel Experiences That Promise Fun and Togetherness
Destin-Fort Walton Beach offers families an array of outdoor adventures, from stunning sunsets to sugar-white sand and crystal-clear waters. The adventure doesn’t stop on land; underwater activities are equally thrilling…

Texas Lifestyle Magazine – 23 Places to Travel to in 2023
Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida is the recipe for a happy family vacation with the mix of “easy planning, engaging activities, and good food that you don’t have to cook or clean up.” The Little Adventures website is a goldmine of great entertainment – from learning how to build better sandcastles to surfing, Little Adventures has you covered…

Trazee Travel – 4 Summer Beach Festivals That Aren’t Your Typical Music Festival
The annual festival in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, takes places May 20–21 this year. The festival takes place in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Lionfish Removal & Awareness Day Festival…

We Said Go Travel – Saving Our Planet One Lionfish At A Time
They call Destin–the “Luckiest Fishing Village” due to its prime location, rich marine environment, and warm waters of the Gulf which support a wide variety of fish species, including red snapper, grouper, amberjack, mahi-mahi, and tuna…

Travel Today – Destin, Florida: A Top Pick for the Best Summer Family Vacation
As summer approaches, families nationwide are beginning to consider the perfect place for their cherished holiday getaway. Today, we spotlight Destin, Florida, a dazzling gem along the Emerald Coast, renowned for its picturesque white-sand beaches, crystal-clear emerald waters, and sunny skies…

Haute Living – Where To Spend Your Memorial Day Weekend: The Emerald Coast’s Hotel Effie
I’m going to let you in on an insider secret, and you must be careful who you share it with: Florida’s Gulf Coast is absolutely magical. Think: fine, white sand beaches, and an ocean so sparkling and green it looks to be something you’d only see in the movies…

Thrillist – The Best Beaches Near New Orleans You Can Drive to This Summer
When New Orleans’ sweltering summer temps set in, the city’s proximity to postcard-perfect Gulf Coast beaches offer a welcome respite. Fortunately, some of the region’s most lauded beaches are only a short drive away, meaning you can easily take a coastal road trip, work on your tan, and get back in time for a nightcap at one of the city’s best bars…

Medium – The Ultimate 2023 Summer Essentials Guide: Travel, Dining, Beauty, Fashion, Cocktails & More
From the moment guests arrive at The Henderson, they are embraced by old-world charm that is contemplative of the surroundings and unspoiled beauty of the area. Reminiscent of a luxurious grand seaside manner of yesteryear, the property seamlessly blends modern conveniences with the nostalgia of days gone by — all set against a backdrop of the authentic bustling beach town of Destin located on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast…

DiveNewsWire (Syndication) – Saving the Ocean – ONE LIONFISH AT A TIME!
Alex is a marine biologist who is part of the team at Destin-Fort Walton Beach. In fact, he is one of four marine biologists on the tourism team unlike any other tourism team I am aware of. Many people talk about over-tourism and over-fishing but what do they do about it?

Allegiant NonStopLife – Summer 2023 East Coast Edition – A Vacation Destination The Whole Family Will Love

Travel Daily Media – Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida continues conservation efforts
Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s artificial reef program is part of a larger five-year plan designed to both enhance the area’s marine ecosystems and spark interest in local water adventures…

The Travel – 14 Reasons Why Destin Is Such A Popular Florida Spot
Destin, located in the northernmost part of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, is well recognized as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” due to its abundance of beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, and verdant golf courses…

Wherever Family – “A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SUMMER 2023 TRAVEL
Travel with kids can be hard, but booking a trip to a family-friendly destination like Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, can help. Parents even have the chance to talk with a local mom to gather insight and suggestions before or during their trip…

Destinations by Jax Fax – A Family Adventure Awaits in Destin-Fort Walton Beach
From snorkeling and paddle boarding to dolphin watching and exploring tide pools, families seeking some fun in the outdoors will have countless options available when they visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach…

Food52 – Lionfish Are Harming Our Oceans—Here’s One (Delicious) Way to Fight Them
Lionfish have no natural predators in the Gulf, can lay between 27,000 to 100,000 eggs every 2.5 days, and decimate the ecology of local fish by consuming about 20 smaller fish every 30 minutes. After their initial appearance in Florida, they quickly spread to other states, but Florida continues to suffer from some of the most extreme consequences…