9 Best Attractions To Visit On Florida's Emerald Coast
Florida's Emerald Coast is a destination unto itself, but it is also home to a number of attractions that rival a day at the beach. Between Pensacola Bay and St. Andrews Bay, there is much to explore. At Crab Island, you can wade through shallow, clear water on a submerged sandbar where hundreds of boats gather each summer. On the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, Fort Pickens has brick bastions and tunnels that saw Civil War fighting. Scuba divers can descend nearly 60 feet to the Underwater Museum of Art, where sculptures like an 8-foot pineapple double as artificial reefs. Back in Destin, a Southern Star Dolphin Cruise sets out from HarborWalk Village and sightings are all but guaranteed. Read on to discover the 9 best attractions to visit on Florida's Emerald Coast.
Crab Island
Crab Island is a submerged sandbar where hundreds of vessels anchor daily in the summer. The sandbar sits just north of the Destin Bridge in Choctawhatchee Bay, within Gulf Islands National Seashore. The water here is shallow and crystal clear, making it a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and wading. Floating vendors operate through the warmer months, selling everything from ice cream to sunscreen. Alcohol is not sold on the sandbar, but visitors may bring their own in non-glass containers. Crab Island can only be reached by watercraft, but the journey adds to the experience. The Crab Island Shuttle is a popular family-friendly option, while Destin Crab Island Adventures offers a private tiki party cruise for partygoers.
Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island is flocked with beaches and boardwalks fit for a postcard. The drive from Fort Walton Beach is short and scenic, with tons of free parking available at the Boardwalk. Beachgoers can find white sand a few steps away, along with picnic tables and outdoor showers for a full day in the sun. The Okaloosa Island Pier stretches more than 1,200 feet into the Gulf for anglers and sightseers. Back on the Boardwalk, beachgoers can shop at souvenir stores like Tropical Trends. In the summer, upper-deck dining at Rockin Tacos Grill & Tequila Bar is a great way to end the day, watching Okaloosa's weekly fireworks shows.
Navarre Beach Marine Park
30 minutes west of Okaloosa Island, Navarre Beach Marine Park is a free-access snorkeling shore. The park's near-shore reefs let swimmers explore vibrant marine ecosystems without having to book a boat ride. With artificial reefs on both sides of Santa Rosa Island, beachgoers can snorkel in the Gulf or Santa Rosa Sound. The Gulf-side sanctuary alone includes 30 reef structures in 6 to 15 feet of water. Sea turtles, octopuses, and surgeonfish are some of the creatures to spot swimming past colorful corals. On land, the rarely-crowded beaches let guests sunbathe and recharge between snorkel sessions. The park is also home to the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.
Southern Star Dolphin Cruise
Sightseers looking to stay dry can spot marine life from the comfort of a Southern Star Dolphin Cruise. Operating since 1994, the award-winning guide reports a 98% success rate for dolphin sightings. The family-owned company bills itself as Destin's original dolphin cruise. Their 90-minute tours depart from Destin's HarborWalk Village, showcasing bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. Each cruise sails aboard an 80-foot, double-deck boat with a glass bottom, giving every passenger an open view of the water. The Daytime Dolphin Cruise is a narrated ecotour that navigates the Destin Harbor and East Pass. Later in the day, the Sunset Dolphin Cruise pairs pod sightings with a watercolor sky.
Destin HarborWalk Village & Boardwalk
Back on land, the Destin HarborWalk Village is an entertainment and dining hub right on the water. Overlooking Destin Harbor, the 15-acre district has a range of ways to chase thrills or find relaxation. At HarborWalk Adventures, guests can soar above the Emerald Coast on Destin's "Longest & Tallest Zipline." For laid-back views, Harry T's Lighthouse serves seafood favorites on an airy deck facing the harbor. The village also hosts fireworks shows over the harbor throughout the year. Attached to the Village, Destin's Harbor Boardwalk lets people see more of the waterfront. Completed in 2012, the quarter-mile promenade is a free way to see the Emerald Coast.
St. Andrews State Park
St. Andrews State Park has a range of shores, thanks to its peninsula setting between the Gulf and St. Andrews Bay. A 1.5-mile beach lines its Gulf edge with white sand and warm tides. Bay-side, a rock jetty juts out to form a popular saltwater lagoon. Shielded from waves, the water here is shallow and calm, ideal for snorkelers and young swimmers. For a quieter nook of sand, St. Andrews State Park is also a gateway to Shell Island Beach. Parkgoers can ride the Shell Island Ferry to reach this serene shore. The barrier island is undeveloped and peaceful, letting visitors sunbathe and comb for shells without the usual crowds.
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is surrounded by sand and steeped in American history. Located on the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, this pentagonal fortress was completed in 1834. More than 21.5 million bricks went into its construction. Originally built to protect the Gulf Coast from foreign threats, the fort also hosted several Civil War conflicts. Today, visitors can wander its brick bastions and eerie tunnels. Outside, guests can also explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Langdon Beach is a pristine swimming shore on the island's Gulf side. North of the fort, the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier stretches 200 feet into Pensacola Bay, where dolphins can often be spotted.
Henderson Beach State Park
30-foot dunes line Henderson Beach State Park, an Emerald Coast shoreline that is far less crowded than its neighbors. With more than 6,000 feet of sand, it's easy to find quiet pockets away from the main boardwalk. Swimming is also a mellow time thanks to the shore's warm waves and gradually sloping waters. Nearby, picnic pavilions provide respite from the sun and sand. Adventurers can also take a 0.75-mile trail through the dunes. The park also offers 60 campsites set in its secondary dune system, each with water and electric hookups. Unlike other resort-backed beaches in Destin, the views here are completely unobstructed.
The Underwater Museum of Art
America's first permanent underwater sculpture garden is a must-see attraction on the Emerald Coast. The Underwater Museum of Art is nearly 60 feet deep in the Gulf, featuring art installations from around the world. Sculptures range from a genie lamp to an 8-foot-tall pineapple, intentionally designed to serve as artificial reefs for local marine life. Since the first 7 sculptures were submerged in 2018, the collection has grown with new pieces added each year. These unique exhibits are less than 1 mile offshore from Grayton Beach State Park, which most divers use as a home base. Scuba divers can explore this one-of-a-kind underwater exhibit by booking a trip with local operators like Dive 30A.
More Than a Beach Day on Florida's Emerald Coast
If you're looking for more than a beach day on Florida's Emerald Coast, these attractions give you reasons to leave the towel behind. Henderson Beach and St. Andrews State Park deliver the white sand and calm water the region is known for, while Navarre's reefs, the bastions of Fort Pickens, and the Underwater Museum of Art reveal a coast worth exploring above and below the surface. However you plan to spend your time here, these 9 attractions are the best way to see every side of the Emerald Coast.
