Located six miles east of Fort Walton Beach, the city with a population of 8,514 has a rich historical heritage dating back to American Indian inhabitants as early as the 7th century A. D. Some 900 years later Spanish explorers also visited the area. With the growth and development of Destin from a small fishing village to a major tourist resort came the need for a local government structure. In 1984 the city incorporated as a municipality with a city council and city government. Many miracles of nature kiss this part of the Emerald Coast. The sugar-white sandy beaches and pure sparkling emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico present a beautiful backdrop to the luxurious resorts with golf courses conference facilities.

Fishing remains at the top of the list of leisure past times in Destin. Boasting the title "World's Luckiest Fishing Village," Destin is one of the finest fishing locations in the world, it harbors the largest and most elaborately equipped charter fleet in Florida. Also referred to as the "Billfish Capital of the World", more billfish are caught each year than all other Gulf ports combined. The game fish are also of the widest variety on the Gulf, from cobia and scamp to triggerfish and king mackerel. Whether a first-time fisher or a seasoned "old salt", numerous deep sea excursions are available. Catches can be cooked up for free at certain fish-friendly restaurants.

Short History

Destin dates back to the seventh century A.D. With records showing American Indians living here, surviving off the major staple … fish! Spanish explorers visited some 900 years later, and divers are still finding wreckage of old ships in area waters. Destin traces its immediate history to a fisherman, Leonard Destin, who moved here from New London, Connecticut and settled in Northwest Florida about 1845. For decades he and his descendents fished and navigated the only channel passage to the Gulf of Mexico between Panama City and Pensacola, known as Destin’s East Pass. Destin officially incorporated as a municipality in November 1984, and now has a fully functioning city council and government. No longer a small fishing village, visitors are still discovering for the first time what is now a major tourist attraction … Destin’s beautiful coast.