Hike Hike Hike

The Destin area isn't the first place people think of for hiking, but the trails here are worth knowing. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach has over 1,600 acres of longleaf pine flatwoods, coastal dune lakes, and three miles of Gulf beach you can only reach on foot or by tram. Bring water and give yourself a few hours.

For something closer to Destin, Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville has six miles of trails through scrub oak and sand pine along the bayou. It's quiet, shaded, and a good break from the beach crowds. The Rocky Bayou Trail loops about three miles and takes you down to the water's edge.

If you want a shorter walk with a payoff, the Henderson Beach State Park trail runs through coastal scrub just off Scenic Gulf Drive. It's less than a mile but puts you on one of the least-crowded stretches of sand in Destin. Park at the state park entrance and walk in.