Destin, Florida is snuggled against the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida, and is famed for it's clear, emerald waters and sugar, white sands. Destin is named after Captain Leonard Destin, a New London, Connecticut fishermen who settled there in the late 1940's. He and his decendants fished the area for decades. I first visited Destin with my family in the late 50's, because my dad loved to fish. Back then, there was only one pier, some small cabins and one camping ground. The sand dunes were like mountains and the shoreline was unspoiled. Sea shells abound by the thousands on the shore and the waters edge was teaming with beautiful Blue Crab, of which my dad would catch and cook in a huge black pot at the camping ground where we would stay. He also fished for flounder and would add them to our menu. Dinner was always fine and my Dad loved every minute of it, as did I. I have visited Destin almost every year of my life since I was around 5 years old, so for me, Destin is like my home. I've watched it grow from this small intimate fishing village, to one of the most visited tourist coastlines of it's time. Destin was a well kept secret from vacationers until the 70's, when people began to discover it's magical sugar white sands and it's crystal clear emerald ocean. By the 1980's Destin was booming with construction of high rise condos, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, the rest is history. Now days even celebrities call this beautiful coastline home from the likes of singer, song writer Sheryl Crow, Author, John Grisham to famed chef, Emeril Lasasse. Today, the cities population of around 12,000 explodes into about 40,000 during tourist season. From the annual Destin fishing tournament and seafood festival in October, a laid back atmosphere and open air shopping, fabulous local seafood restaurants, and many high rise condo's, Destin allows vacationers to get away from the routine of life and experience a little bit of paradise.
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