Vacation Like you Mean It: Destin Harbor Walk

Vacation Like You Mean It 

Destin Harbor Walk

By John W, Vander Velden

 

We were staying on Okaloosa Island just south of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  It’s on the gulf coast, just east of Pensacola.  Now it is not like some island in the middle of an ocean, but it is a true island.  Like many islands in the southeast you can reach it by bridge.

It was about a four mile drive to the eastern end of the island and there a bridge crossed the gulf and took you to Destin.  The sign that greeted you stated, “Destin the luckiest fishing village on earth.”  Now we didn’t have enough time to find out why they thought they were so lucky, but if location was one of the criteria…well YEAH!

The sand, the water, the weather, at least the weather while we were in town, are fabulous.  “Turn right at the first light.”  The visitor promo card we picked up at the hotel told us.  And we did, not knowing exactly what we would find.  Now we have been to a few tourist driven collection of restaurants and shops before, and we enjoy the experience.  But Harbor Walk is a little different.  It’s the west end of Destin’s Boardwalk district.  A lane that has shops on three levels looking over the gulf.  The shops are like those you find in any of these places.  A blend between chains and locals, doing their best to entice you with just the right local stuff you absolutely need to lug home as reminders of your day…here.  There were art galleries.  I am always amazed at the talent of local people no one might have heard about.

But the Harbor Walk added all the shore stuff, fishing equipment and rentals,  
charters for gulf fishing outings and sightseeing boats, you could rent a kayak, a boat or personal water craft.  There was a booth offering helicopter rides, and others offering to set you up parasailing.  The place was alive, and even on that Thursday the place was bustling.  In some ways it reminded me of Disney. 

I watched the people.  Those that seemed on a mission…knowing exactly where they were bound and what they were doing.  And others, like Jackie and me, just strolling to see what we might bump into.  An interesting place. 

We spent the morning shopping, ate lunch on a patio looking over the water, and watched the zip liners go past, the parasailers beyond the dunes that separated the harbor from the gulf, the pelicans in flight looking for a place to land, and the people, most dressed in bright colored casual clothing.  The weather was warm…pleasant not hot.  In the afternoon we took a Dolphin Cruise.  A two hour boat ride around the bay and into the gulf.  The waves on the gulf set the 80 foot boat/ship to dancing.  But we saw dolphins!  A bunch of

The lights change color...cool

them…or whatever they call a group of dolphins.  They were right up beside our boat…It was so cool!

That ended our time in Harbor Walk…well at least that day. 

I did mention we were staying on an island…and bridges.  It seems that those that live in the area understand and have accepted that limited ways to and fro mean bumper to bumper…a lot.  Patience helps…a bunch.  There are those times things move quickly and then there is the rest of the day. 

So we were worn but happy when we reached our little haven on the Emerald Shore that evening, finishing our second full day in Florida.

Next week I will tell you about a lighthouse, a lighthouse, and an almost lighthouse.  

 

 

 

(606 Words) 5-2-2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seemed a day for an elementary school outing.  Each group had their own bright color tees

Not certain how many dolphins we saw, but I counted at least twelve.