Florida travel: White beaches and an emerald sea make Destin Fort Walton an ideal destination

We enjoyed paddle boarding on Choctawhatchee BayWe enjoyed paddle boarding on Choctawhatchee Bay
We enjoyed paddle boarding on Choctawhatchee Bay

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Balance has never been one of my strong points, and standing on a board, paddling along Florida’s Choctawhatchee Bay initially proved a little too tricky.

The children had both mastered the skills - as had my wife - but for me, it took a little longer, under the watchful eye of our paddle boarding expert Harrison.

Soon, however, the four of us, along with our guide, were exploring the inlets of the tranquil bay just off the state’s Emerald Coast.

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Harrison started up his paddle-board business at the height of the Covid pandemic but has never looked back, welcoming scores of Americans and other tourists to the water.

Artist Kelly Pierre with some of his work on the wall of the East Pass restaurantArtist Kelly Pierre with some of his work on the wall of the East Pass restaurant
Artist Kelly Pierre with some of his work on the wall of the East Pass restaurant

We were staying in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach region - a popular destination for Americans due to its powder-white beaches, green-blue sea and natural beauty.

After an hour or so spotting the birdlife along with the region’s highest priced properties from our water’s edge view it was time to return to shore and sample the region’s seafood cuisine.

Our destination was popular hotspot Lulu’s - where we joined boaters, boarders and families to tuck in to crab, shrimp and tuna, along with nachos, pulled pork and grits - a local favourite.

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Lulu’s offers fun, food and music and attracts tourists and locals to its waterside location.

The East Pass Seafood & Oyster House boasts a menu of Gulf to table seafoodThe East Pass Seafood & Oyster House boasts a menu of Gulf to table seafood
The East Pass Seafood & Oyster House boasts a menu of Gulf to table seafood

Boasting ‘good cookin’ served with a Southern flair’, it’s easy to see why the hotspot draws the crowds.

The resorts along Florida’s Panhandle coast are known for their miles of white beaches leading to the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Henderson Beach Resort

Our hotel - the Henderson Beach Resort - was just minutes from the beach and combined a traditional luxury feel with the modern amenities which made our stay special.

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