My 3-Day Getaway in Destin/Ft. Walton + Best Instagram Spots

Hi all,

I recently had the amazing opportunity to escape to the Destin / Fort Walton area on a 3-day Getaway with Expedia & Visit Florida and in today’s post, I wanted to share some of what I did, where I took pics and where you should visit for your Instagram shots!

I hadn’t been to the area before, but after spending a few days, I have no doubt I’ll return to those white-sand beaches. So let’s dive in!

3-Day Getaway with Expedia

I had the opportunity to escape for 3 days out of chilly NYC and into the warm beaches of the Florida Panhandle thanks to Expedia’s Mini Vacay planner that very easily assembled the right flight, accommodations and even suggested things to do in the area as well. In less than 5 minutes, I was all booked for a last-minute vacation and it was all too easy. I do recommend you check their Mini Vacay Planner out for your next Florida vacation.

We stayed at the Salamander Resort in Destin, though we’ve also heard great things about the Pearl in Rosemary Beach. Both would be great options for your stay.

salamander-balcony-room-destin-christie-ferrari

Best Instagram Spots in Destin, Fort Walton and 30A

Florida’s Emerald Coast has soooo many amazing places to take pictures at, so with this vacation being a short 3-day escapade, I needed to be efficient and capture the very best pictures and visit the coolest locations. So on with where to take pictures in Destin, Fort Walton and 30A!

Destin / Fort Walton

Our first stop here was one recommended by Expedia’s tool: a sunset Dolphin cruise! We set out from Destin’s harbor in search of Dolphins and to enjoy a beautiful sunset on a nice boat ride.

sunset-dolphin-cruise-destin-ft-walton-christie-ferrari

The beaches here offer a wide variety of cool shots, with their white sand, calm seas and beautiful grassland and scenery. There’s a particularly pretty entrance to Mountain Beach in Fort Walton, but honestly, any beach will do. Whether you sit on a chair or go paddle boarding, you’re going to get the picture and have a great time.

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destin-the-salamander-beach-resort-hotel-christie-ferrari

30A

There are a few must-visit locations for a picture down 30A. If you want to get a good food/restaurant shot, I took this one at Pescado in Rosemary beach which offers amazing sunset rooftop views. Across the street, you also have the Pearl Hotel’s rooftop Havana Beach Bar for a similar shot.

pescado-rosemary-beach-rooftop-sunset-christie-ferrari

If you’re looking for a good food-shot (while enjoying yummy food) but don’t need/want the sunset, a few must-visit places include Caliza or George’s in Alys Beach or La Crema in Rosemary Beach.

Bike-riding is one thing you must do while in 30A - you can rent them almost anywhere and my recommendation would be to rent on and ride over to Alys Beach, a beautiful area near Rosemary Beach - just a short 5-10 minute bike ride away. Alys beach reminded me of Mykonos, and the Greek islands with its white architecture and summer vibes.

bike-riding-alys-beach-christie-ferrari

There are many more amazing places to take pictures at in the Destin Fort Walton area, but with only 3 days, we had to improvise! So next time you go, check these places out and let me know what else you find!

xo,

Christie