Road Trips · 2021 · Enhanced edition
A Beach and Golf Week in Destin
A road trip to Florida's Emerald Coast with an overnight in Gadsden, golf at Pursell Farms and Sandestin, four relaxed beach days, HarborWalk seafood, and a rainy final day in Destin.
Trip at a glance
- Dates: April 9–16, 2021
- Destination: Destin, Florida
- Stay: Destiny Beach Villas near the Gulf
- Highlights: Pursell Farms, beach mornings, The Links at Sandestin, HarborWalk Village, and dinner at East Pass
April 9: Starting the drive south
We left Friday evening and drove about six hours to Gadsden, Alabama. Breaking the drive there made the first night manageable after work.
Chick-fil-A handled dinner, and we checked into a Best Western Plus for the night.
April 10: Gadsden brunch and Pursell Farms
We did not need to reach our next stop until around 2 p.m., so Saturday began slowly. Back Forty Beer Company in Gadsden became our brunch stop before we drove roughly an hour and a half to Sylacauga.
Pursell Farms was the day's main event. The course was in excellent condition, and the fifth hole delivered the scenery I had hoped to see. The range balls also gave me time to settle in before the round.
After golf, we continued to Montgomery and stayed at Comfort Suites Airport South. We wanted to try something local for dinner, but most nearby restaurants were already closed. McDonald's ended up being the only realistic option.
April 11: Reaching Destin
Sunday's drive to the coast took about two and a half hours. We arrived well before the 4 p.m. check-in at Destiny Beach Villas, so we stopped at St. Michael's Brewing Company and then bought supplies at Walmart.
With more time to spare, we walked the beach before getting into the villa around 3:30. It was modest but comfortable for two people, with quick access to the Gulf and a lake view from the back balcony.
Hungry Howie's was an easy arrival-night dinner. The flavored crusts made it different from a standard pizza order—my wife liked her Cajun-style pizza and breadsticks more than I liked mine—but it was worth trying once.
April 12: Beach morning and The Links at Sandestin
The time change had us awake early each morning. Coffee became the start of a routine: beach by about 9:30, a few hours in the sand, then whatever activity we had planned for the afternoon.
On Monday, we left the beach around noon so I could play The Links at Sandestin. The course itself was not my favorite of the trip, but the holes along Choctawhatchee Bay supplied the views I wanted. The scenery made the round worthwhile.
Dinner at Miller's Ale House was less successful. My bacon cheeseburger was disappointing, especially after a day that had otherwise gone well.
April 13: HarborWalk and the best meal of the trip
Tuesday followed the same relaxed beach routine, only with more time in the sun. Later that afternoon, we headed to HarborWalk Village.
The harbor was busy with restaurants, shops, boats, and people returning from the water. Watching a fisherman clean the day's catch made the seafood feel connected to the place rather than just another menu item.
Dinner at East Pass was the food highlight of the trip. The Mayor oysters combined bacon, jalapeños, and smoked gouda, while the fried green tomatoes came topped with pimento cheese and buttermilk ranch. After the previous night's burger, this was exactly the coastal meal we had been looking for.
April 14: Our longest beach day
Wednesday gave us the best stretch of beach weather, and we stayed out for about three hours.
That evening, we tried P.F. Chang's for the first time. The dumplings were excellent; the rest of the meal was good but did not feel especially different from other Chinese restaurants we had visited.
Smallcakes supplied dessert. The almond-flavored wedding-cake cupcake may have been the best cupcake I had ever eaten.
April 15: A rainy final day
Rain slowed everything down Thursday morning, which was not necessarily a bad thing after several early starts.
We tried Jackacuda's for lunch. I ordered a pork-belly sandwich, but the heavy fried coating made me wish I had chosen the sushi that looked better around the room.
We browsed a local golf shop and considered having my irons regripped, but the crowd made the visit more stressful than useful. A walk along the wet shoreline was a better way to end the afternoon.
Chicken Salad Chick became our final Destin dinner. The chunky pimento cheese reminded me of the topping at East Pass and gave the day a simple, satisfying finish.
April 16: Heading home through Birmingham
We left early Friday and pointed the car toward home, with Topgolf in Birmingham planned as one last activity along the route.
Final thoughts
This trip worked because we did not force every beach day to become a full-day event. Morning sand and water left room for golf, HarborWalk, food, shopping, and an easy response when rain arrived. Pursell Farms was the strongest golf experience, East Pass was the best meal, and the villa's proximity to the beach gave the week the relaxed pace we wanted.
Plan your own trip
Destin Beach, Fishing & Golf Guide
Destin is easiest to enjoy when the Gulf remains the anchor and everything else fits around it. Choose lodging near the beach, protect a few unscheduled mornings, and give golf, fishing, HarborWalk, or a water outing one dedicated block rather than stacking them together.
01
Match the lodging to the beach routine
Walkable beach access
A condo or villa near an access point makes short morning visits practical and removes the need to load the car every day.
Public beach access
Review the official access map before booking. Parking, restrooms, accessibility, and available sand vary by location.
Henderson Beach State Park
The state park protects more than a mile of white-sand shoreline and also offers boardwalks, picnicking, camping, fishing, and nature viewing.
Read the beach flags
Check the current flag conditions and follow local water-safety guidance every day, even when the Gulf looks calm.
Our experience: Reaching the beach around 9:30 and leaving after two or three hours kept us from getting burned out while preserving the afternoon for other plans.
02
Choose one way to experience Destin from the water
Fishing choices
- Charter trip — select bay, trolling, bottom-fishing, half-day, or full-day service based on the group's experience and stamina.
- Surf fishing — a lower-commitment alternative where permitted; review current licenses and local rules.
- Cook your catch — some harbor restaurants prepare fish from participating charter trips.
Non-fishing choices
- Dolphin cruise — a family-friendly way to leave the harbor without committing to fishing.
- Kayak or paddleboard — best when wind and water conditions suit the group's ability.
- Snorkeling or reef outing — use a reputable operator and match the trip to swimming experience.
Booking tip: Morning water trips often provide calmer conditions and leave the afternoon open. Ask what equipment, licenses, cleaning, food, and weather cancellations are included.
03
Fit golf into a beach vacation
Choose for scenery
Bayfront or resort courses can deliver memorable views even when the layout itself is not the strongest value.
Choose for the round
Compare current course conditions, pace, aeration schedules, and fees when golf quality matters more than location.
Book the right time
An afternoon tee time allows a shared beach morning; an early round protects against afternoon heat and storms.
Use travel-day golf
A destination course such as Pursell Farms can turn the drive south into part of the vacation, but it requires an additional overnight.
Our experience: Pursell Farms offered the better overall golf day, while The Links at Sandestin earned its place through the bay views. Decide which kind of round you value before paying resort-course prices.
04
Plan for seafood—and for rain
Better food strategy
- Reserve one harbor or Gulf-to-table seafood dinner as the week's featured meal.
- Keep arrival-night pizza or takeout simple after grocery shopping and check-in.
- Use recent menus and reviews; the restaurant name alone does not guarantee a good dish.
Rainy-day backup
- Explore indoor attractions, shopping, a movie, or a relaxed lunch rather than waiting all day for the beach.
- The Gulfarium has both indoor exhibits and outdoor presentations; bring rain protection.
- Leave one unscheduled afternoon so a weather shift does not erase a prepaid plan.
Our experience: East Pass delivered the meal we wanted because the oysters and fried green tomatoes felt connected to the coast. On the rainy day, browsing and an easy dinner worked better than forcing a major outing.
05
A balanced six-night Destin itinerary
Travel day 1Drive partway and stay overnight.
Travel day 2Play a destination golf course or visit one Alabama stop, then continue to a second overnight.
Day 1 in DestinArrive, buy groceries, walk the beach, and eat an easy dinner.
Day 2Beach morning and golf or resort time in the afternoon.
Day 3Beach, HarborWalk Village, and the featured seafood dinner.
Day 4Fishing, dolphin cruise, snorkeling, or another water-focused activity.
Day 5Henderson Beach State Park, shopping, or a flexible weather-backup day.
DepartureLeave early and add one planned stop on the drive home.
What worked for us
The villa's beach access, short morning beach sessions, one afternoon golf round, and one HarborWalk evening gave the trip variety without losing the relaxing purpose of a Gulf vacation. The next version of this trip would add a fishing or dolphin outing while keeping at least one day completely flexible.
Original trip gallery
Photos from the adventure
All original photos from this trip are preserved below.
This story and its photos were migrated from the original Traveling Churches blog.
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