Destin and Fort Walton Beach Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Frommer’s Review

Sprawling over 2,400 acres with a spectacular beach 5 miles west of Destin and a marina, this resort is notable for its 81 holes of championship golf, tennis clinic, sports spa, and health center. An array of luxe accommodations overlooks the Gulf, Choctawhatchee Bay, the fairways, lagoons, or a nature preserve. The hotel rooms and suites are in the Bayside Inn; all have kitchenettes and balconies. Private condominiums are individually decorated and each has a full kitchen and a patio or balcony; many have a washer and dryer. Grand Boulevard, a 28-acre pedestrian village overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay, has a unique collection of more than two dozen specialty merchants ranging from quaint boutiques and charming eateries to lively bars and nightclubs. It also features hotel rooms and one-, two-, and three-bedroom luxury accommodations surrounding the bay, with rates ranging from $135 to $350 in the off season to $200 to $1,108 in the summer.

Facilities: 3 restaurants; 3 bars; 9 heated outdoor pools; 4 golf courses; 18 tennis courts; spa; Jacuzzis; watersports equipment rental; children’s programs; game room; concierge; shopping arcade; salon; limited room service (hotel only); massage; babysitting; laundry service; coin-op washers and dryers.