Best Boating Destinations in Destin, FL

Crab Island is the premier boating attraction of the Emerald Coast. Once a physical island, the sands have eroded over the years, leaving a 4-acre submerged sandbar! The water is between 1 to 4 feet deep in most places on the Island, making it the perfect place for boats to pull up and drop anchor.

Hundreds of boats anchor on Crab Island every day to enjoy its natural beauty, wildlife, and crystal-clear waters. The water will be most clear at high tide, as the emerald water from the Gulf of Mexico flows into the Choctawhatchee Bay, creating that beautiful blue-green water you see in pictures.

However, Crab Island is a must-see destination at any time of the day as the shallow waters are great for games, kids playing, walking around the Island to visit friends, or just hanging out. Rent a Double-Decker Pontoon and you take your experience to a whole new level! Just imagine the kids (and adults!) racing down the dual waterslides into crystal clear water, enjoying a true birds-eye view of Crab Island from the upper deck, or relaxing in the shade on the deck below.

To read even more about Crab Island and download a copy of “The Mother’s Ultimate Guide to Crab Island”.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is the ~4 mile stretch of undeveloped seashore southwest of Crab Island – beginning just past the U.S. Coast Guard station. This stretch is beach is a great alternative to Crab Island if you’re looking for a more peaceful and natural experience, while still being close to the action.

There are far fewer boats along this stretch making it perfect for families with kids. There is a huge inflatable water park, as well as miles of natural seashore made for exploring, collecting shells, and catching crabs!

The Gulf Islands National Seashore truly gives you a serene and quiet experience away from all the crowds, perfect for relaxing on your double-decker pontoon boat while your kids explore the natural wonders of the Gulf Coast.

Norriego Point is the long stretch of beach on the south side as you enter the Destin Harbor. Lightly drive the front of your boat up onto the shore and enjoy the white sand beach and take in scenes of the harbor. It’s common for people to bring chairs, tables, food etc. with them and make a day out of it!

If you walk across the beach to the other side of Norriego Point, you’ll be looking out at the Destin Pass (the body of water that connects the Gulf to the Bay). Here there are designated swim areas protected from the waves and currents by the jetty rocks.

If you rent a double-decker pontoon boat and request to bring your fishing poles, this is also a great spot to fish off of the jetties!

You might be wondering why we consider the Destin Harbor and Norriego Point (located inside of the Destin Harbor) two different destinations, however we feel that the Harbor really stands out on its own as one of the most unique destinations along the Emerald Coast.

Destin's fishing tradition began in the mid-19th century with a group of fishermen fishing with nets off the shore in small boats, and over 150 years later, the Destin Harbor has evolved to be home to the nation’s largest commercial fishing fleet.

Rent a double-decker pontoon and take a slow ride down and back in the harbor. You will see some absolutely incredible boats, beautiful homes, and Destin’s boating community in full swing. The Harbor is a special place to many, and while it won’t be your whole day’s destination, it is absolutely worth seeing in its entirety.  

East Jetty Beach is located at the base of the east jetty in the Destin pass before you enter the gulf. East Jetty Beach is your go-to destination for snorkeling and fishing.

At the end of the jetties (on the harbor side) is an area perfect for snorkeling and seeing fish of all kinds as fish are attracted to the rocks and the algae and nutrients that grow on them! Several larger tour boats take their passengers here to snorkel, so experience the freedom of renting your own double-decker boat and do it yourself!

High tide is the best time to snorkel as the water will be most clear. In addition to snorkeling, East Jetty Beach is also a prime spot to fish. It gets pretty shallow close to shore, so you can walk or swim in with a pole and fish off the jetties themselves.

Lots of fish school through the Destin Pass with the tide changes including Spanish mackerel, bluefish, redfish, pompano, ladyfish, whiting, and more. Types of fish and success will depend on the time of year and time of day, however you’ll almost always see people fishing off the jetties.

All in all, whether you’re looking to go snorkel, fish, or just hang out in a different location, East Jetty Beach is great for adventure of all kinds.

West Jetty Beach is located on the west side of the Destin Pass, directly across from East Jetty Beach. Unlike the majority of East Jetty beach, here you are allowed to pull your boat right up to the beach.

There is a long stretch of beach available for boats to do this and is one of the less congested and busy areas to boat to. There is also great fishing off of these jetties as well; you just have to walk a ways!

West Jetty beach is great for games, picnics, and relaxation, and is home to some of the prettiest water along the Gulf Coast at high tide. As of recent, parking a car hasn’t been allowed at the West Jetty Beach access from land, creating an even more open area that can only be gotten to by boat!