Destin, Florida, is a scenic, beachfront area to choose for your next vacation. It’s located about an hour from Panama City Beach and Pensacola, 2½ hours from Tallahassee; and three hours from Montgomery, Alabama. For a comfortable stay, Destin has plenty of vacation rentals in nearby areas like Miramar Beach and Fort Walton Beach. Read below for some fun facts about Destin.

Looking to Visit Destin, Florida? Here Are a Few Fun Facts About Destin.

• The sugar-like sand in Destin is actually from the Appalachian Mountains. The sand is actually quartz made from mountain residue taken to the Gulf of Mexico from the nearby Apalachicola River. 
• The sand in Destin and along the Emerald Coast is so white, it’s also called summer snow. Without the right eye protection, it may even hurt your eyes. 
• Destin takes its name from a fisherman. Leonard Destin came to the Destin area in the 1800s to fish. A former employee became the town’s postmaster after Leonard’s death and named the town after his former fisherman boss.
• Destin was previously an island. The landscape of Destin changed over time due to hurricanes, but the peninsula is now located between the Gulf of Mexico and Chocatawhatchee Bay.
• The area where Destin is located is called the Emerald Coast for its sparking green waters. Fort Walton Beach and Panama City are among other towns part of the Emerald Coast.
• Destin is the most popular destination on the Emerald Coast.
• Destin’s beautiful sunsets sometimes feature a green flash. The green flash happens as the sun is setting and is only a couple seconds long. It happens because of a prism-like condition that happens over the water and combines the colors together for a green glow.
• Destin has the largest fleet of fishing vessels out of all towns in Florida. This has led to Destin’s nickname as the “Luckiest Fishing Village.”
• There’s some great deep-sea fishing to be had at Destin’s “100 Fathom Curve.” This is an area 10 miles from shore that is full of cobia, grouper, flounder, and tuna, among other fish. 
• Native Americans likely found Destin appealing because of the good fishing in the area.
• Don’t bother looking for the island part of Crab Island. A popular hangout in Destin, Crab Island is not actually an island. It was once a tiny island that got its nickname because of the number of crabs and other wildlife living there. In 1975, Hurricane Eloise swept away most of this small island and left under a sidebar. Now, boaters and partygoers flock to this area for fun.
• There’s a million-dollar ceiling in Destin. McGuire’s Irish Pub, which opened in the 1990s, has invited customers to sign dollar bills that restaurant staff will hang on the walls and ceilings. There are now more than a million dollar bills adorning the ceiling and walls at McGuire’s. 

There are lots of reasons to visit Destin, and you have your choice of fun things to do in this popular Emerald Coast enclave. One thing you won’t need to worry about is where to stay, thanks to the wide variety of nearby Destin vacation rentals. Enjoy!