Do you need a break from the beach and want to do some shopping in Destin while you’re here? Maybe you just need to pick up some things you forgot to pack.
Destin has an array of shopping opportunities from upscale to beachwear to specific sporting equipment and more!
There are 8 main categories of shops in the Destin area that cater to visitors and locals alike. They are:
- Beach shops
- Malls
- Unique boutiques
- Grocery stores
- Liquor stores
- Seafood shops
- Fishing bait and tackle stores
- Golf stores
Beach Shops in Destin
In most any beach town, it’s not to difficult to find beach shops lining the streets getting people to and from the beaches. Destin has them, as well. On both Highway 98 and Scenic Gulf Drive, you can find all sorts of beach shops, from higher-end branded stores to cheaper stores selling mass-produced beachwear, toys, chairs, tents, towels sunscreen and floats. These can be great shops to pick up items that didn’t make it in the luggage or memorabilia of your trip to Destin.
Malls
The malls in Destin are popular with both tourists and the locals. They can provide a break from the sun and, depending on where you go, the shopping experiences can be very different.
Outlets in Destin
Silver Sands Outlet Mall
Silver Sands Premium Outlets, as it’s officially called, is located about 5 miles East on Highway 98 from where the Midbay Bridge road (Highway 293) intersects with Highway 98. It’s past Seascape Resort, on the left side of Highway 98.
Here you’ll find well-recognized name brand stores like Nike, Columbia, Michael Kors, Vans, Kate Spade, Disney, Crocs, Eddie Bauer, Fragrance Outlet, and more.
It’s all located outdoors, so on rainy days the sidewalks under the awnings may get a little crowded, but Silver Sands has an energetic vibe rain or shine. While, a lot of times, the prices aren’t dramatically discounted, on occasion, there are some great deals. And after a couple of hours of shopping, there’s a corner pizza restaurant that’s a great place to rest and get some great Italian fare.
What are the Silver Sands Outlet hours? It’s typically open Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Shopping Villages
Destin Commons
Destin Commons is located at the intersection of Highway 293 (the Midbay Bridge road) and Highway 98. It is also an outside mall, with an accumulation of name-brand stores, boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, a movie theatre and their Destin Commons playground for kids.
The mall is set up like a quaint village, and even has “volunteer” parking meters, which provide money for their selected charities.
The playground area is located near the center of the “village,” and this center area is beautifully decorated during different seasons, providing a relaxing spot to sit, have a coffee and watch the children play.
Baytowne Wharf
Baytowne Wharf is another unique shopping experience, located east of Destin off of Highway 98, right on the bay.
It has a couple dozen upscale shops with restaurants and activities, along with frequent live music being featured. Depending on the season, Baytowne Wharf is known for festivals and events.
HarborWalk
HarborWalk, just east of the East Pass, is again, an entirely different shopping experience than the others.
With an array of shops with products that provide a little bit for everyone in the family, it’s fun to stroll along the walk and slip into shops and explore their offerings, and then grab a drink at one of the vendors located along the boardwalk and observe the fishing fleet as they arrive with their catches.
There are also fun activities for the young and young at heart!
Unique Boutiques
Destin also has a lot of independently-owned boutiques located in different strip malls. Some can be found on Scenic Gulf Drive, but most are nestled into corners here and there in strip shopping centers up and down Highway 98. You can find holistic boutiques, shops with women’s wear, shoes, jewelry, and pet supplies, to name a few.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores in Destin are scattered here and there, so it usually won’t take long to find one close by.
Liquor Stores in Destin
Unlike many states that have only have stand-alone stores (like ABC Liquor) that sell liquor, we have both stand-alone independent liquor stores and liquor stores in association with grocery stores.
Here’s a map that shows were some of them are located:
Worth giving a special nod is Wine World. It’s not only a retailer of wines, spirits and beer of all types. It also has a special ambiance and interesting food which compels customers to not just come in to buy, but to relax, kick back and enjoy this one-of-a-kind environment. If you like craft beer from local breweries, they have that, too!
Seafood Shops
With Destin being a hub for amazing fishing, there are some top-notch seafood shops that sell seafood fresh off the boats. Some of these seafood stores have owners/operators who’ve been around fishing their entire lives; they’re the perfect folks to help you select the perfect fish to take back to the hotel or condo for a fabulous seafood dinner. Sexton’s Seafood Market and Blalock Seafood & Specialty Market are two well-known seafood shops.
Fishing Bait and Tackle Stores
People come from all over the world to experience fishing in Destin. Many charter, and many (both locals and visitors) just want to throw a casual line in, either from their boat, a pier, or the shore.
If you’re chartering, your captain will take care of the equipment and bait you’ll need on your excursion.
Otherwise, you may need some bait, and maybe some lures and other fishing gear.
There are quite a few places in Destin to stock up on the fishing supplies you’ll need, and if you’re nice, many of these places will give their fishing advice for catching!
Some favorites are:
- Eat My Tackle
- Half Hitch
- West Marine
- Bass Pro Shop
Golf Stores in Destin
Destin is clearly known for its beaches and its fishing, but did you know that Destin is also well-known for some great golfing? With several golf courses (public and many private) scattered around Destin, you’ll almost always see golfers out on the courses.
Many golf supplies can be purchased from the clubhouses, but there are also independent golf shops up and down Emerald Coast Parkway, with one of the most known ones being Edwin Watts Destin.
Summary
If you’re into shopping, the Destin area has a little bit for everyone: beach equipment? Check. Great buys on name brand apparel? Check. Relaxing meandering through village-like mall with coffee or meal? It’s covered. Need some specific sports equipment? It’s likely to be here.
If you enjoy shopping and like different shopping experiences, the Destin area can keep you busy. With all of this, you might just wonder… who needs the beach?