Florida travel: White beaches and an emerald sea make Destin Fort Walton an ideal destination

The children had both mastered the skills - as had my wife - but for me, it took a little longer, under the watchful eye of our paddle boarding expert Harrison.

Soon, however, the four of us, along with our guide, were exploring the inlets of the tranquil bay just off the state’s Emerald Coast.

Harrison started up his paddle-board business at the height of the Covid pandemic but has never looked back, welcoming scores of Americans and other tourists to the water.

We were staying in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach region - a popular destination for Americans due to its powder-white beaches, green-blue sea and natural beauty.

After an hour or so spotting the birdlife along with the region’s highest priced properties from our water’s edge view it was time to return to shore and sample the region’s seafood cuisine.

Our destination was popular hotspot Lulu’s - where we joined boaters, boarders and families to tuck in to crab, shrimp and tuna, along with nachos, pulled pork and grits - a local favourite.

Lulu’s offers fun, food and music and attracts tourists and locals to its waterside location.

Boasting ‘good cookin’ served with a Southern flair’, it’s easy to see why the hotspot draws the crowds.

The resorts along Florida’s Panhandle coast are known for their miles of white beaches leading to the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Henderson Beach Resort

Our hotel - the Henderson Beach Resort - was just minutes from the beach and combined a traditional luxury feel with the modern amenities which made our stay special.

The resort recalls Destin’s history as The World's Luckiest Fishing Village with black and white images from the past lining its walls.

Our room boasted comfortable beds plus a bath and separate shower and a large covered balcony overlooking the resort’s pool and lazy river and across to the sea.

To one side stretched the mix of beachfront properties with their balconies and pools; to the other the Henderson Beach State Park reaching down to the sea.

As well as its adult and family pools, the hotel also has a fitness suite, spa and a variety of restaurants and bars ranging from fine dining in the Primrose to Sea Level meals and cocktails by the pool. There is also a rooftop bar where you can enjoy views of the sunset across Destin.

The hotel has its own access to the beach where guests can hire sunloungers and parasols and lie back and listen to the relaxing sound of the waves lapping the shore.

Henderson Resort sales and marketing director Andrew Lott says the hotel’s spectacular surroundings are a big attraction for guests.

“The beaches, the sand, the colour of the water - it’s the biggest thing people talk about when they come to this area,” he explained. “And for us it’s about the service - and we have to make sure the service is delivering this luxury experience.

“We see ourselves set apart from others in the market.”

The hotel is now five years old and its new owners, who took over in February, are now reinvesting in the property with holiday apartments being built around a new pool complex.

We also took the opportunity to jump on bikes provided by the hotel to explore the area along the Scenic 98 coastal route.