Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach sits on the Gulf at 1325 Miracle Strip Parkway SE on Okaloosa Island, between the Gulfarium and The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Despite the Destin in its name, the hotel is on the Fort Walton Beach side of the East Pass, a few minutes west of the Marler Bridge into Destin. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center is across the street, and Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field are a short drive away, so the hotel draws a mix of beach vacationers, event attendees and military travelers. Its neighbors on this busy eastern end of the island include the Holiday Inn Resort and the Hilton Garden Inn, with The Island Resort and The Boardwalk a little farther east.

The hotel has 216 rooms across three buildings of up to six floors. Rooms have been refreshed with a coastal look, and many open onto private balconies with beach views. Each room has a mini refrigerator, a microwave and free Wi-Fi, and the hotel uses mobile key technology. The property is smoke-free and has accessible rooms and facilities. Dogs and cats are welcome, with up to two pets of 60 pounds or less allowed for a nonrefundable fee.

Outside, two family-friendly outdoor pools, named Pure Bliss and Ohana, sit between the buildings and the dunes, with a whirlpool alongside. The beach is directly in front of the hotel, with its sugar-white sand and clear Gulf water, and guests can try activities such as bodyboarding when the surf allows. A complimentary fitness center, electric vehicle charging stations and on-site parking round out the practical side. The hotel also notes several sustainability practices, including LED lighting, locally sourced ingredients in its kitchens and reusable serving items in place of plastic straws and bottles.

Dining is on the property. Paradise Cove serves breakfast every morning, Dempsey’s Ocean Bar & Grill handles lunch, dinner and drinks with Gulf views, and The Upper Deck, a seasonal poolside bar, opens from March through October. The hotel also has about 3,400 square feet of flexible event space with Gulf views and on-site catering, which it uses for weddings, reunions and military functions.

This is a practical pick for travelers who want a branded beachfront hotel with a pool, a bar and room for the dog. The Okaloosa Island Pier and The Boardwalk’s restaurants are an easy walk east, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is just to the west, and downtown Fort Walton Beach is across the Brooks Bridge. The sound-side Okaloosa Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore, near the Marler Bridge, is a good spot for calm-water swimming with small children. Destin’s HarborWalk Village, charter fishing fleet and Crab Island are only a few miles away across the East Pass.