Just east of Destin, Miramar Beach and Sandestin are where the Emerald Coast goes into resort mode. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort covers about 2,400 acres from the Gulf to Choctawhatchee Bay, with the pedestrian Village of Baytowne Wharf on the bay side. Across U.S. 98, Grand Boulevard is an open-air town center of restaurants and shops. Add a quiet stretch of Gulf-front condos and some of the coast’s best outlet shopping, and you can spend a whole trip without leaving. Here’s a guide to Miramar Beach and Sandestin.
Quick answer
- For families: the Village of Baytowne Wharf, with Baytowne Adventure Zone and Blast Arcade & Laser Maze.
- Date night: Vin’tij Food & Wine or Fleming’s on Grand Boulevard.
- On the bay: a pontoon from LDV Sandestin Watersports or a charter on Lil’ Lucky.
- A spa day: Serenity by the Sea Spa at the Hilton or Spa Lilliana at Hotel Effie.
- Where to stay: Hotel Effie, the Hilton Sandestin or a condo inside Sandestin.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is Sandestin’s car-free village on Choctawhatchee Bay, a cluster of shops, restaurants and bars around a marina and an events lawn. It’s busy year-round with free events, from movie nights to holiday concerts, so check our events calendar before you go.
- Baytowne Adventure Zone: a zipline, two ropes courses, a bungy trampoline and a climbing tower right in the village.
- Blast Arcade & Laser Maze: arcade games and a laser maze for a hot afternoon or a rainy one.
- Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House: fresh local fish and a rotating raw bar steps from the boat slips.
- The Village Door: dockside dining by day and live music and dancing at night, since 2002.
- Marina Bar & Grill: casual food with open views of the bay from Baytowne Marina.
On the water
Baytowne Marina is the launch point for the bay. LDV Sandestin Watersports has rented pontoons and WaveRunners here since 2004, and Lil’ Lucky of Destin runs bay, inshore and night fishing charters with a captain who has fished these waters since 1999. The bay is calmer than the Gulf, which makes it a good first boat day for families. For the Gulf side, see our Destin fishing charters guide.
Grand Boulevard
Grand Boulevard is an open-air town center across U.S. 98 from the resort, and it’s where most of Miramar Beach goes for dinner and shopping.
- Vin’tij Food & Wine: seasonal plates and one of the coast’s biggest wine lists, open since 1998.
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: prime steaks and wine for a special night out.
- Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar: island-inspired seafood and cocktails, one of the town center’s first tenants in 2007.
- Cantina Laredo for modern Mexican, The Craft Bar for burgers and beer, and Another Broken Egg Cafe for breakfast.
Shopping includes Anthropologie, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines and Kendra Scott. For outlet shopping, Silver Sands Premium Outlets is a short drive west on U.S. 98.
Spas
Serenity by the Sea Spa fills a wing of the Hilton Sandestin with 15 treatment rooms and a salon, and Spa Lilliana is the appointment-only spa inside Hotel Effie.
Where to stay
- Hotel Effie Sandestin: the resort’s flagship hotel, known for its rooftop pool, next to Grand Boulevard.
- Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa: the big Gulf-front resort, with 590 rooms and suites.
- Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort: condos and villas spread across the resort, from the beach to the bay.
- Gulf-front condos: Miramar Beach has quieter, low-rise buildings like Mainsail, Crescent at Miramar Beach and Costa del Sol.
- Value hotels: Residence Inn and Courtyard at Grand Boulevard, or Drury Inn & Suites on U.S. 98.
Compare Miramar Beach with Destin in our where to stay in Destin guide.
Getting around
Miramar Beach sits between Destin and 30A on U.S. 98 and Scenic Gulf Drive. Destin’s harbor is about 15 to 20 minutes west, and Seaside is about 30 minutes east. Summer traffic on U.S. 98 can be heavy, so staying inside Sandestin and using the resort’s own paths and shuttles is the easiest way to get around.
Miramar Beach and Sandestin FAQ
Is Miramar Beach part of Destin? No. It’s a separate community just east of Destin, though many people use Destin addresses and booking sites lump them together.
Can you visit Baytowne Wharf without staying at Sandestin? Yes. The village is open to the public, with parking for visitors.
What is there to do at Sandestin for kids? Baytowne Adventure Zone, Blast Arcade, free events on the Baytowne lawn, the beach and calm-water boating on the bay.
Find more on our Miramar Beach and Sandestin area pages.
Featured photo: Hotel Effie Sandestin.