This is the go-to luxury stay in Destin if you want white-sand beach right outside your door and a resort that actually feels calm, classy and coastal instead of big and crowded. It sits on the Gulf’s sugar-white sand next to Henderson Beach State Park, so you get beach access plus a nature-feel backdrop that’s rare for a big resort.

The rooms and suites are bright and beach-inspired, many with private balconies overlooking the Gulf or nature preserve, and the whole vibe leans toward relax first, worry later. There are multiple pools (including an adults-only pool and a lazy river), a full-service spa, complimentary bikes and water-toy access, plus on-site dining ranging from breezy poolside eats to sit-down seafood with a view.