There might be a reason the word ‘sand’ is in Sandestin, Florida – as the area’s miles of silky white sands, with crystal clear waters of the Emerald Coast, remind me of beaches in the Mayan Riviera, Fiji, or the Caribbean islands. But this stretch of the Gulf coast is even more remarkable – with pristine powdery sugar beaches, unpolluted waters, and seas without sargassum.
Located on Miramar Beach, the 2,400-acre Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa was developed as a self-contained destination. After a 35-million-dollar renovation in 2024, the Hilton Sandestin is the only full-service beachfront hotel on this coastal area, situated between Destin and Santa Rosa Beach.
The resort offers 4 championship golf courses, 6 dining experiences, 15 tennis courts, a 24-hour fitness center, and spa. In South Walton, nature lovers can find over 200 miles of trails in 4 state parks and a state forest. Shoppers can seek out stores at Grand Boulevard shopping center, Baytown Wharf, and Silver Sands Premium Outlets. And art lovers can find over 60 artist studios and galleries that inspire creativity in the area.
On a 5-mile walk from the Hilton Sandestin, in and out of a small sandbar along the shoreline, I take joy in being able to see my toes clearly through the waters. I come across clear jellyfish, pieces of red coral, purple and white bowtie-shaped shells, a beached skate, and a tiny puffer fish that I tried to revive. Pelicans glided overhead in perfect V formation, making the stretch of beach feel like a private sanctuary. However, to the right of the Hilton Sandestin, the beach is jam packed with families, where kids of all ages have arrived for spring break. I quickly learn that walking down the opposite coast towards Rosemary Beach, the setting quickly becomes more peaceful as the beach becomes my own.
As I walk on higher dry white powdery sands, I notice the sand literally squeaks. Made from 97% pure, fine-grained quartz crystals, it has been polished into microscopic spheres, from the waves of the Gulf of Mexico, over thousands of years. This high pitch chirping is often called “singing sands.” I chuckle as a guy remarks how his feet look like powdered donuts, since the sand feels like sugar.
The Northwest Florida area welcomes turtles, manatees, and dolphins. Known as a premier fishing destination with clear shallow waters, it attracts sportsmen of all ages – with their tall rods stuck in the sand waiting for perhaps a snapper, grouper, marlin, or sailfish. In March, the ocean is refreshing, salty and brisk, unlike the murky big wave Pacific waters I am use to in Southern California. There is no need for wetsuit here on the panhandle.
After watching the glowing orb sunset on the beach from our S’more bonfire, and dining on fresh sushi at the Hadashi Sushi Bar in Sandcastles Lounge inside the Hilton Sandestin, I realize we are only two hours ahead of California and that Florida is actually in two time zones.
Access
Whether you are seeking to experience more domestic travel destinations or just want an alternative to Mexico or the Caribbean, safety is an advantageous reason to vacation in Sandestin. It feels like a safe, clean, well-kept community where you can enjoy a worry-free vacation. Many families drive to this region from other states but there are also direct flights to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport from Chicago, Miami (on American Airlines), and New York (on Delta out of JFK and LaGuardia) making it easier than ever to access Northwest Florida. Also, JetBlue now flies direct from Boston.
Safety
A safe atmosphere presents itself in many ways here that I’m not accustom to in California, as an honor policy allows guests to leave their shoes or belongings in wooden shelving before hopping onto the hotel’s private beach. Located in a gated, secure resort community with comprehensive surveillance, mandatory guest wristbands are used for identification and the self-contained property is designed for every convenience imaginable, reducing the need for guests to leave.
Hilton Services and Activities
For a $50 fee, guests can head to the Beach Hut to arrange a private beach chair and umbrella set up for the day. When you tire of beach time, many complimentary activities are offered on site – like sandcastle making, beach yoga, pizza making, live music, DJ music Bingo, Meet-a-Mermaid, and Giant Bubble Show. Besides outdoor pools with a plethora of lounge chairs, a new indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows is great for evening swims with movies offered biweekly for children.
Rooms
From my 11th story room, the balcony’s bird’s eye views are perfect for not only sunset, but morning coffee and a strawberry iced cronut from The Coffee Shop, the hotel lobby’s casual spot to pick up freshly baked pastries, croissants, muffins, and made to order breakfast sandwiches.
A perfect set up for families, my King bedroom with pullout couch donned in soft coastal pastel tones with a double vanity bathroom with separate areas for privacy. An adorable separate bunk bed area with TV for little ones is an ideal part of the Junior Suite, making traveling easy with a family, as there is also a mini fridge, coffee maker, blackout curtains, and desk/work area. Throughout my stay I was most impressed with the absolute quiet when I shut the door.
Wellness
Adults will love time at the 14,500-square-foot Serenity by the Sea Spa where a Relaxation Massage with deep long strokes and choice of aromatherapy oil like eucalyptus or lavender will send anyone into a state of bliss. Heated black stone rocks massaged on the legs and a scalp massage enhance deep rejuvenation. Consider booking the newly refreshed couples suite.
Before or after your facial, massage, or body treatment, guests can unwind in the aromatherapy steam room, sauna, and whirlpool. The spa’s latest technology involves a touchless water pressure massage machine that massages your back and shoulders with red light therapy blanket to aide in everything from boosting cellular energy to stimulating collagen production. Zero gravity chairs are another way to deeply relax.
Complimentary yoga is offered for adults on the sand and terrace, which felt like the best way to start a cool temperature early morning by stretching the airplane kinks out of my body facing the ocean. For those who want to continue their workout routine while away, the 24-hour fitness center awaits, with Peloton bikes too!
Dining
At Barefoot’s Beachside Bar and Grill we become kids again, ordering lunch with festive drinks – like The Shark Attack, layered blue-and-green with a toy shark bobbing in the drink, that “dumps” grenadine and Swamp Water, with a floating toy gator that (when flipped upside down) deposits Gatorade green with syrup. The playful sips enhance our casual coastal bites like ahi tuna salad, island chicken sandwiches, and mango goat cheese salad with shrimp.
In the lobby area, Sandcastles is a family friendly option for breakfast, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches, while fresh sushi can also be ordered from Hadashi. Our favorite – the pure Ocean Roll loaded with tuna and avocado topped with salmon and a dallop of tobiko.
Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood is the star of the resort as this is the area’s only AAA Four Diamond steakhouse where a former concert pianist now acclaimed chef draws inspiration from the Gulf’s coastal abundance and his international background. Surf and Turf with Maine lobster is utterly satisfying accompanied by lobster bisque, onion rings, creamy mashed potatoes, and tableside Ceasar Salad.
Hand-selected cuts include Japanese A-5 Wagyu, Filet Mignon, Bone-In Ribeye, and more, along with classics like Steak Diane, Chateaubriand for Two, Gulf Shrimp, and Dover Sole. The restaurant’s 600 label wine list makes it hard to choose but they will guide you to your favorite sip to match your meal and taste buds. We recommend the full-bodied Napa Cabernet from Krutz to pair with a juicy steak.
Explore the Shore
The area’s blend of natural beauty, cultural creativity, and environmental stewardship offers countless ways to explore and give back in South Walton. Artificial reefs (over 58 different reef structures installed 780 feet from the Walton County coast) designed in the form of ocean life – including a seahorse, dolphin, and cobia – have helped preserve and protect the Gulf ecosystem. Snorkelers and divers can explore these manmade habitats teeming with marine life. In 2015, Turtle Reef led this movement as this artificial reef off Grayton Beach is shaped like a sea turtle from above.
An Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) is the first permanent underwater sculpture garden in the US located a mile from Grayton Beach State Park, at a depth of 58 feet. Sculptures are installed annually by artists from around the world. Each piece transforms into a living reef, supporting marine life and fostering ecological awareness. The Hilton Sandestin proudly sponsors a new sculpture each year.
SunVenture Cruises offers a luxury boat or catamaran charter to Crab Island, a shallow sandbar where the Choctawhatchee Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico as well as sunset cruises with bottlenose dolphins.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a local favorite featuring 3.2 miles of pristine beach, majestic dunes, and rare coastal dune lakes. Nature lovers can hike along beachside trails, explore wetlands and pine forests and admire herons, pelicans, and other wildlife.
Outdoor adventurers will want to experience South Walton’s rare coastal dune lakes, as the 15 freshwater lakes sit steps from the Gulf, separated only by narrow sand dunes. Their delicate mix of salt and fresh water creates dynamic habitats for birds, fish, and wildlife. Hilton Sandestin guests can kayak, paddleboard, or stroll the shorelines of Western Lake or Campbell Lake.
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