Although Destin isn’t huge, it’s growing — and our county has a population of about 200,000 people.
My hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is similar in size population-wise, and my husband grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs — one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the Midwest.
Even though I appreciated my small-town upbringing, I missed the luxuries of living in a bigger city. Growing up, we’d have to drive four hours to Minneapolis if we wanted to do some real shopping at the Mall of America or attend a bigger concert downtown.
After we moved to Destin, I was surprised by the abundance of big-city amenities right at my doorstep. Within a 20-minute drive, we have access to multiple shopping centers with everything from well-known retailers to adorable local boutiques.
Our favorite shopping centers include the open-air Destin Commons, the bustling Silver Sands Outlet Mall, and the upscale Grand Boulevard. These lively spots often host weekly farmers’ markets, annual festivals, and holiday events throughout the year.
The Destin area is also filled with restaurants, coffee shops, and lively beach bars. My husband and I love getting to enjoy the sunset with a happy-hour cocktail in hand.
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