Been to Destin a lot. We have place we like to stay on Miramar Beach. We have been enough to know we don't give a crap about doing anything else but sitting on the beach. Last couple of trips are starting to take the luster off going though. People can't seem to grasp concepts of not intruding on other peoples spaces. Did you pay for those beach chairs and umbrellas in front of my condo? No, you did not. Do I want to listen to your shitty top 40 bubble gum music piped out through your shitty Kraco-esque speakers? No, I do not.
Anyway, spent last week on Sanibel Island. Flew into Tampa and rented a car, (ACE upgraded me to a Hemi-Durango at no cost). There was a tad of what I mentioned earlier (loud music) but it was such a laid back experience, I definitely want to go back. The main drag is a two lane road. Lots of mom and pop places. Only chains I saw were Chevron, 7-11, and DQ. There are probably more but still no overt commercialism. Drove around to Captiva, same vibe up there as well. We stayed in a complex with an ocean front view condo. The grounds were amazing. Lots of vegetation... reminded me of Hawaii (or probably more appropriately, Key West).