Destin, Florida

Destin traces its roots back to the seventh century when Native Americans inhabited the area, but its more recent heritage has truly shaped the city. Connecticut fisherman Leonard Destin began sailing and fishing the waters of the Gulf Coast back in 1835 before permanently settling in the area in the early 1850s. He pioneered the local fishing industry and created the close-knit community that Destin is today. Jarvis recounts, “When the Destin family moved here, it was about trust in fishing and trying to provide for families, and that carried on right through World War I, World War II and onto the present day. Our city boasts some of the best fishing in the world, and is known as the “world’s luckiest fishing village.” Over the years, we went from a sleepy fishing village to now a vacation mecca.” Destin boasts the largest charter fleet and commercial fishing fleets in North America, bringing in tourists from across the globe. For those who prefer land, the white sand beaches DEST IN, FLOR IDA are known as some of the best in the country. “I would challenge anyone to show me a beach that is more beautiful than ours,” says Lance Johnson, Destin City Manager. “I’ve been to a lot of beaches in the United States and I would say that ours is right up there. If you’ve got to live somewhere, you might as well live where you’ve got the most beautiful beach.” But it’s not just the city’s abundant natural resources that make it a draw for residents and tourists alike. The city has retained its small town charm and sense of community, despite an increase in population since the 1980s. “The sense of community is one of the reasons why I moved here almost 20 years ago,” says Johnson. “It’s unlike most of the other towns I have had the opportunity to live in. The people that live here care about this community and they pitch in to try and help if something goes wrong. And if everything’s going right, we show up and celebrate together. We celebrate the fishing industry. We celebrate the tourism industry. It’s a