Stepping into Henderson Beach Resort & Spa in Destin feels like crossing the threshold to a bygone version of Florida you’ve probably only read about in books. From the classic coastal decor in the lobby to the rows of black and white fishing photos lining the walls in the guest hallways to the unobstructed ocean views from my balcony, the vibe here immediately makes your modern-day worries melt away. Yet while the luxury resort exudes nostalgic Southern charm at every turn, the service, amenities, cuisine and activities are nothing but contemporary, even indulgent.
After my recent stay at Destin’s only luxury beach resort, I’m excited to share my discovery. Here’s everything you should know about the seaside luxury experience at Henderson Beach Resort & Spa.
Location: A quiet escape on Florida’s Emerald Coast
Henderson Beach Resort is located about 30 minutes from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, just off the Emerald Coast Parkway and adjacent to Henderson Beach State Park. To get to there from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), you’ll drive past Fort Walton Beach and downtown Destin (the area along the Destin Harbor). The resort’s location next to a protected strip of beachfront rewards you with uninterrupted views, quiet mornings, gorgeous sunsets and complimentary access to the state park in addition to its own private beach.
Guest rooms: Upscale, beachy charm
Henderson Beach Resort has a variety of room types ranging from one-king-bed to two-queen-beds and a handful of studio and one-bedroom suites (including accessible and ADA-compliant accommodations). You can choose from a gulf or courtyard view. I highly recommend the gulf view. My room had a perfect sight line to the state park and the Gulf of Mexico. Each morning of my stay, I sat on the balcony to watch the birds flit from tree to tree while the fishing boats headed out to sea. At night, the lack of city lights meant better stargazing than if I’d stayed closer to town.
The coastal decor carries to the guest rooms with oak furnishings and ocean-inspired colors, patterns and artwork. The beds are comfortable and piled with plush pillows, and the spacious bathroom features a shower, a sunken tub, a double vanity, and a separate toilet area. Details like soft waffle bathrobes, a large LCD SmartTV, plentiful standard and USB outlets, a Nespresso maker, complimentary bottles of water, and cushioned patio furniture elevate the room far beyond a basic beach resort.
Rates at Henderson Beach Resort start at $329 per night.
Activities and amenities: Something for everyone
I visited Henderson Beach Resort with my nine-year-old son. It’s a family-friendly experience, but also perfectly appropriate for vacationing with a partner or friends. The resort has an adults-only pool deck with a hot tub and a cozy rooftop bar where you can watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand. As an adult who sometimes travels without my kids, I appreciate the adult-focused spaces. But if, like me, you typically travel with kids in tow, you’ll find the resort extremely kid-friendly.
In addition to the adults-only pool, the resort has two other large pools. One is located just outside the lobby and has a lazy river (tubes are provided, or you can bring your own) and a nearby arcade. The other is located on the way to the beach and has a smaller lazy river. Both pools offer chairside food and drink service, lawn games, plenty of cushioned loungers with umbrellas, and zero-entry areas for kids.
The resort’s private beach is only about a five-minute walk from the rooms. There’s a beach stand where you can reserve chairs and umbrellas (you can also book them online ahead of time) and even cubbies for your shoes and other belongings you don’t want to get sandy.
The sand is some of the softest my feet have ever stepped upon, and the water is the clearest I’ve ever experienced in the U.S. It also remains calm and shallow for quite a distance from shore, giving my son more room to explore. Because there are no natural reefs in the area, you won’t see a ton of fish (book a snorkeling excursion for the best sea creature viewing), but we did see some small fish and sand crabs during our swims.
Other on-site activities include complimentary fitness classes such as beachfront yoga and spin, a kids’ club with supervised sessions or toys and games available to borrow, complimentary bike rentals, a fitness center, and a full-service spa.
Dining: Fresh from the Gulf
Henderson Beach Resort has five on-property dining outlets, as well as in-room dining. As you can imagine, the seafood is about as fresh as it gets, but each restaurant has its own distinct style.
Horizons Gastropub serves elevated gastropub favorites like tacos, wood-fired pizzas, burgers, craft cocktails, and local beers (the East Pass IPA from Destin Brewery quickly became my favorite) in a casual setting with panoramic views. I had the fish tacos ($22), and my son opted for a cheese pizza from the kids menu ($11).
Primrose serves coastal Italian cuisine, and is also where you’ll find the morning breakfast buffet ($35 for adults and $17.50 for children). You can also order off the menu at breakfast. I opted for the coconut chia pudding parfait ($16) with a side of scrambled eggs ($4). Everything was made fresh, and the attention to detail was superb. When my son ordered chocolate milk with his breakfast, the server brought it in a tall soda shop glass and topped it with fresh whipped cream and sprinkles.
The pools offer poolside dining from Sea Level. You can choose from an assortment of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and kid-friendly fare, as well as beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails. My son went with chicken fingers ($12) and a virgin pina colada ($14), while I opted for a tuna poke bowl ($26) and a blood orange margarita ($19).
My morning coffee is very important to me, and Henderson Beach Resort offers several options for procuring caffeinated beverages. In addition to in-room Nespresso machines and automated Starbucks machines on each guestroom floor, there’s a full-service coffee shop called Sprinkles. Sprinkles also serves ice cream, snacks, and pastries, and, yes, there are sprinkle-shakers if you want to top your coffee with a pop of sugary color.
The rooftop bar and restaurant serves a menu primarily consisting of sushi and sweet treats. Beachfront dining is available at Henderson Beach Resort’s sister property, Henderson Park Inn.
Tips for visiting Henderson Beach Resort
There is no “bad” time to visit Destin, Florida. I was lucky enough to visit during the annual Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament and festival, and I would recommend visiting during one of the city’s similar annual events if you can. There’s also the Destin Fishing Rodeo and Destin Seafood Festival in the fall, which adds to the excitement and activities you can choose from during your visit.
It’s a short walk from the resort to the beach (about five minutes), but if you have several people in your party or a lot of beach gear, you might want a large beach bag or wagon to carry everything you need. Henderson Beach Resort has a shop on the bottom floor (near the pool and the walkway that leads to the beach) with beach toys, sunscreen and other necessities you may need for a day of seaside fun.
Daily activities at the resort include poolside movies under the stars and crafts and games. The calendar is available online, or you can find printed versions at the hotel. I took a photo of the calendar when I checked in for easy reference throughout my stay.
