Destin harbor is protected from all but the strongest winds and generally has flat waters.
A half hour paddle will get you under the bridge and into Choctawhatchee Bay. There, you may paddle with dolphins and visit a bird sanctuary. There is a park within a short distance for picnics. Further away are bayous, rivers, streams and creeks which can provide scenic paddling with wildlife encounters. All of these trips can be experienced by even novice paddlers.