When we are traveling to Destin each year, even though it is longer than staying on I-10 (or even going Hwy 98) we will quite often drive over that stretch. The beach views between Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach is great. You will have to go slow through it but the views are very nice (and for us worth the extra time and toll.)

And since the beach area there is sooo nice, we quite often will even stop and spend a couple of nights there before moving on to Destin. Marriott has the SHS there, Hilton has a Hampton Inn there. IHG has a couple of hotels there (HI Resort and HIX). I wouldn't consider any of them to be true "resorts" but they all tend to be nice enough and right on some of the nicest soft, white beaches in the country. So there are a number of different options should someone want to stay there using points.