The production and style for Destination Anywhere departs from the hard rock sound of his albums with the group Bon Jovi, such as featuring drum loops, female backing vocals and Jon Bon Jovi himself singing in a lower register in most of the tracks.

Only one of his longtime bandmates, keyboardist David Bryan, contributed to the album; though Desmond Child, cowriter of hits such as "Livin' on a Prayer", plays the tuba in the song "Ugly" and is also one of the producers.

[10] During the production of the album, the daughter of Bon Jovi's former personal manager Paul Korzilius, Katherine, died under mysterious circumstances.

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "a fine example of late-'90s mainstream pop" and "a breakthrough for Bon Jovi, because it is the first time he sounds like he's come to terms with adulthood."

[1] Chuck Eddy of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Almost every track on Destination Anywhere could be faster, shorter, and less world-weary, but Bon Jovi's melodies feel indelible nonetheless.