One of my family’s favorite places is the Emerald Coast. The beaches are amazing, and there is so much to do in
Destin, Florida. We have gone twice in the last two years. We lazed around for three weeks when we were in Destin for a month, and we mostly enjoyed the pool and the beach. Destin is fantastic for playing in the water, going to the beach, and eating at the delicious restaurants. We have made a list of what we love to do in Destin.
If you feel like being lazy, play in the sand, swim in the ocean and relax in the swimming pool. There really is no better way to enjoy a vacation with your family. When you don’t run around constantly, you can create an incredibly deep family bond. Just take everything slowly, and enjoy not being rushed. One of the many reasons I love the Emerald Coast is whether I am at a condo, resort, or beach RV park, it is so peaceful and quiet. Destin also has so many attractions.
The Best Tips
Stock something for breakfast so you won’t have to worry about the kids, and can relax in the morning. Relish in your coffee on the beach or your balcony. The kids can entertain themselves, and you can enjoy the view. Build sandcastles on the beach, just mix in a bit of water so the consistency is right. Then swim, hang out and play frisbee. Have a relaxing lunch, watch a movie, play cards or read a book. Take the kids to the beach or the pool, cook dinner as a family and eat outside. Watch the sunset, stroll on the beach, then do it all again tomorrow.
Destin Attractions
Spend a couple days on the beach and relax. Enjoy your family before you check out all the fabulous attractions in Destin, Florida. We have given you our recommendations.
Pirate Cruise
This cruise is sensational, and we had a great time. They entertained the kids the moment we stepped
onto the boat, and this continued until 90 minutes later when we docked. The kids had a blast with sword fights, squirt gun fights, and they swabbed the deck. The pulled a genuine treasure chest right from the ocean, face painted, and shot the cannon two times. I recommend it for any kids three or over. Go all out and dress up as pirates. My mom wore an incredible pirate costume, and everyone loved it. They nearly gave her a job.
Dolphin Sunset Cruise
Every time I saw a Dolphin Cruise Advertisement I wondered how they could possibly guarantee we would see dolphins. I had my doubts, and I was so wrong. There were a lot of dolphins, some were playing in the waves, and others were swimming right next to our boat. The experience was so cool, and the next time we took the two-hour boat. We brought drinks, treats and snacks because you can bring anything on the boat, even alcohol. They have a nice snack bar, and they brought food, so we fed the seagulls. It was amazing because they took the chips right from our hands. The boat has a glass bottom, but we didn’t see much. The kids were excited because they got to drive the boat. The dolphins were adorable, and the sunset magnificent. The kids had a fantastic day, and everyone enjoyed the snacks. This one has been permanently added to my list.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
This amazing park had sting rays, tortoises, dolphins, sharks, birds, alligators, and so much more.
You can hold starfish and pet hermit crabs at the touch tank, and you can pay if you like to swim with the sting rays and dolphins, and help with the animals. Watching the dolphin show was amazing, and since the facility is smaller we got really close seats. There are shows all day, and we stayed to see them all. The kids had fun in the sandbox area, and loved the obstacle course. We found a snack stand selling drinks, popcorn, and a lot more. We were right on the water and I couldn’t keep my eyes of the ocean.
Uncle Bucks FishBowl and Grill
This is an entirely new experience, underwater. We had dinner at the restaurant, and there were sharks hanging on the ceiling. You can eat while you are bowling too, and we had a hard time deciding. We felt like we were underwater when we were in the bowling area due to all the amazing sights and sounds. We had the best time, and the kids rolled the ball right down the bowling ramp. The bumpers made it easy for them. When we saw all the bowling balls were covered in sea creatures, we couldn’t stop grinning. The atmosphere is great, the drinks are awesome, and the food is good. When you want some time away from the sun in nice cool air conditioning, come to
Uncle Bucks’. Its great at night after dark too when you want something fun to do.
Destin Commons
The
Destin Commons is an outdoor mall, and the fresh air makes shopping a lot more enjoyable than just walking around inside. The holiday display and tree they have at Christmas are awesome. The kids like the outdoor play area, and always have fun. There are great restaurants and stores, so you can shop, eat, play and watch the people.
Hiking
Going on a hike in Florida may not be the same as a mountain in Yellowstone, but we always have a good time. There are a lot of parks you can go hiking in at the Emerald Coast including
James Lee County State Park,
Henderson Beach State Park and
John Beasley Beach Park. Sometimes we just take a lovely stroll on the beach.
The Sunset
The beautiful sunset is a free nightly attraction in Destin. I recommend grabbing the kids some juice
boxes, and the adults will enjoy a glass of wine. Then watch the sun as it sets over the water. Somehow, the sunset is different every night, and it is always amazing. You watch the sun setting and think it could not get any better than this, but the next night it does. While you are enjoying the Emerald Coast, do not miss the sunset every evening. Even with clouds, the colors in the sky are sensational, and you will never be disappointed.
There were a lot of things in Destin, Florida we never got to do because we were lazy for three-weeks. We enjoyed it though, so we have no complaints. Check the schedule before you come, and remember the prime season in Destin is from May until September. There may be some things not open if you come during the off season, and there is a lot more you can do on the Emerald Coast.
The Track Destin
If you are interested in miniature golf, arcades, and having fun with go carts, this is where you need to be. Everyone has a blast when they ride the go carts, even mom and dad.
Beach Helicopter
If you are curious what Destin looks like from the sky, take a ride on a
beach helicopter. The aerial view is sensational, and you can see the blue water and beaches of Destin.
Parasailing
Anyone who has never taken an adventure parasailing should give it a try. The kids love
parasailing, and the view of the ocean and beach is completely different. The water in Destin is so clear, you may get to see some sting rays or dolphins from above.
Boat Rentals
You do not want to joke around when you take a boat onto the ocean. It is an excellent option if your group has someone experienced with driving a boat. I would recommend keeping close to the shore just to be safe.
Indian Mound Museum
If you are interested in the fascinating history of the area, make sure you stop by the
Indian Mound Museum. You will learn the story of the Native Americans that once lived here, and there is an excellent variety of artifacts to see.
Destin History and Fishing Museum
This is where you learn how this big vacation destination was once a small fishing town. The story is more than worth the trip.
The Places to Eat
LuLu’s Destin
It may seem strange to call a restaurant a nice activity to take the kids to in Destin, but you must try
LuLu’s. The kids have a place to play while the food is being cooked, and the meals are delicious. LuLu’s has it all. The beach and sand area are great, and there are two containers filled with sand toys for the kids. They have a palm tree to climb, hula hoops and a cornhole. We relaxed at our table, and enjoyed the live music while the kids had fun playing. The selection of food they offer is incredible, and food allergies are no problem. Destin is known for their seafood, so having a place where they understand food allergies give you some nice options. Once everyone has finished eating, its time for dessert. They have amazing choices like natural homemade popsicles and Krispie Kreme bread pudding. We all look forward to the sea salted caramel flavor and the root beer.
Small Cakes of Destin
The entire family loves sweets, and since we didn’t see a place for donuts, we decided we wanted cupcakes. Yummy does not even come close, and the kids were in love. There were so many great flavors to choose from, it was hard not to come back every day, so we could try all of them.
Beach Restaurant – Surf Hut
You have a nice selection of beach restaurants, and it depends on where you are staying. Look around your area because there is always something good. We love strolling down the beach, and stopping for appetizers, happy hour, lunch or dinner. The Surf Hut is one of our favorites, but I have been told the Back Porch is great. Next time we come, we are going to give it a try.
When to Visit
The Emerald Coast is the perfect place for a vacation. Somehow, we have never been from May through September, the prime time. I can’t speak from personal experience, but I have been told the weather is gorgeous although it gets very busy. We always vacation during the off season, and although we miss some of the activities we love the cooler weather. We enjoy the atmosphere being quieter and less busy. We have come to Destin in November and December, and the weather was usually gorgeous. The temperatures were generally in the 60’s, but it felt a lot warmer because of the sun.
Where to Stay
Camp Gulf RV Park
This is
one of my family’s favorite campgrounds anywhere in North America. Being really close to the beach is a cool experience. Our last RV spot was just twenty yards away from the beach. There is usually a row of RV’s parked in front of us but is never seems to matter. Since we have pets, we were unable to use those spaces. There are some rows of RV spaces really close to the beach, and this is where we stay. For those not as fascinated by the sand, you can easily get a space farther back, so you are not as close to the beach. You will be closer to the campground pools depending on the space you choose.
There are two crystal clear pools, and when we go in November, the back pool has a big tent over it. This way even when its cold outside, we can still go swimming. It can get cold during the winter when you are in North Florida. When we opened the door every day, the fragrance of the surf was on the air, the ocean breeze was magnificent, and we walked onto the soft white sands. I will admit we had sand in our beds when we slept, and I have my doubts as to whether we will ever get it all out of our car, but we would not have changed a thing. Our wonderful vacation was worth it.
Holiday Inn Fort Walton Beach
If you are not going to be using an RV for your traveling, I highly recommend the
Holiday Inn Fort Walton Beach. We took a grand tour of the hotel, and went swimming in the pool for the day. The hotel is lovely, it is comfortable, clean and quite new. Their kid’s room was a hit. The room has an Xbox and bunk beds. There is a terrific balcony in all the rooms, and you can see the sparkling ocean and the pool. The view is extraordinary.
The kids adored the swimming pool. One end is zero-entry, and it was perfect for the little ones. There is a lazy river, an indoor pool and a hot tub. This is fantastic when the weather is a little cooler. One of the things we loved the most was walking out right to the beach. You can spend an exhilarating morning on the beach, have a delicious lunch at the restaurant, then spend the afternoon enjoying the pool. This is the perfect places for both couples and families to come for a vacation.
We stayed in Miramar Beach at Camp Gulf. This campground is spectacular because the sites are incredibly close to the beach. This campground has turned us into complete beach fans, and you should look when you come. If you are not really a camper, stay in a terrific hotel like Fort Walton Beach’s Holiday Inn Resort.
***Re-written from Bryanna's Blog - Crazy Family Adventures
