Moor Up At The Famous Crab Island
You may not know that Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico were once separated by land. Early fishermen dug a narrow trench between the two and made the East Pass. Later the pass was dredged and the piled sand created whats now known as Crab Island.
Its one of the most popular spots for visitors to Destin. With its shallow warm waters, its a great place to moor up and relax in the sun. The Crab Island Water Taxi offers daily excursions.
Get Aboard The Sunquest Cruises Solaris Yacht
Wining, dining, and dancing to live music can be fun. How much fun can this be when it is on a cruise aboard a yacht?.
Sun Quest Cruises SOLARIS Yacht offers you the opportunity to experience an exquisite combination of ambiance, live music, and great food aboard the famous Solaris yacht.
Have you ever seen or been aboard the Solaris? It is a 125 yacht having 3 decks offering you the option of both indoor and outdoor spaces with panoramic windows in all the dining rooms inside a yacht.
Solaris is the only entertainment and dining yacht in the whole of Northeast Florida, and they offer all year round cruising and entertainment.
You can also host your favorite holiday parties, wedding, and birthday parties with Solaris.
If you are looking for a lifetime and unforgettable experience in Florida, the Solaris Sun Quest cruise is a top choice.
Address: 9300 US-98, Miramar Beach, Florida 32550, United States
Big Kahunas Water & Adventure Park
Water parks provide another great option for a day of family fun. Perfect for all ages, you will have no shortage of activities to pass the time. With lazy rivers, wave pools and water slides-galore there is plenty for everyone.
Not to mention, for those whod rather not get wet, this park has got you covered. Opt for a game of Tropical Mini Golf, defy gravity on the Sky Coaster, or get your adrenaline pumping on the Cyclone Twister.
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Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
Take a look to see what education was like in the early 1900s by visiting the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum! This historic two-room structure was the first schoolhouse ever constructed for the children of Camp Walton, which was later renamed Fort Walton Beach. When the school opened in 1912, it was a one room schoolhouse with eight grades, 15 students and just one teacher. It was expanded to a second room in 1927 to accommodate high school grades 9 through 12 with another teacher. The Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum is conveniently located just a 1 minute walk from the Indian Temple Mound Museum, making it easy to visit both attractions in one day!
Now that you know some of the great things to do in Fort Walton Beach on a rainy day, you never have to worry about any bad weather spoiling your fun! Plan your Fort Walton Beach vacation today to experience the best of Floridas Emerald Coast, and be sure to check out all of our vacation rentals in Fort Walton Beach to find the perfect place to stay!
Enjoy Bowling At The Hurricane Lanes
Editor’s Note: Photo taken from the establishment’s official social account
Great news: We open on Monday May 11 at 11am. Welcome back to Hurricane Lanes! We will be open until midnight except Fri & Sat we are open until 2am. See you soon.
Posted by Hurricane Lanes on Thursday, May 7, 2020
Hurricane Lanes is the best place to be if youre looking for some fun things to do in Destin. Every day, except on Christmas day the Hurricane lanes is one of the most popular Family Entertainment zones of Destin. The restaurant provides service till late night on weekends and all special holidays as well as during busy evenings, it is challenging for you to find an excuse to miss this experience. With 26 bowling lanes, 12 pool tables and arcade, Strike Zone Cafe, ping pong for adults above 21 and Rupertâs sports bar, the place is happy to welcome all through its doors. With multiple flat-screen TVâs, Internet Juke Box in place and Buzztime Trivia, time will be your biggest problem.
Hurricane Lanes
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Emerald Coast Science Center
If you are on vacation in Fort Walton Beach with your children, it may feel especially challenging to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day! However, once your family steps into the Emerald Coast Science Center, you will find all types of exciting interactive exhibits that the kids will love! Some of the exhibits throughout the facility include classic science kits, futuristic robots, cutting-edge technology and some of the most adorable animals you have ever seen! Altogether, the Emerald Coast Science Center offers more than 45 exhibits within 8,000 square feet of indoor space.
Watch Fireworks At Harborwalk Village
HarborWalk Village at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk is a hub for kids activities, family-friendly adventures, and waterfront dining. In HarborWalk Village youll find local restaurants and fresh-caught seafood, attractions, waterfront shopping, live music and concerts, and weekly events and fireworks displays. Many of the HarborWalks events, like live music and fireworks, are free to enjoy. The boardwalk also houses many of the local sailing tours and charters, paddleboard and kayak rentals, and lots of fishing opportunities.
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Zipline At Baytowne Wharf
Baytowne Wharf is located on Choctawhatchee Bay in the Sandestin Resort. It has a quaint village vibe with a good choice of restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Theres also a stage for live music.
Baytowne has some great activities for kids and adventurous adults with a nautical-themed playground, an arcade with a laser maze, and a carousel. Its Adventure Zone is for daredevils only with a host of climbing, ziplining, and rope courses.
The Redbird Art Experience
Looking for a rainy day activity to do with your kids? This spot is perfect for a lowkey afternoon where you can get those creative juices flowing. Here you will have the opportunity to make really fun pieces of art from all sorts of recyclable materials.
Visitors will pick the base of their art, from canvases, pieces of wood, picture frames and even old window panes. From there youll get a tray to carry around while you pick out materials that tickle your fancy. Everything from rocks, shells, and broken glass, to mugs, old spoons and keys are up for grabs.
The next day your piece will be ready for collection, after being set with resin overnight. This is a unique Destin experience that will leave you feeling uplifted and relaxed.
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Ride On A Pirate Ship
Ahoy, matey! The Buccaneer Pirate Cruise is sure to delight your little swashbucklers. Expect plenty of lively entertainment aboard the 100-foot vessel, from pirate stories and face painting to treasure hunts and water-gun battles. Cruises last about an hour and 45 minutes. If your family is more into sea life than scallywags, Destin offers plenty of dolphin-watching excursions and glass-bottom boat tours as well.
Crab Island Adventure Tour
Crab Island Adventure Tours are available near the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Theres so much water fun available at Crab Island that you could easily enjoy several hours there. 2.5- to 5-hour adventures are available.
The Crab Island Adventure Tour includes:
- Guided catamaran boat excursion
- Crab Island adventures
While youre on your adventures, youll have access to life jackets and free parking during your stay.
Prices start at $45 for kids under age six. Ages 7 and up pay $65 per person for the cheapest 2-5-hour package without spending time at Crab Island. Packages that include Crab Island are $75 per person for 3 hours or $85 per person for 4 hours.
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Swim And Play On Destin Beaches
Destin is known for white-sand beaches and emerald water, great for inexpensive quality time with your family. Henderson Beach State Park provides direct beach access along with facilities and pavilions, a playground and kids park, and a nature trail. James Lee Park has beach access and swimming, restrooms and showers, and picnic pavilions. Norriego Point is a great place to stop if youre boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding around Destin Harbor, with picturesque rolling sand dunes and sea oats waving in the breeze.
Spend The Day At Henderson Beach
One thing that youll notice in Destin is that most beaches are private and reserved for guests of the many hotels and condos along the waters edge. If you dont have access to a private beach, Henderson Beach State Park is one of your best bets for catching rays and waves.
The Gulf Coast is famous for its sugar-white sandy beaches and emerald waters, and Henderson Beach wont disappoint. Henderson Beach is also a preserve for the last coastal scrub area remaining in Destin.
The cost is $6 per vehicle. However, because its one of the few beaches available to the public in the area, you may experience long lines waiting for space to open up for your family during the summer.
Most people visit the beach during the summer, but Ill let you in on a secret visiting the beach on an overcast or cooler day can be even better and is less crowded.
Some of the experiences at Henderson Beach include:
- Fishing
- Harbor seals
- Sealions
If youre really serious about sea animals, for around $380, you could spend 4 hours behind the scenes as a VIP trainer. Or, for $500, you and your family could dine and have the aquarium to yourself after hours.
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Explore East Of Destin Towards Panama City
When you start heading east out of Destin towards Panama City, you will reach some charming beach towns, state parks, and entertainment centers and pass by beautiful sugar-white beaches and the areas emerald green water. This is a great area to stay in if you are flying into Panama City. If accommodation in Destin is really expensive, you can always stay closer to Panama and then make day trips to visit Destinys attractions.
Fort Walton Beach & Okaloosa Island
Fort Walton Beach is a small city located near Destin and is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and the adjacent Okaloosa Island.
Home to many species of wildlife, Okaloosa Island is a barrier island between the Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. While you are there, you can visit the Gulfarium, head out on a snorkeling tour, rent a pontoon, or go on a fishing charter.
Air Force Armament Museum
This interesting indoor/outdoor museum displays more than 25 planes, artifacts, and weapons and it is the only museum in the United States dedicated to displaying Air Force armaments. While you are there, you can see a plethora of historical Air Force planes including a World War II B-17 bomber, and an F-4 Phantom II jet. There is also an expansive display of bombs, missiles, and guns. The Air Force Armament Museum is free to enter and a must-visit attraction for military buff.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Opened in 1955, this interesting aquarium is dedicated to teaching guests about the unique wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. There is a wide array of marine life to see including tortoises, dolphins, sharks, sea lions, stingrays, and alligators and you can swim with the dolphins and stingrays for an extra fee as part of the animal encounters. These are one of the highlights of visiting the marine adventure park and we highly recommend them.
Wild Willys Adventure Zone
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Hunt For Treasure On A Buccaneer Pirate Cruise
The Buccaneer Pirate Cruise is great fun for everybody but especially the kids. The crew has lots of fun, pirate-themed activities for little ones including dancing, singing and pirate training. Join the crew of the Buccaneer for a merry adventure.
Bring along a sense of adventure and good humor. Therell be lots of opportunities for swashbuckling fun. You can expect sword fighting, real cannon fire and uplifting good times on the high sea.
Zula Life Vacation Homes
We stayed at this amazing vacation home that was a short walk to the beach . The house had plenty of room for multiple families to stay along with a long Kitchen table, big couch and plenty of outside sitting. Plus our favorite part was the hot tub and pool. We spent a lot of time just hanging out back there.
The house is located just a couple minutes from Hwy 98 where you have all the stores that you would need. Yet is in a quiet neighborhood without a lot of traffic. The driveway was also large enough that we could park our 21 foot travel trailer there when we stayed it was so nice not to have to leave the rig somewhere plus we didnt have to pack since everything was right there in the driveway!
Honestly it was hard to leave the house to go do anything! If you are coming with your family or planning a multi family trip be sure to check out Zula Life or any of their other properties: Zula Dreams and Zula Beach.
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Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
skvalval / Shutterstock
Seeing some amazing wildlife is one of the best things to do in Destin.
At Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, you can interact with and/or observe all kinds of aquatic wonders.
If you want to see how incredible dolphins are, you need to come to this Florida attraction.
The encounters are arguably the best part of going to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.
Some of these interactions include dolphins, stingrays, turtles, and alligators.
These are great activities for learning about different sorts of animals.
Going to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is one of the most fun things to do in Destin, Florida if youre with your family.
Its open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission for non-Florida residents is $23.95 for adult guests, age 23 to 61, $22.95 for seniors, and $15.95 for children, age 3 to 12.
Children two and younger get in for free.
Address: 1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, USA
Visit Destin History & Fishing Museum
The history of Destin is intertwined with its maritime traditions. From its roots as a tiny fishing village just over 100 years ago, it has grown to be a popular holiday destination for many.
Visit the Destin History and Fishing Museum and learn how the sea shaped the people of the city and how they in turn shaped the sea.
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# Miramar Beach Comedy
There are plenty of things to do in Miramar beach when it rains, especially if youve got a good sense of humor! From live improv shows to stand up comedians who will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter, Miramar Beach Comedy surely is the best place for rainy day entertainment.
Get those giggles going at the Villian Theater, the Improv Comedy Club or Miami Comedy for a day that is filled with monkey business.
Take Surfing Lessons At Ride On Surf School
If youre looking for things to do with your kids in Destin FL, you should check out surfing lessons at Ride On Surf School. Their professional instructors can teach surfing to anyone who can swim, so even if you or your kids have never touched a surfboard, they can teach you. Surfing is a great way for kids to build confidence in themselves and have a great time in the water, and Ride On will supply the surfboard and gear for each lesson.
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Feed An Alligator At Gator Beach
Gator Beach calls itself the Worlds greatest Alligator Park. With hundreds of resident alligators of all ages and sizes, it is the largest park of its kind in the area.
It offers educational tours, opportunities to feed the gators, and even have a photo taken with one.
For a rare chance to see full-size and tiny baby alligators up close, Gator Beach is well worth the trip. Admission is totally free as are shows and tours which are given daily through the summer season.
Urban Air Adventure Park
With so much to do and experience, you may need to pay Urban Air Adventure Park more than one visit. Whether your children are attracted by the laser tag, climbing walls, ropes course, trampolines or sword-fighting on the battle beams theyll be begging to come back for more.
This dreamland for kids will keep your youngsters entertained for hours. In fact, adults will find themselves jumping for joy too. The older crowd will even call themselves experienced gamers after strapping on the virtual reality headsets and going to battle.
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Smile N Wave Sailing Adventures
Take a private catamaran adventure on the Smile n Wave! Captain Pam will take you out to the best spots to look for dolphins, go swimming, out in the Gulf, visit Crab Island and more. Just talk to her and see what she recommends!
Her boat is great for families as it has a bathroom below deck. Along with an area where you can get inside with your kids for a minute if you need to.
She had awesome chairs on the boat that we could sit in and a couple net areas out over the water you could hang out in. She was also totally fine with the kids walking around and switching up where they were sitting while we are sailing.
You can bring your own food and drink along and Captain Pam offers you a cooler if you dont have one.
We saw a bunch of dolphins and just enjoyed being out on the water when we did our 2 hour trip! Captain Pam was super nice and made all of us feel really comfortable on our trip. When you are in Destin you will want to do this!
To learn more visit her site Sailing In Destin!
