Boredom is a cardinal sin in my house. As the mother of 3 (very active) boys, my family is always on the go, looking for things to do with our kids in Destin. When I decided to put together a list of my kids’ favorite things to do, I originally set out to list our Top 10, but my kids weren’t keen on the idea of cutting anything from the list, so we ended up with 12! Here is their kid-tested and approved list, as well as a description of each.
Well, of course, fishing made the list! My kids are fishing fanatics and we do live in the World's Luckiest Fishing Village. With so many different options in Destin, my boys will fish anywhere: off the docks, from a kayak, on a boat, at the jetties, at the pier, from the shore... It’s always a different adventure, and you catch different species depending on the time of year, where you are fishing, and what you’re fishing with so this is always our standby activity. Bring your fishing poles and check out our fishing report to see what's biting this time of year, then head to the beach, the jetties, or get out on the water on a rental boat. You can even book a kids' fishing charter! Kids under 16 can fish for free in Florida without a fishing license. You will need one if you're joining them, though.
It's hard to beat all the activities on the Crab Island Adventure Tour. This captained boat excursion takes you to 2 different places during the excursion. The first stop is at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, where you will find an inflatable water park set up for tour boat guests to enjoy as well as snorkeling, seashelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. (All the activities are included in the ticket price, at a fraction of what it would cost to do them all separately.) After you've worn the kids out, the boat will head over to Destin's famous Crab Island sandbar, where you can relax and unwind while floating in the beautiful waist-deep water before the boat ride back to the dock. Bring a cooler with food and drinks (alcohol is ok for mom and dad if you like!)and enjoy your refreshments as you take in the scenery at the sandbar. Click here for more information on the Crab Island Adventure Tour.
I’ve been going to the Gulfarium since I was a toddler. One year when I was about 10, my grandmother took a job in the gift shop there and I remember we got free tickets so we went a lot. I always enjoyed it, but hadn’t been in many years, until last summer. The place is under new ownership now, and has been completely renovated, so we took the boys to check it out and were very pleasantly surprised at all the new offerings. Regular admission gives you access to see all of the animal displays and scheduled shows, as well as spend some time at the “touch tank” (my 12 year old’s favorite) where you can play with sea plants and small marine creatures. For an extra fee you can have encounters with various marine life (ie feeding the penguins, having a dolphin encounter, “fishing” in a stocked tank, etc). In all, we were very impressed with the new offerings. From a parents’ perspective, it makes for a great learning experience. The kids just thought it was “cool”, but we all have good memories and love going back to try new encounters!
I mentioned I have 3 boys (i.e. human vacuum cleaners), right? Of course eating made the list! There are so many places to eat in Destin that we all love, so I’m just going to skim over some of the more kid-friendly ones. The Edge Seafood Restaurant is the newest addition to the Destin Harbor, and is fun to go to by boat or by car! The only restaurant in town built directly on top of the water, eating here is sure to be an adventure. You can feed fish off the docks and watch for dolphins right from your seat. At night, the water lights up from below so the fish feeding frenzy can continue even through dinner time! Another boat-accessible option is Boshamps Oyster Bar, located on the Destin Harbor. Their outdoor dining area is phenomenal! You can literally sit at your table and watch the kids run around and play, since they have an entire beach below the restaurant with hammocks, beach volleyball nets, cornhole games, and even cane poles for the kids to fish off the dock! Fudpuckers is fun too-there is a lot to see and it’s casual as well, plus they have the famous Gator Beach, which the boys just love (more on that later down the list). It’s also centrally located next to Fat Daddy’s Arcade and the Laser Tag place, so if you want to really pack in the fun, you can do it all at once! Fudpuckers is a Destin icon. Everyone should try this restaurant at least once. They have excellent burgers and you can even try a taste of alligator, but the best part about Fudpucker's is its fun atmosphere! They have plenty of fun activities geared towards kids. The Back Porch is another Destin icon, located directly on the beach with amazing views! Usually we go for lunch and hit the beach afterwards, which is one of the things the kids like about it. You can also go at night and take a stroll along the beach at sunset.
Duh, right? Why would you come to Destin and NOT go to the beach? The most breathtaking emerald green waters and sugar white sand you've ever seen. Bring your boogie boards, shovels and pails, and plenty of sunscreen! Most vacation rentals will offer some type of beach access, but if you don't have direct access, here is a list of public beach access places in Destin.
Gokarts, an arcade, bumper cars, roller coasters, and mini golf, just to name a few. It’s like a carnival, only it’s open almost year round. Kids LOVE this place! (Dads do too!)
Looking for a unique experience that will make you remember your beach vacation forever? Take a sandcastle lesson from the experts at Beach Sand Sculptures. Sand sculptor Rick Mungeam and his wife, Capri, offer fun-filled sandcastle lessons for all ages! They also sell a kit with all of the tools you need to keep making awesome sandcastles, like this:
This one is good for the whole family. There is always something going on at the Boardwalk. Grab a cold drink from one of the restaurants or food trucks along the waterfront and stroll along and watch the charter boat captains bring in their catches of the day, people watch, window shop, and sightsee. The walk does the whole family good and it’s a great way to really get a feel for the local culture. Wonder why Destin is known as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village? Stroll the Boardwalk and you’re sure to find out! The sunset views are pretty amazing, too.
A gigantic water park with so much to do I won’t even begin to try to list it all. Lazy river, fast water slides, kiddie splash areas for toddlers, and more. Guaranteed to wear you, and your kids, out!
This is at the aforementioned Fudpuckers. Watch and feed (from a nice, safe distance!) live alligators. You can even get your picture taken holding one! Very entertaining for the kiddos, and nothing quite says "Florida" like getting your picture taken holding an alligator!
Think of a local version of Chuck E Cheese minus the big mouse and his friends. Pizza, Ice Cream, and an arcade make for a great rainy day activity should the weather be uncooperative during your stay. There are enough games to keep your kids occupied for HOURS.
Next door to Fat Daddy’s above Sunsations Beach Store is a semi-hidden indoor Laser Tag and Black Light Mini Golf place. One game of Laser Tag lasts 15 minutes so it’s a great quick late afternoon or evening activity if you have some time to kill between the beach and dinner.
So, there you have it. My kids’ 12 favorite things to do in Destin (in no particular order)! Remember, this is just a taste of what awaits you here on our sugar white shores. But don’t just take my word for it…Discover for yourself why Destin is known as one of America’s top family travel destinations and is one of the best places to vacation with kids.
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