We are fortunate enough to get to take a road trip to Destin every year to visit my husband’s family. I have never seen beaches this pretty anywhere else in the United States. The color of the water and white sands can’t be beat. It is simply gorgeous here. Not only that but there are plenty of activities to keep kids busy.
Big Kahuna’s Water Park: There wasn’t a ton the kids could do since they were still little but enough to keep them busy. We went as soon as it opened to beat any crowds. That worked to our advantage. By lunch both kids were nearly passed out and had to be carried out of there. That is a win in our books!
Buccaneer Pirate Cruise: Exactly what it sounds like. A boat ride on a pirate ship. It is cute and worth doing it once. I would suggest doing it later in the day as it does get hot. Make reservations in advance.
Crab Island: This seems to be increasing in popularity each year. It is a sandbar accessible by boat. It can get quite wild and crowded. As you can imagine with young kids we prefer to go early and leave early. It is about waist deep water and there are usually inflatables that you can purchase or buy a wrist-band the inflatable water park. There is a shuttle service that will take you by boat to and from Crab Island. However, we recommend renting a boat and captain for a half-day with Crab Island Cruises. They have a Lily Pad for the kids, provide bottled water and a cooler with ice, a CAPTAIN (wahoo), and you can make your own itinerary as you go! We like to cruise around a little a look for dolphins and sharks before hitting Crab Island. You can also opt to dock somewhere for lunch. The nice thing is they are very flexible.
Destin Commons: This isn’t really an attraction but if you could just use some down time this is a good spot. It has some standard stores. There is also a little train for kids and splash pad. Also here is Uncle Buck’s which is a restaurant as well as a bowling alley. If you need a break from the sun this might be a good option.
Fudpuckers: The food here isn’t the best. However, we go even if it is just a quick hit it and quit it. The kids love feeding the gators and that usually doesn’t take long.
Gulfarium: This is a marine park with rays, dolphins, penguins, reptiles, and more. It is not too big and was a good activity for the little ones when we had a rainy morning.
HarborWalk Village: This is a tourist spot with lots of hustle and bustle. There are numerous shops and restaurants to walk around and visit. However, parking can become a pain at busy times.
Baytowne Wharf: This is located within Sandestin but easily accessible. There is a village with restaurants, shopping, and many kid-friendly activities. They have a really nice playground that is free, a carousel, arcade, and adventure zone. The kids enjoyed the adventure zone activities such as zip lining and the ropes course. Another fun spot while you are there is the Marina that you can access via a boardwalk. Just follow the signs to the Marina. Once you come to the end of the boardwalk you are there. You can even rent paddleboards to go out on the water. However, we just needed a rest and stopped at the Marina Bar & Grill for lunch which was great! I won’t sugar coat it, the costs will add up quickly with kids but it is worth a visit.
LuLu’s: We are a sucker for LuLu’s! It is more than just a restaurant. There is live music, an outdoor bar, a shop, a little beach, and lots of toys to keep the rugrats entertained. Even if there is a wait for a table it is almost welcome because we can grab a drink and relax while the kids play in the sand and hopefully don’t fight for 5 minutes.
Seaside: We also like to visit the town of Seaside. It can be hard to find parking during busy times so plan accordingly. Seaside was used as a primary location for filming of The Truman Show movie. Bud and Alley’s is one of our favorite restaurants. It has outdoor seating on their roof top deck looking out over the ocean. It is casual atmosphere and good food. There are plenty of other restaurant options to choose from as well as food trucks. It is a nice town to walk around and enjoy the little shops and cute cottages.
Checkout another Destin trip here!
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