Thank goodness for family that lives in Destin and puts up with our visits every year. Destin, and the areas along 30a, have the most beautiful beaches in the United States! The color of the water never seizes to amaze me. Not to mention the white sand that is incredibly soft under your feet. Unfortunately, this year we were stalked by jellyfish everywhere we went but we didn’t let that ruin our fun.
Crab Island
We rented a boat with a captain for a half-day excursion on the water with Crab Island Cruises. They provided a cooler on board filled with ice and bottled water. Then we brought some additional beverages and snacks which we threw in the cooler as well. We first cruised around and found tons of dolphins. At one point there was a pod of about 8 hanging around the harbor giving us a show.
Next we stopped off at Crab Island for the main attraction. The captain anchored the boat and laid out the lily pad which the kids loved. There is a sandbar so most spots are about waist deep. However, there is a strong current so keep that in mind when with kids. The kids favorite part of Crab Island are the inflatable water parks. Of course there is an extra fee but you get a discount with Crab Island Cruises. The kids had a blast jumping and falling all over the place. Not long after the adventures in the water park we were soon swarmed by jellyfish. Once the little guy was stung we had our fill for the day.
After the jellyfish we decided to venture over to the Dewey Restaurant for lunch. The captain docked the boat and we jumped off for a break and some food. The restaurant is mainly seafood and very casual. Be warned that most of the dining is outside on the deck which can get warm during the summer months. The food is good and luckily they have the standard chicken fingers for the kids. Also, there is a stand with shaved ice so be prepared for the kids to beg for dessert!
If you plan on visiting Crab Island I highly recommend Crab Island Cruises. There is a water taxi service available to shuttle people to and from Crab Island. However, that service is very costly and you have to stay in a designated area. In my opinion it is worth the boat rental with captain for all that you get!
Baytowne Wharf
This year we visited Baytowne for the first time. We went on a Tuesday as soon as it opened and we were the first ones there! I couldn’t believe how empty it was…..until about an hour later when I was sweating like a whore in church and ready to pass out from the heat.
Baytowne is an area inside of Sandestin with shopping, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities for the kids. They have a wonderful playground, carousel, arcade, and adventure zone. The kids enjoyed zip lining, a ropes course, chipping challenge, and the bungee trampoline for a small fortune. They even host concerts and fireworks on designated nights through-out the week.
We took a walk down to the Marina for lunch. As you walk along the boardwalk there are a couple tree houses that were a fun find for the boys. They included shade for the adults so that was welcome. At the end of the boardwalk in the Marina Bar & Grill. This was a lifesaver as we were all in need of hydration and shade at that point. We ate outside…..again so the sweating never stopped but the beverages were helpful. There is a resident parrot which the boys enjoyed and kept them occupied while we waited for our food. The food was really good or maybe I was delirious at that point. Either way I would recommend.
Before we left Baytowne we stopped at one of the shops to get the boys temporary tattoos. It was another small fortune but on this day I would have paid a million dollars for that break in the AC. Baytowne was fun (and costly) but definitely worth a visit. Just time it so you don’t suffer in the heat like we did!
LuLus Destin
The kids look forward to stopping in at LuLus Restaurant every year. There are plenty of things to keep them busy which is good because it can get busy with long waits. The boys played in the sand, fed the fish, watched the seaplane take off, and spotted some hermit crabs on the rocks in the water. They also tried the photo booth which was a big fail as they fought inside the booth and never looked at the camera. They also have a gift shop, tattoos, and trampolines available for the kids to enjoy.
We had yet another wonderful trip to Destin and sorry family but we can’t wait to return! For additional information on Destin please see: https://www.backpacksandfruitsnacks.org/destin
