10 Best Destin Things to do with Kids
Our family vacations always consisted of visiting a Florida Beach, Destin is one of our favorites. My mom and I have always been content with buying a book and sitting on the sandy beach all day. My dad and brother are more of the adventurous “what are we going to do today?” types. What we never realized is how much there really is to do at a beach. Here are 10 fun and family-friendly activities.
1. Destin Florida Beach
First and foremost, visit the beach! Destin lies on Florida’s Emerald Coast – named for the color of the water. It’s known for its white sandy beaches. Grab yourself a book and a towel or a shovel and bucket and have yourself a beautiful beach day.
There are plenty of public beach access points in Destin. Many visitors prefer Pompano Street, but Tarpon Street and Crystal Beach are also decent.
While public beaches in Destin can save you cash, many visitors prefer to spend their money at nearby state parks. A small vehicle fee will get you an entire day of outdoor entertainment there. When in doubt, go to Henderson Beach State Park, which has massive sand dunes and a lovely nature trail.
2. Go Fishing
Destin is known for its immaculate fishing and is self-proclaimed as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing”. Fishing is affordable for people of all income levels. Whether you want to bring a few fishing poles to the beach and fish from there, buy a ticket on a party fishing boat and go out for some group fishing, rent your own fishing boat, or plan the all-inclusive luxury sportfishing adventure, Destin has something for everyone!
3. Destin Fishing Museum
Visit the Destin Fishing Museum for just $5 a person. You can few hundreds of antique fishing rods and reels. You can also size up the award-winning catches. Go fishing afterward and try to beat the record! You can rent a fishing pole on the Okaloosa Island Pier for around $10
4. Kayaking Destin Harbor
Rent a 2-seater Kayak to go around the Destin Harbor and Crab Island. This will run you at about $25 for a 2-hour rental. You can get them at Kayak Rental On the Destin Harbor.
5. Henderson Beach State Park
Greg Fished suggests visiting “the best beach in Destin”, Henderson State Park. It costs $6 for each vehicle entering but is less crowded than the free public beaches.
Henderson Beach State Park, located between Destin and Crystal Beach, is one of the most sought-after outdoor destinations in the Florida Panhandle. The lovely park sprawls across 200 acres of Gulf Coast seafront, centered on one of Destin’s most beautiful beaches.
Beachgoers will flock to the park’s white-sand beach to wade and swim in the warm waters. Need to get away from the beach? Put on your hiking boots and go for a walk along a nature trail. The Henderson Beach State Park trail winds through some of Florida’s last remaining coastal scrub and is an excellent place to go bird watching.
6. Go snorkeling!
Around 9 a.m. the Reef Runner leaves the HarborWalk Village for a group snorkel. You can stay out all day or just a couple of hours. When you get your Reef Runner ticket you’ll also gain free access to the kayaks and free soft drinks and ice water. Reef Runner also provides all the equipment you’ll use.
Snorkel Reefs are fantastic snorkeling spots in and around Destin, Florida! One of the most fascinating aspects of the reefs is their densely populated marine life. Snorkel around the reef for a “primetime” view of these magnificent creatures. Schools of fish congregate and live in various parts of the reef, making this an ideal location for snorkeling and spotting large numbers of fish.
The South Walton Artificial Reef Association has recently created four new reefs. Dolphin Snorkel Reef is the newest reef, and the other three snorkel reefs are situated along Scenic Highway 30-A.
The network is completed by Cobia Snorkel Reef at Inlet Beach, Turtle Snorkel Reef in Grayton Beach State Park, and Seahorse Snorkel Reef in Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. These reefs are typically 200-300 yards from shore, so if you choose to snorkel here, you should see a lot.
7. Play Putt-putt
Island Golf Center and Lost Lagoon Miniature Golf cost $5 per adult and $3 for Children. It’s located on Miracle Strip Parkway.
8. Visit seaside towns
Walk or bike through different communities that are pedestrian-friendly. You can rent a bike for 30-A or Scenic 98 for around $10 a person.
Scenic 30A is the most scenic of all scenic drives. Along this 20-mile stretch of road, there are several prized beaches and state parks. Discover charming beach towns and breathtaking architecture. Live music, shopping, restaurants, community events, beach activities, biking, fishing, parks, state forests, dune preserves, and other attractions are available.
9. Whale Watching
Many of our Ocean Reef Resorts guests have seen the adorable dolphins that frolic and play in the magnificent Gulf, but few have seen a whale. It is possible, and although it is a very rare occurrence, some lucky guys in Seacrest Beach recently spotted a whale.
Visit a whale up close…kind of. Wyland, the marine life artists, painted Destin a mural the size of a whale. You can see it heading over the Mid-Bay Bridge. It’s called “Marine Life of the Gulf”.
Other whales, in addition to Humpbacks, inhabit or visit the Gulf of Mexico, which is not surprising given that it is the world’s ninth largest body of water, encompassing approximately 600,000 square miles. However, these whales usually stay a long distance from the shore.
10. Take a stab at water sports
Destin watersports are popular among both locals and visitors. With the emerald green water that envelops our little slice of paradise, it’s no surprise that so many people travel to our area to bask in the sun on white sandy shores while gazing out on the perfectly clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There’s a watersports activity for everybody, regardless of age, skill level, or budget, from relaxing sunset cruises to exhilarating jet ski rides! Visit Boogies Watersports where you can go on a glass-bottom boat or Waverunner.