FAQs

Our summer temperatures are perfect for cooling off in the Gulf with temps in the low to upper 90s. By mid-October, the temperature drops down to the 70s and 80s.Winter doesn’t last long around here, but I would recommend packing a jacket if visiting in January and February. In the spring, the weather will be similar to fall with mid-70s to upper 80s. No matter when you visit, be sure to use sunscreen!

I recommend a hotel or resort on Okaloosa Island or even a condo across the street from Crystal Beach in Destin!These hotels/resorts are right on the beach and have lots of fun activities and restaurants within walking distance:

The Island Resort: Two pools and walkable to restaurants and shops.

Holiday Inn Resort and Hilton Garden Inn: Sister hotels each with Gulf-views and lazy rivers.

The Henderson Beach Resort: Offers beachy luxury and is right next door to Henderson Beach State Park.

You can also reach out to these trusted property management companies if you’d rather stay in a condo or house! They will help you narrow down some great options near the beach and you can even let them know you’re interested in the Crystal Beach area!

Southern Vacation Rentals

Holiday Isle Properties

Newman-Dailey

I would recommend checking out Beasley Park or James Lee Park. Both of these public beach accesses offer plenty of parking, ramps and bathrooms! The Boardwalk also offers access and plenty of parking. I’d recommend arriving on the earlier side as many of the lots tend to fill up in the afternoon. Here’s some more information on our public beach accesses.

Here are a few of my family’s favorite waterside playgrounds! We love the playground at James Lee Park in Destin–it’s right on the beach! We also love Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park playground, and you can even rent a kayak after playing to explore on the water!

There’s a ton of indoor fun for families in our area. You can check out some of these rainy day activity ideas, but I’ll also add a few of my family’s favorites below.Fudpucker’s Gator Beach: Kids can feed real gators and their meals are served on a frisbee that they can take home.

Emerald Coast Science Center: Explore interactive exhibits (like a Castle of Mirrors) and lots of critters.

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: A (covered) outdoor marine adventure park with dolphins, penguins and more.

CREATE! in Niceville: Perfect for families looking for a take-home souvenir, check out their upcoming classes for kids of all ages.

Urban Air Adventure Park: Trampoline park for kids who need to get some energy out!

We have a ton of ways to see marine life! Visiting The Island Pier is an awesome way to spot a variety of creatures like dolphins and sea turtles in the clear water below. Also, Norriego Point, located at the end of Holiday Isle, has shallow tide pools where hermit crabs, fish and sea turtles like to hang out.If you’re looking to learn more about marine life from local experts, head to the Gulfarium. Their sea creature touch tank is a family-favorite. Plus, you can get up-close with turtles, sea lions or dolphins by signing up for an Animal Encounter for an additional charge.

You can also take a FREE Little Adventure Class from May to August where a local marine biologist will teach your kids about marine life and how to protect them.

Beach safety is super important, especially when traveling with kids. I would suggest to always be mindful of the warning flags, water conditions and rip currents. Learn more on our website or you can sign-up for real time beach flag texts by texting “BEACH” to 44144. I like to check out the conditions each day for added peace-of-mind!

Sea turtles nest on Gulf beaches between April and November. To learn more about our local turtles and how to protect them, join the Sea Turtle Patrol! These events are educational, free and fun!

With the exception of guide dogs or other service animals, pets are not allowed on our beaches. However, some hotels and vacation rental companies do offer pet-friendly accommodations, and many restaurants welcome pets. Liza Jackson Park also offers a dog park with a great view.

Beach wheelchairs are available without charge on a first-come, first-served basis for use at County Parks on Okaloosa Island and James Lee Park in Destin.Please call Beach Safety at (850) 259-4131 for arrangements on Okaloosa Island or (850) 837-8413 for Destin or visit our website for more information.

Our Little Adventure Classes are FREE, expert-led adventure classes for kids of all ages. Your kids can choose from a variety of classes including learning the basics of paddleboarding on the Gulf or discovering marine life with a local marine biologist. Explore all of our free classes and reserve your spot today.Not sure which class to sign up for? Chat with one of us and we can help! (P.S. My kids loved the Snorkel Squad!)

We have a LOT of local dolphins which means we have a lot of dolphin cruises to choose from! Captain Pam with Smile ‘N Wave offers a private trimaran and is one of my family’s favorites. There are also larger group boats like Destin Dolphin Cruise and Southern Star.Beach Weekend Marina offers dolphin and snorkel cruises or you can choose to rent one of their pontoons to explore on your own.

Choosing the right charter fishing trip depends on the ages of your kids, your fishing experience and what type of experience you’re looking for! The best way to learn more about what fishing experiences we offer, check out our Fishing for Families page.You can also chat with a local Scout (like me!) who will pair you with the perfect fishing adventure customized for you.

For older kids looking for big fish and big adventure, check out Reel Time, our deep sea fishing adventures for teens. Each Reel Time charter fishing captain has been hand-picked and vetted by local Scouts to provide a unique and unforgettable fishing trip for your teens. My 16 and 18-year-old went out with Team LaBella and literally can’t stop talking about their trip!

he Gulfarium is our local aquarium. You will see tons of different marine life and get to watch their awesome dolphin show! They also have a touch tank where you will be able to touch some sea critters. And if you want to get up-close with some of the other animals, you can add-on one of their many Animal Encounters to your admission!The Emerald Coast Science Center is our local interactive kids’ science museum! They have several animals as well that you can check out. Sometimes they host events where they feature some of their animals and give you an up-close look, so be sure to check their events calendar!

The Emerald Coast Zoo is an awesome place to see animals like giraffes and lions. The zoo is laid out in a way that makes it really easy to get an up-close look at their animals but you can also book an Emerald Coast Zoo Animal Encounter where you can pet a sloth or hug a boa constrictor (ah!).

During the months of May-August we also host FREE Little Adventure Classes for kids where they can meet critters right on the shore! Chat with one of us to see which class would be right for your kiddos.

To have boards delivered to you, I would rent from WET Inc. or SUP Express. Or if you’re dining at Lulu’s, you can rent a board right on their beach.

I recommend paddleboarding on the calm water of the Choctawhatchee Bay! Another great calm spot to paddleboard is the Santa Rosa Sound. There are a few public accesses where you can put in your paddleboard.To avoid boat traffic, Rocky Bayou State Park is a great option. It’s too shallow for the motor boats, so it’s a nice safe place to paddle and swim and see dolphins.

Norriego Point is a great spot for beginner swimmers. It has calm, clear and shallow tide pools and you don’t need a boat to access them! Also, you can grab a snorkel and mask from pretty much any store year-round like Publix, Target or Dollar General. You can even rent snorkel gear from Emerald Coast Scuba, Scuba Tech and Benthic. Last time we went to Norriego Point, we swam near the rocks and saw tons of fish and even a sea turtle!If you’re looking to go out on a boat, Cattywampus is a great option and accommodates younger kiddos.

There are so many great snorkeling adventures here! Here are a few guided tours I recommend. All three have dolphin cruises and snorkeling combined!Smile N’ Wave: Captain Pam’s trimaran tours are all private.

Cattywampus: All-in-one 3-hour trips where strollers are welcome.

Destin Snorkel: Check out their snorkeling, SNUBA and dolphin cruises.

Florida law requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 to successfully complete an approved boating safety course. Pontoon rental companies in our area will send you all of the information on how to complete the course before renting to make the process quick and easy for you! Planning on renting a pontoon? Here’s a few fun places to explore.

There are lots of great options in our area! My family has a few favorites. The Gulf on Okaloosa Island has delicious food, a little gift shop and they even have a beach where the kiddos can run around and play. Harbor Docks and Boshamps are great spots to watch charter boats coming back into the Destin Harbor and Rockin Tacos offers an unbeatable view of The Island Pier.

It’s possible to see dolphins at many of our waterfront restaurants but one suggestion is Marina Cafe which has an awesome view overlooking Destin Harbor where our dolphins like to hang out. You may also see some dolphins while sitting outside at Lulu’s. (They also offer a big sandy beach and games for kids.)

There’s nothing better than catching your own meal! Here are my family’s three favorite restaurants that will grill, saute or fry your catch after your fishing trip:Harbor Docks: A local favorite, your fresh catch will be served with hand-cut fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies.

Dewey Destin’s: Enjoy your catch as a grilled or fried basket or even a sandwich out on the dock.

Brotula’s: Known for southern cooking and located right on the Destin Harbor, watch the charter boats come in as your catch is prepared.

We have some delicious family-friendly breakfast spots for early risers. One of my all-time favorites is Parlor Doughnuts which opens at 6:30 am. They even have gluten free options!Another great spot is East Pass Coffee, they open at 7:30 am and have lots of tasty breakfast and coffee options. This location has indoor/outdoor seating for a very casual, fun environment.

The Cowhead has a great laid-back breakfast starting at 7 am and there are also a few breakfast food trucks in downtown Fort Walton open at 7 am. (Check out Coffee Ave. and Sunset Bowls–just put 211 Florida Pl SE, Fort Walton Beach into your GPS.)