Suggestions for Destin, Florida...

[tlriv5]

We are going to Destin in June and were wondering if you had any suggestions for places to eat and fun things to do. We will mostly stay at the beach, but always want some options. Thanks

 

[Tiffa]

Hi we did Inlet Beach last Easter its close to Destin and much quieter, But dont forget to go to the DISNEY OUTLET in Destin we found a ton of great deals there we had to go back twice, lots of stuff to do the beach is beautiful it was more fun finding sea shells for the kids get some long handled nets, my husband also found some flounder in his net it was fun for him too. Have a great time and Panama City Beach is not to far for more family stuff to do

 

[Maggimus]

Eat at AJ's! Its amazing and my mouth waters just thinking about it! They have a great sampler thing. Its kindly expensive but soo good. I believe it has shrimp, crab legs, potatos, stuff like that! Definitely eat there...

We usually stay in one of the sterling resort condo's which are really nice.

Have a good trip!

 

[DisneyBill]

We are going to Destin in June and were wondering if you had any suggestions for places to eat and fun things to do. We will mostly stay at the beach, but always want some options. Thanks

We've been to Destin and Ft Walton Beach a bunch. You'll want to go to Fudpuckers for sure, also Captain Daves on the Gulf. Two different dining experiences but both great and varied atmospheres. Also look into Pompano Joe's and the Back Porch. There is also a restaurant called The Lighthouse in Destin that isn't much on decor, but food is good and get there before 6 and one half the menu is 1/2 price. We also hit "The Track" a couple of times while in Miramar Beach for go karts, mini-golf, arcade, and bumper boats. There is also a water park called Big Kahuna - a tad on the expensive side. Oh, don't miss a stop at "The Donut Hole", open 24 hours. Enjoy!

 

[FL-Belle]

You will find lots to do in Destin and the surrounding area. I recommend checking out the planned communities in S. Walton (check out beachesofsouthwalton.com). Such as Seaside (which has an outdoors children's play on Monday evenings all summer long), Rosemary Beach, WaterColor, etc... These communities always have activities and quaint shops. Also, check out Silver Sands factory mall--which has a Disney's Character Warehouse for a touch of Disney Magic
Destin Commons is another area for shopping with a large Bass Pro Shop and Rave Motion Picture Multiplex (something to do in case of rain).
Restaurants--there are tons of fabulous restaurants-- locally owned-- I recommend the Crab Trap, Bayou Bill's, Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, etc..

Have Fun in Destin!

 

[hercamore]

the Hard Rock restaurant is at the Destin Commons, both brestaurant and shopping area are nice.

www.sandestin.com has shops, too.

Between Destin and Sandestin is a HUGe outlet Mall not to be missed (Silver Sands). .

Seaside is a great place to visit.

herc..

 

[ilovejack02]

You will find lots to do in Destin and the surrounding area. I recommend checking out the planned communities in S. Walton (check out beachesofsouthwalton.com). Such as Seaside (which has an outdoors children's play on Monday evenings all summer long), Rosemary Beach, WaterColor, etc... These communities always have activities and quaint shops. Also, check out Silver Sands factory mall--which has a Disney's Character Warehouse for a touch of Disney Magic
Destin Commons is another area for shopping with a large Bass Pro Shop and Rave Motion Picture Multiplex (something to do in case of rain).
Restaurants--there are tons of fabulous restaurants-- locally owned-- I recommend the Crab Trap, Bayou Bill's, Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, etc..

Have Fun in Destin!

Stick with the locally owned restaurants and you cant go wrong. Ive done all the crazy tourists places and been disappointed everytime.
Fudpuckers is fun for a drink and look at the alligators and the gift shop but the food is well ick.IMO.I kinda feel the same way about AJ's. We like the Crab trap and Bayou Bill's too.
We do love Broken Egg Cafe in Fort Walton and also like the Pancake place in Destin....for breakfast FL- Belle.... I cant remember the name of the place to get pancakes and your car washed at the same time LOL.

I also always have to hit Alvin's island for an hour or so of shopping for tacky goodies. I love to spend the hottest part of the day shopping at Silver Sands and there is a dolphin cruise in Destin that I have been dying to try. There is the gulfarium in F.W. but ive never been there.

We always stay with Newman Dailey rentals... you get lots of free goodies staying with them. Destinvaction.com

 

[Kies99]

My family lives in Destin in Regatta Bay which is next to Destin Commons. They also have a beach rental house down 30A near Grayton Beach (Old Florida Beach next to Goatfeathers).

Great place to go to eat is Picolo's Restaurant and The Red Bar in Grayton Beach. For Breakfast, Broken Egg or the Donut Hole are great places. I lean towards the Donut Hole myself. For Dinner, there's Lousianna Lagniappe which is VERY good (http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2978289-louisiana_lagniappe_destin-i).

I also highly recommend you check the schedule at Seaside. They have some great FREE concerts at their ampitheatre. You can set up blankets and chairs and bring wine and beer (or buy it there).

In Destin itself, depending on if you have kids, there is Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park and next door is The Track (racetrack and small rides and arcade). Over in Fort Walton there's the Gulfarium which is "America's second oldest marine park".

Don't forget the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum which is located outside the main gate at Eglin AFB. You'll see (well hear at least) lots of fighter jets flying around as well as a good bit of Coast Guard traffic.

Also, don't forget that Destin is "America's Luckiest Fishing Village". Lots of great deep sea fishing. Or you can rent a pontoon boat and head out for a day at Crab Island. Also, look into Dolphin cruises. last time I was there, the captain of our boat was literally speachless for the amount of Dolphins we say. Three complete pods and over 100 dolphins with babies included.

If you're there on June 1, it's the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival which can be fun.

If you make it towards Pennsacola, the U.S. Naval Air Station Museum is a must see.

Feel free to drop me a PM if you want more.

 

[FL-Belle]

:
We do love Broken Egg Cafe in Fort Walton and also like the Pancake place in Destin....for breakfast FL- Belle.... I cant remember the name of the place to get pancakes and your car washed at the same time LOL.

It's called Pancake Creperie and Bakery-- it is very near Silver Sands. I've never eaten there.

For restaurant and other information I suggest checking out
emeraldcoast.com and also the local arts and entertainment newspaper's website called thebeachcomber.org

 

[Marie17]

Got a second for kudos for

Louisiana Lagniappe!

Great restaurant just don't get lost in the complex when looking for it (we've taken the wrong turn and had to backtrack).

For really cheap & simple fun with miniature golf - try Goofy Golf in Fort Walton Beach (it's on Eglin Parkway on the way to Eglin AFB from the beach). Only $1 a round (it might have gone up to $1.50 though). Cheeky but great for kids, teenagers and adults. Usually it is always packed. Sorry but the last time we were there the big green dinosaur wasn't replaced yet from being knocked down (hurricane damage).

 

[Carrie772]

We love the Back Porch! Blackened Amberjack sandwiches and seafood nachos...

We also love Fisherman's Wharf! Sit outside, enjoy live musicians, get the seafood gumbo on the salad bar, and don't forget to load up on the free mints on the way out...sooooo good.

Down a bit from the Super Wal-Mart is a Krispy Kreme where you can watch the donuts being made. Very cool and delicious!


Been goin' there since I was 12. I am 36 now. You will love it.

 

[rparmfamily]

I'd get out of Destin and head down 30A towards Seaside, love it there!! Love the drive and the shops along the way!

 

[wdwpjs]

We live in Gulf Breeze and go to Destin often. The place we LOVE is Villages at Baytown in the Sanddestin resort. It is sooo much fun. IF you go to the sandestin web page and go to villages, you can pull up a schedule of activities for June. There are great rest. and shops, fireworks at night during the summer, and they sometimes show movies in the stage area. We let the kids watch high school musical while we walked around and shopped. It is just a fun family enviroment.

 

[Marie17]

We live in Gulf Breeze and go to Destin often.

Gulf Breeze - my ultimate in retirement places to go. We used to live in Ft. Walton and I always thought if we retired anywhere in that area it would be Gulf Breeze sandwiched between Pensacola and Ft. Walton - ideal paradise.

 

[perdidochas]

We are going to Destin in June and were wondering if you had any suggestions for places to eat and fun things to do. We will mostly stay at the beach, but always want some options. Thanks

Take a trip to Seaside (about 20 miles east of Destin). It takes you along Highway 30-A, which is fairly scenic.

Places to eat:
Goat Feathers in between Santa Rosa Beach and Blue Mountain Beach is a great little seafood place. A good lunch place in Destin proper is Fisherman's Wharf. It has a nice salad bar with Gumbo, and has a good view of the harbor.

The Bass Pro shop is kind of neat. It has a big saltwater tank with some nice-sized fish. It's located in Destin Commons which is a nice outside mall area. The Commons has an outside kids play fountain.

If there's a fairly calm day, rent a kayak and kayak past the second green line.

You also might want to take a dolphin watching excursion or go deep sea fishing. If you're interested in deep sea fishing, the Top Gun with Captain John Cox is an excellent boat. We've fished with him for 27 yrs.

 

[wdwpjs]

marie 17.....it is paradise isnt it! I grew up in New Orleans and vacationed here growing up. When we moved here in the late 80's i just new i would hate it! You couldnt get me to live anyplace else now. My husband works with Wal Mart and is the market manager over the tallahassee distr. Did we move when he got this job????? Nope! haha. He travels and we use his points from the hotel stays to go to Disney. I love it here. The perfect place to raise a family.



me, dh, dd15, dd11, ds5, dd1

star wars weekends here we come!!!!!!!!!!

 

[M 'n C]

We go every year. We always eat at Fudpuckers and the Crab Trap on the beach. I think the Crab Trap is my family's favorite restaurant ever since the demise of Scampi's (now that was an excellent seafood buffet).

Silver Sands Outlet is a must! We usually hit up big kahuna's for mini golf one night and usually the track a few nights since our timeshare is right next door.

Shakes (next to alvin's island) makes excellent milk shakes. I highly recommend them if you don't have one in your town.

Mellow Mushroom use to be there (not sure if it still is) and that was always a fun place for pizza in my college town. I'm sure the one in Destin is similar.

We also usually make it down to seaside once a trip for an afternoon/evening. Its usually a nice relaxing place to go to. I love the grocery store there and the gelatto parlor.

The past 2 years my family has done a sailboat sunset cruise. Its pretty nice if you want a relaxing boat ride and to see a nice sunset. I don't know the name of it though. Its a tad pricey and you don't really see sealife. I've also done parasailing and wave runners there. The bay side is much cheaper than the guys on the beach renting these things.

This year I think we are taking the speed boat instead of the sailboat as my parents and brother went on it last year without me and thoroughly enjoyed it. They saw quite a few dolphins while they were out on it. I hear you get wet though.

I'm trying to think of what else we do and where else we eat but its escaping me. My younger brother is planning the family trip this year so who knows what he has on the list to do. Its the first time bf is coming so he's planning all sorts of things to do/see/eat.

 

[Carrie772]

All the years we have gone, we have never done a dolphin cruise. Where do we hire one and how much and what should I expect?

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We are going to Destin in June and were wondering if you had any suggestions for places to eat and fun things to do. We will mostly stay at the beach, but always want some options. Thanks

It's been fun reading all the replies to your post because we're going to Destin in June too! We'll be there June 23-30. I can't wait!!

We haven't been to Destin since 2001 but I do remember going to Bayou Bills to eat. Deeee-lish! Just kind of a hole in the wall kind of place .... I think it's actually in Santa Rosa Beach.

Have a great vacation!

Debbie

 

[M 'n C]

Carrie - Well we always get the emerald coast coupon book at our timeshare and find them through there. I wish I had one on me but I don't. I am going next weekend so I can pick one up and let you know if you want. I think the sailboat we went on was ~$50/pp which was really high but its nice for a one time thing - not yearly. The speedboat per my mom was much less. I didn't go but I think its similar or maybe it is AJs speed boat (seats a bunch of people, darts around). Basically for any type of boat ride/1-2 hour cruise you go to the harbor in Destin and you can sign up for these things. Most though require reservations as they fill up. Most hotel/timeshare front desks are familar and can help you out.

When is your trip?