Things to do in Destin?

[lodgelady]

I haven't been to the Destin area since high school. We have two teens of our own now and are planning a trip there. What besides the beach (which will take up at least 50% of our time!) is fun to do or good to see? What are your restaurant recommendations? Also- pretty views, cute towns, nice beaches that are an easy drive? Thanks for your help!

 

[lodgelady]

Bump, ya'll

 

[WDWBarb]

Bumping for you 'cause I'm curious as well. I know tons of people who routinely visit Destin and I've always wondered what there was to do there.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay,

A neighbor from the South here how has been to Destin many times, and just returned the other day from a week at Sandestin.

First, get the to tripadvisor, and you can find out anything you need to know!!!

1. Destin is developed sky-high now. You will not believe how crowded and busy it is.

2. Where are you booked... That could be a factor.

3. One thing we always do is schedule a morning/afternoon at the beach at Pompano Joes. (Way less crowded beach front than at our resort) they have good decent food for a beach place... The sand and water are nice there.... And, order a Coconutty Pina Colada for me!!!!

4. There is everything imaginable to do.. from jet-ski rentals/tours, I hear many love the original Sea Blaster... My DH and son went fishing on the Swoop boat. We recommend the charter... But they did have a kind of lame day as far as their catch....

5. If you can get up early, and anyone is interested... Get up early on Tues. or Wednes. and go see the Blue Angels over at Pensacola. You would want to get their early and get good seats in the bleachers, or front row of the standing audience... It was amazing!! And, Pensacola Beach that afternoon after the show a couple of weeks ago was OMG nice!!! It was what I think the locals call 'chamber of commerce' conditions. Like a corona commercial.

Anyhow, you might want to post the things that your family might be interested in, to get more specific recommendations.

And, again, you can find out anything you need to know by going over to Tripadvisor and pulling up 'florida panhandle' and look at the travel forum.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Head east to the Beaches of South Walton. Visit Grayton Beach (eat at the Red Bar). Also visit the Seaside Community.

Head west to Pensacola and visit the National Naval Avaition Museum. Incredible attraction...and it's FREE. Plan it right, and you can also watch the Blue Angels ppractice behind the Museum.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

 

[lastminutemom]

We go at least once a year --

Our favorite restaurants are Callahans and Dewey Destins.

We like the Donut Hole as well.

I like to cook a couple of nights as well, especially if the area is crowded. I go to Destin Ice for great seafood.

We do the beach and pool.

We do the Track, my teens love the various versions of go karts.

We have never done the water park because my guys aren't real fans of water slides. Big Kahuna is the name.

We go to the outlet mall. We occasionally go to San Destin and even more occasionally to over to Seaside.

Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, I just read your post again...

Nice towns... Pretty drives....

1. Seaside... eat lunch at the Southern Cafe (or similar name????)
Had a great burger and grouper sandwich there.

3. For incredible views... Drive the National Seashore back from Pensacola... miles of the most incredible sand and sea to be found!

You can just pull into the main public beach parking area the minute you hit Pensacola Beach... Nice clean maintained and secure facilities there!

Also, there is the Fort on the far side of Pensacola... We needed to head back towards Destin, so we did not drive over there. But it seems very well worth the visit. Especially if your DH and teen sons might appreciate this type of thing. ( I think there is a small entrance fee to the Fort...)

NOTE: We ordered a beach umbrella with a "SAND ANCHOR" I think it is called (look this up, it is the BEST beach umbrella anchor) along with two nice beach chairs. We took this down with us, and it was well worth it.

Beach set-ups can get expensive..
And, you will find that all the folks who have their own will just come and set up theirs right in front of your resort rental... Also, this comes in great for things like Pompano Joe's and Pensacola Beach.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, do Dewey Destin's, for the fried shrimp.

McQuires gets some great PR.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

watch the Blue Angels ppractice behind the Museum.

When do they usually do this? I'll be in Destin and Pensacola in July.

 

[stevenpensacola]

When do they usually do this? I'll be in Destin and Pensacola in July.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/PlanYourVisit/Activities-(1)/BlueAngelsPractices.aspx

You can actually watch them from atop the Pensacola Lighthouse:

Watch the Blues practice shows from the Pensacola Lighthouse!
Mar 16, 2011 - Nov 08, 2011
8:00am - 9:30am All dates the Blues practice
Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd
Pensacola, FL 32508

See eye to eye with the Blue Angels, and watch the entire show from a vantage few others have. Space is limited; don't be left watching the Blues from the ground! Reservations needed

http://www.pensacolalighthouse.org/
http://www.pensacolalighthouse.org/pensacola-lighthouse-tours.html


The Blue Angels actually perform at Pensacola Beach each July..INCREDIBLE EVENT...I think you can watch them fly about four different times out at the beach.

check out this video: gets really good at about the 2:38 mark.
http://surfsmooth.com/video090711_blue_angels/090711_blue_angels.html

http://visitpensacolabeach.com/what/airshow.php

http://www.greatfloridaevents.com/listings/view.profile/id.18619/type.event

 

[lodgelady]

I am so excited! Thank you all for your thoughtful advice- I will print them all out!
I have been to trip advisor, but the DisBoard community is one I trust more.
Anyone been on the dolphin watch glass-bottom boat? We are interested in getting out on the water, but we are not likely to be deep-sea fishing. I will post with my opinions after our trip.

 

[Swan4Me]

Sandestin has a cute fake harbortown full of restaurants-Harborside I think its called

The traffic is HORRENDOUS-really -crossing over to some places at night is impossible (where are you staying)-go eat EARLY-like 6pm-its worse than WDW

Destin Commons is another 'grrovy' place to hang out at night-its got the hard Rock

 

[tink20]

this is in Fort Walton Beach,FL

http://www.gulfarium.com/

 

[Molliday]

We adore A.J.'s. In the evening, the age drops and it becomes more club-like, but on a beautiful day, it's our favorite place to be.

The best drive would be down 30-A.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am so excited! Thank you all for your thoughtful advice- I will print them all out!
I have been to trip advisor, but the DisBoard community is one I trust more.
Anyone been on the dolphin watch glass-bottom boat? We are interested in getting out on the water, but we are not likely to be deep-sea fishing. I will post with my opinions after our trip.

Yes, I too love to be out on the water...
I would look at all the boats and Dolphin Cruises.
It has been years ago, but we did the glass bottom boat, and were disappointed when we went, because, unless you have a day with unusual water clarity, it just wasn't great viewing.

I think there are a couple of old-style schooner type boats.

There is the original Sea Blaster, as mentioned... which I think offers a slower and Dolphin viewing portion of their outing... not just the quick speed ride???? From all I have read, this one really seems to have a family fun factor.

We have also done the Dolphin Viewing Waverunner tour.
We did this a few years ago thru Gilliagan's, which was fine, but there may be better operators now??? It was great to be out on the waverunners!!! Which, of course you can just rent on your own by the hour... We did get close to a family of Dolphins, right at East Pass (where you exit the Harbor) - which I think often hang around the waters around these types of areas. Our only issue was that our guide that day was kind of a younger beach hotshot type.... He was great to take our tour out into the Gulf, since conditions seemed okay... But he was on his own waverunner, in a standing postion... full throttle... the three of us kind of lagged behind, with the weight of all of us... Would have been very very great except for that one factor!

You might want to look for a Snorkeling-Dolphin viewing type option.

Hope this helps!

 

[Swan4Me]

Try getting a condo on Holiday isle in Destin-these beaches are far less crowded than the main drag-where there are super high rises

Here's a good one-

http://www.holidaysurf.com/

 

[stevenpensacola]

Hi lodgelady...you did not say exactly how long it's been since you've been to Destin...so I'll echo what others have said...the traffic in Destin can be horrendous...especially if it rains and nobody can go to the beach...so everyone piles in the car and tries to drive to the outlet malls. It took us an hour to get from the Destin bridge to Sandestin on a rainy day.

Kind of like going to WDW, except there is the beach instead of the theme parks.

Big Kahuna's Water Park is a pretty nice water park. There is a lot of stuff to do crammed in a small area. Quite a bit of nice shadevfor a waterpark.

 

[Carlyzmom]

McGuire's Irish Pub is a BLAST! Fun place to eat. Never been anywhere like it before! The whole inside is covered in dollar bills!! You can sign one and staple it anywhere you want!

 

[lodgelady]

Hi lodgelady...you did not say exactly how long it's been since you've been to Destin...so I'll echo what others have said...the traffic in Destin can be horrendous...especially if it rains and nobody can go to the beach...so everyone piles in the car and tries to drive to the outlet malls. It took us an hour to get from the Destin bridge to Sandestin on a rainy day.

Kind of like going to WDW, except there is the beach instead of the theme parks.

Big Kahuna's Water Park is a pretty nice water park. There is a lot of stuff to do crammed in a small area. Quite a bit of nice shadevfor a waterpark.

Thanks for the heads up about the traffic everybody. I will manage my expectations accordingly. The good news is we won't be bored!
Anybody been to a restaurant called the Back Porch? What do you think? We will also look into the other recommendations you all have made.

 

[Hutchy]

Yep, went to The Back Porch on Fri night! The wait was about 45 mins which wasn't that bad on the Fri night of Memorial Day weekend! I've seen the wait get up to 2 and 3 hours there before. The food is good and we always go at least once on the trip. We also ate at Harry T's down at Harbor Docks and really enjoyed the food there. If you go to the Outlets you have to stop at the little Gelato shop, it is SOOOO good. We ate breakfast at The Donut Hole one morning but you have to get there early because about 10 it gets packed and you'll have to wait a while.