Things to do in Destin/Ft Walton Beach

We suggest you visit Destin Marina and Harborwalk Village. They have great restaurants with harbor views. There are also fun activities for kids and water sports to enjoy. At night, you can watch their weekly fireworks, and the sunset there is beautiful. Another recommendation is to take a Dolphin tour. Morning tours are better for seeing dolphins up close. You can even spot dolphins from a Jet Ski. There are about 4-5 tour operators for dolphin tours at Destin Marina.  
You may rent Pontoon boats or other motorboats with your driver's license and explore Crab Island or the bay area. Kids love the playgrounds at Crab Island. You can read reviews about these activities on the Destin activities webpage we provided. Our favorite restaurant at the harbor area is Dewey Destin's Harborside.  

Henderson Beach State Park is a simple park with restrooms and grilling areas, but it has a nice beach. Topsail Hill State Park is larger and more diverse, with walking trails and bike rentals around the lakes and shore. The entrance of Topsail Hill State Park is from W County Hwy 30A. The bike rental closes at 5 o'clock, but you can return the bikes even after they've closed.  

Don't miss the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Resort, especially at night. There are activities for kids, a big playground, great restaurants, and shops. Some nights they have live music and entertainment, plus fireworks. The marina at Sandestin is also a wonderful place to watch the sunset. We enjoy eating at Hammerhead's Bar and Grille while listening to live music by the marina. We think Slick Lips has the best seafood, and Village Door next to Hammerhead's Bar and Grill has lovely local live music and a great marina view.  

Our favorite restaurants in the area are Back Porch, Crab Trap, Acme Oyster House, Bayou Bill’s Crab House, Boshamps, Dewey Destin's Harborside, Stinky’s Fish Camp, Boathouse Oyster Bar, and Aegean (Greek) Restaurant. For steaks, McGuire's Irish Pub is the best. We also enjoy Louisiana Lagniappe for high-quality seafood. The Pancakery is a short walk from Pelican Beach Resort and perfect for a quick breakfast.  

We highly recommend installing the Yelp app on your phone. It helps you avoid long wait-lists at restaurants where you can't make reservations, like Another Broken Egg Cafe and Cracklings. Thanks to this online waiting list system, we never wait in line for breakfast! Unfortunately, not all restaurants offer this online waiting list. Donut Hole is another local favorite for breakfast, but be prepared for a bit of a wait since it's quite popular.  

For discounted designer brands, check out the Silver Sands Premium Outlets.  

For entertainment, you can visit Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, Gulf Breeze Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Eden State Gardens, and Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park.  

If it's rainy, these family activities are recommended: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone, Emerald Coast Science Center, Surge Trampoline Park (Ft Walton Beach), Playzone Xtreme Destin, Movie Theatre at Destin Commons, Escapology Escape Rooms Destin, Fudpuckers, Fudpuckers Gator Beach, Uncle Buck's Fishbowl and Grill, Destin Historical Fishing Museum, Rainforest Blacklight Golf & Arcade at Miramar Beach, The Redbird Art Experience, Air Force Armament Museum, and Rock Out Climbing Gym at Destin Commons.  

Near Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, there are 4 restaurants. Our favorite is The Crab Trap. All these restaurants have ocean views. Angler's Beachside Grill offers breakfast on Saturdays and brunch on Sundays with an ocean view.  

There are two horseback riding ranches in the area that you can find online. 

For booking activities in Destin area, you may click or copy/paste the link below and put your dates in and enjoy the convenience of booking online with promotions.  

http://affiliates.tripshock.com/go/375