Things To Do With Kids in Destin, Florida

Shila:  Enjoy a lively celebration with incredible eats on your family vacation in Destin! LuLu's is an ocean side family-friendly restaurant that hosts live music every night. Its beach area is great for kids, too, as they are free roam around and play!

Shila:  Fudpucker's Beachside Bar and Grill is an awesome family-friendly restaurant in Destin known for its great food, casual atmosphere, live music, and alligator meet and greets! At Gator Beach, you can get the opportunity to feed live alligators and even get your picture taken with one! Your older kids may enjoy being dropped off to enjoy one the restaurant's special Teen Nights, too.

Stephanie W.:  Thirty-foot, white sand dunes await you at Henderson Beach, plus warm gulf waters perfect for swimming! You'll also find nature trails, fishing, and campsites, if you're up for more than a relaxing walk on the beach.

Stephanie W.:  The Track will give you a break from the Destin beaches with tons of rides and attractions for the whole family! You can ride go-karts, play mini golf, and play bumper cars or blaster boats! There are plenty of kiddie rides for your little ones, like a carousel, Ferris wheel, and jumbo swings.

Stephanie W.:  Big Kahuna's is an enormous outdoor water park in Destin, Florida. With over 40 attractions, open and enclosed slides are available for all ages, along with a lazy river, a wave pool, and kiddie activities like splash pads, fountains, and low depth pools. They even have a wave simulator for you to practice your surfing skills! There are also non-water-related thrills like the Sky Coaster, Cyclone, and mini golf.

Stephanie W.:  For one of the most stunning views of Destin's beaches, check out the Harbor Boardwalk! Along this lovely walk you'll find great restaurants and boutiques, access to tour and charter boats, and water activities. This is a great photo-op spot!

Stephanie W.:  For a little indoor fun, your kids may enjoy a break from the waves at this museum! Along with learning about the history of Destin, which used to be a small fishing town, this museum also boasts over 75 mounts of local fish species, information about the beaches themselves, and has scavenger hunts for the kids. Self-guided tours or group tours with a guide are available.

Shila:  Boshamps is located on the Destin Harbor fit with beautiful views, live music, and fresh seafood served in a family friendly atmosphere. Outside, a reserved beach area is open for restaurant guests to lounge and for kids to play.

Stephanie W.:  Known as one of the most fun things to do in Destin, Mobile Sports has a variety of water activities and ocean adventures awaiting your family! Their Banana Boat rides are among their most popular. You and your kids can take a speed boat out in to the ocean and then get to hop out and be pulled on a Banana Boat! The Fly Board is for the even more adventurous. Get hooked up to a jet that will shoot you in to the air using ocean water- you'll feel like you're flying over the ocean!

Stephanie W.:  One of the most memorable things to do with kids in Destin is to experience Olin Marler's, the area's oldest recreational fishing fleet! They will have you covered for both fishing charter boats and dolphin cruises. Your kids in particular, though, will love the chance to see dolphins in their natural habitat. These glass bottom boats will have your kids in wonder! Enjoy a narrated tour with experiences available in the early morning, afternoon or evening for a sunset cruise, depending on the season.

Stephanie W.:  A family vacation in Destin wouldn't be complete without a visit to its nearby marine adventure park! General admission to Gulfarium includes access to their animal exhibits, training demonstrations and shows. For an up close and personal experience, there are a dozen animal encounters, that will let you swim with sting rays, meet seals, dolphins, penguins and reptiles, and so much more!