As any local will tell you, there’s more to Destin than our infamous sugar white sand beaches and emerald green water. There are some great family attractions in Destin too. When planning your next Destin beach vacation, here are the top 3 family attractions in Destin:
Big Kahunas Waterpark
With over 40 different water play areas, rides, slides and pools, Big Kahuna’s is a great water park attraction for families. Enjoy the giant wave pool, or cruise down the lazy river. Scream down the 5-story Jumanji or holler down the Maui pipeline. Newman-Dailey offers one complimentary ticket per paid night’s stay with the Newman-Dailey Gift Card (some restrictions apply) and kids under two are free. Big Kahunas is within walking distance from Jade East Towers and a short distance from many Newman-Dailey vacation rentals. Learn more about Big Kahuna's Waterpark in our Destin Guide.
HarborWalk Village
There is always lots going on at the Destin Harbor. HarborWalk Village is home to shops, restaurants and family activies including a freefall tower, ziplining towers, LED rock climbing wall, and more. Families can walk along the docks to view the captain's daily catch and hit the fish food dispencers to feed the smaller fish and crabs that live under the docks.
Seasonal events keep HarborWalk Village active. Activities during the summer include Rock the Docks--a FREE summer concert every Saturday night at 7 PM. During the summer, Tuesday's feature a free parade with dazzling floats, beads, and lots of swag, and Thursdays are dedicated to celebrating our military heroes with an air show and spectacular fireworks after the sun goes down. Visit the HarborWalk Village website to view all the fun activites for families.
Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
Dinosaurs rule at Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone. Located on Okaloosa Island, Wild Willy’s offers attractions for all members of the family: dinosaur-themed mini golf, a laser maze, arcade games and much more. The ropes course is almost 60-feet and takes guests through a climbing tower of rope challenges until they make it to the top.
The park features two miniature golf courses with a display of animatronic dinosaurs using state-of-the-art special effects. Guests can encounter frightening and friendly dinosaurs while playing a round of miniature golf. The 4-D theatre offers three different simulator scenarios: Dino Safari, Wild West Mine ride and Bumper Car. In addition, there are more than 60 arcade games, a laser maze and an inflatable zone (great for rainy days). The icing on the cake is Wild Willy’s yogurt shop and pizza bar. Click here to learn more about family fun at Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Located at the BoardWalk on Okaloosa Island, the Gulfarium provides an educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. Guests of all ages will enjoy attractions and shows while learning more about hte marine life that call the Emerald Coast home. Open daily. Visit the Gulfarium website for show times, hours and pricing.
Family-Friendly Destin Vacation Rentals
Ready to book your next Destin vacation? View our premier Destin vacation rentals online or view rentals at our Destin resort Jade East or our comfortable cozy rooms at Beachside Inn. For questions or to expedite your search, contact one of our friendly, local vacation speclalists at 1-800-225-7652.
See you @ the beach!