Whether you’re looking for a new adventure or you need a reminder about what Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and the surrounding areas have to offer, here are five other things to do when you’re done at the beach. There’s something for everyone in the list below.
Get Out on the Water
Pick from a variety of options from dolphin and pirate cruises to pontoon rentals out to Crab Island. There are countless adventures to be had and sights to see out on the waters of the Gulf. Make sure to try your hand at paddleboarding while you’re out there. If you’re ready to see something other than the beach, head north into Santa Rosa County towards Milton and Pace where the Black River awaits. Rent a canoe or go tubing down the river. Either way, you can enjoy the waters in and around the Emerald Coast without the beach.
Check Out the Great Outdoors
Not ready to go inside just yet but done with the beach? Rent a bike in Destin or over in the South Walton area – get fit and see the coast from a different perspective. Take a quick trip to Milton and go zip-lining with Adventures Unlimited. (They can also hook you up with canoeing, kayaking, and tubing down the river.) Or plan an excursion for what Destin is known for – fishing. Deep-sea fishing and in-shore fishing is available from the many local charter boats and captains along the harbor.
Learn Something New
If you need to get out of the sun and learn something new, head to one on of the local museums. Home to the largest air force base in the world, Eglin AFB, as well as other surrounding military bases, it’s no wonder Fort Walton Beach boasts the Air Force Armament Museum. Entrance is free, and donations are gladly accepted. Step back into time to learn the history of the air force and see amazing planes from across the decades.
Need something a little different? Check out the Emerald Coast Science Center located in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The museum costs just a few dollars per person and boasts over 200 interactive exhibits. Good for young and old, you can forget about your sunburn for a while and learn something new.
Hit the Shops
There’s a store for every taste and every budget. In Destin, head to the Destin Commons filled with shops, eateries, and a gigantic movie theater. The kids will have a great time at the play area, on a train ride around the Commons, and in the summer, at the splashpad. Head east into Sandestin and the Silver Sands Outlets are waiting for name-brand bargain hunters. For those who like a more unique shopping experience, keep going east along highway 98 into Walton County and turn south on 30A. From Grayton Beach to Seaside, the eclectic and locally-owned shops are filled with delights you can’t find anywhere else.
Local Amusements
Whether you’ve got kids or you’re a kid at heart, there’s fun for the whole family waiting for you. Big Kahuna’s, Destin’s only waterpark, is filled with waterslides plus a wading pool and lazy river. The Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island, located between Destin and Fort Walton Beach, is fun and educational for everyone with animal exhibits and shows. The Track, in Destin, let’s you get your speed on with go-karts and have fun with bumper cars. Need more to do? Fat Daddy’s on Okaloosa Island and Goofy Golf, a Fort Walton Beach staple for more than 50 years, will keep you entertained for hours.
Whether you’re a local who thinks there’s nothing to do or a visitor who’s still discovering the area, there’s plenty to choose from. When the weather doesn’t cooperate or you’re just beached out, consider the other options in and around the Destin area.
Image via Flickr by Vitor Baptista
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