If you are looking for an amazing family vacation the entire family will love we highly recommend the South Fort Walton/ 30A/ Destin, Florida area. The beaches are absolutely amazing with miles and miles of clean, white, soft sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters. The water is so clear that it is very common to see dolphins playing in the waves. You may even see sea turtles or manatees (we were lucky enough on our trip to see all of the above riding the waves). The life guards are great and the beach management goes above and beyond to keep the beaches clean and even rakes the beaches daily to keep them beautiful for your family to enjoy. Whether you are a family who prefers to lay on the beach soaking up the sun and playing in the waves, or a family that prefers to enjoy an array of activities while vacationing this area of Florida has both options to keep your family feeling enjoying time in paradise. We are excited to share some of our family’s favorites things about this area with you.
Where to stay: Newman-Dailey Properties is a wonderful option to stay at when in the area. We stayed at the Hidden Dunes operated by Newman-Dailey and absolutely loved it. We will certainly stay there again. We had a 3 bedroom condo that overlooked the Gulf of Mexico along with the pool and hot tub, and the white sands that are a playground for families. The resort also features an award winning tennis center, a playground, a lake, picnic/grilling areas, horseshoe pits, lush paths and miles of soft white sand beaches. Hidden Dues Tennis Center includes a top ranked tennis center featuring Rubico Clay Courts as well as pickleball courts. The resort was SO clean and everyone was very nice. I love that you have a gate code to the beach that can only be accessed by guests to the resorts and owners so it keeps the crowds small and everyone safe and having fun. Your resort also comes with two beach chairs and a umbrella (seasonally) with beach service which was great! Another huge advantage to staying at Newnan Dailey properties is that if you are a family who enjoys doing some activities while on vacation just by staying at a Newman-Dailey property you can enjoy a FREE adult pass daily to experience one of the amazing area offerings. Choose from things like rounds of golf at beautiful local courses, dolphin cruises, parasailing, Big Kahuna’s Waterpark, snorkeling adventures, deep sea fishing, and more! Check here for a list of all Newman-Dailey options. For families that want to enjoy more and spend less, Newman-Dailey properties has the “Be Rewarded” special offer program for their guests. Below I will share a few of our local favorites…
What to do: Don’t miss exploring the Emerald Coast on the Afternoon Dolphin Cruise. The Cattywampus is the perfect vessel to enjoy some of the best sights that the Destin Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico have to offer. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages this three hour afternoon cruise will have you searching for dolphins up close and personal and also includes a stop to get in the water for snorkeling and shelling. You will have a blast hula hooping the day away on the front of the boat while enjoying the great selection of music the captain plays. You are also allowed to bring your own cooler with your own food, snacks, and drinks which adds to the fun!
Don’t miss checking out The Village of Baytown Wharf. They have awesome trails that are a great way to see the sunset along with an amazing playground for kids and treehouses the kids can explore and climb up in to look out over the bay. They also have a zipline at 45′ high that soars 300 feet across the lagoon! You will have so much fun on this adventure that is included in your stay as an adult pass when staying at Newman-Dailey. The Village of Baytown Wharf also has Wednesday night concerts that are a really fun way to sit back and enjoy LIVE entertainment along with great restaurants and other fun activities and shops.
Another fun thing to do in the Destin area is The Track. They offer five Go Kart Tracks, two mini golf courses, blaster boats, bumper cars, and more! Our family had so much fun at The Track!
Don’t miss checking out Gator Beach at Fudpucker’s. Gator Beach is a one of a kind alligator park located at Fudpuckers in the heart of Destin. It’s free to stop by an check out their alligator pool with more than 100 alligators. Families can purchase food and feed the gators, enjoy one of their live shows (12, 2, 4, or 6 pm) or walk through the viewing area to see their rare albino alligator. You can even buy tickets to hold an alligator! And don’t miss out on eating at their restaurant. We had an opportunity to meet the chef and he was SO nice. The food was truly some of the best food I have ever eaten! And the kids loved the little toy alligators they put in the drinks and food.
Another fun way to guarantee you will get super close to marine life is to checkout the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Walton. I love their mission of inspiring guests to connect with, respect, and preserve wildlife since 1955. Meet their animal ambassadors and learn about their CARE program rehabilitating and releasing marine life back to their home. We were amazed by the amount of sea turtles they rescue and re-release every year! Truly so cool to see!
Where to eat: Don’t miss eating dinner at the Surf Hut for fun, great waterfront views, and fresh from the Gulf seafood. Open since 2014, Surf Hut serves up southern hospitality and the best that land and sea have to offer. Their backyard beach features cornhole boards and is a great hangout for the whole family.
Fudpuckers has delicious food as well as already mentioned. The chef is amazing and you will love his special twist to fresh seafood and land dishes. Trust me when I say you don’t want to miss eating here while in Destin.
Another of our local favorite’s is the Tavern located off 30A in the heart of Destin. SUCH amazing food.
South Walton and Destin’s sugar white beaches and turquoise waters are the PERFECT place for your next family vacation. After a day at the beach, the area’ events, activities, shops, and restaurants will keep your family smiling and enjoying the day far into the evening. From surf school at the beach to programs that allow kids to interact with local marine life at the Gulfarium to free outdoor concerts and movie nights for all ages, seasonal events and activities provide educational and entertaining options to create a fun and memorable Florida beach vacation.
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties features a vast array of well appointed South Walton and Destin vacation rentals ranging from spacious beach homes to Gulf front condos to villas and cottages. Click here to learn more or call 800-225-7652.
What are you waiting on? Book your dream vacation today!
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