Planning a beach trip to the Florida Panhandle? While the sugar-white sand and turquoise water are reason enough to visit, there’s so much more to experience beyond your beach chair. On our last family trip to the Destin and 30A area, we decided to mix things up and try a few activities that went beyond the usual sandcastle-and-swim routine and it made the trip even more memorable. If you’re a mom planning a getaway to Destin, 30A, or South Walton, here are five fun activities to add to your itinerary that the whole family will love…
Thanks to Our sponsor: Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
Since 1985, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has been turning dreams into reality. As one of Destin’s longest-operating vacation rental and real companies, Newman-Dailey provides premier vacation experiences for guests, high occupancy rates and well-maintained units for owners, a knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate team for buyers and sellers, quality long-term rentals for renters, and the highest level of association management for community associations. Contact Newman-Dailey Resort Properties to find the perfect place for your next beach vacation.
1. Tennis Lessons
Our kids play lots of sports but had never taken tennis. So when we found out that where we were staying, Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort, was a top-ranked tennis and pickleball resort, we knew we wanted to give it a try. We took a family lesson with Rhett Russell, Director of Racquet Sports and has been a tennis pro in the area for more than a decade. Rhett made it fun for my 7 year old and 9 year old and for the parents, too! We worked on some skills and drills, as well as competed in a few games that had us vs the tennis pro. Safe to say my kids want to keep working on their tennis skills!
2. Explore Restaurants
One of the best part of going to the beach? The amazing seafood! There are so many restaurants to choose from, and our family enjoyed several restaurants with view of the water. Here are a few of our recommendations…
Surf Hut was a great experience with corn hole on the back lawn while you wait to be seated, and beautiful views of the water and sunset. They also give the kids Wikki Stiks at the table to play with while you wait for your food.
The Red Bar is an iconic restaurant in Grayton Beach. They have nightly live music, and are known for the simple menu options with huge portions (no joke we came back with leftovers for lunch the next day!). Mom Tip: Get there early or prepare to wait!
The Back Porch offers seating inside and out right on the sand beside the water. It has been a favorite of beach-goers since 1974, and their gulf seafood is top notch. Our kids loved their shrimp and key-lime pie.
The Village at Baytown Wharf features an array of boutiques, eateries, galleries, and nightlife. They also have an adventure course with Zipline, as well as a Thrills Arcade.
3. Outlet Shopping
With shops like Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, New Balance, Old Navy and more, our family loved shopping the great deals at Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Mom Tip: Newman-Dailey Properties sent us a list of extra discounts we could receive at the outlets by staying at their property. It’s conveniently located on Highway 98, one mile west of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
4. Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Our family loved the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park located in Fort Walton Beach, a quarter mile east of Brooks Bridge on Okaloosa Island. The Gulfarium is like an outdoor, open-air aquarium right off the beach. Some of our favorite animals to see were penguins, alligators, sea lions, and dolphins. You don’t want to miss the Sea Lion show and the Dolphin show! Mom Tip: Check the schedule on their website for special add-ons encounters like visiting with dolphins!
5. The Track
The Track in Destin, FL has fun for the whole family and is located in the heart of Destin! It features five Go-Kart Tracks, Mini Golf, Blaster Boats, thrill rides like the SkyFlyter and Hurricane 360, and Fat Daddy’s Arcade. The 3-level Wild Woody and Family Track features single and double go-karts. It is open daily for family fun!
A few more mom tips…
- Come to the beach during non-peak times! These include the Winter months and between Spring Break and Summer (May). We traveled to the beach during February and celebrated my husband’s birthday. We walked right into most restaurants with no wait, we enjoyed the beach, and we enjoyed so many other activities other than the beach (see all of our fun above!). It’s also quieter all around town and the beach and feels more like a relaxing, peaceful vacation.
- Book your stay directly through Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc. By booking directly, you will experience fewer fees, plus a more personal experience with tips through the app and direct communication. We stayed at Hidden Dunes Condo 603, where I received daily text messages about shopping, the Pickle Ball tournament, how to check out, and more!
- Not sure which location and amenities will be best for your trip? Check out this list of lesser-known coastal communities. The research is already done for you!
- Looking to play pickleball and/or tennis? Hidden Dunes is the perfect resort for you! They have 5 clay tennis courts and 5 pickleball courts available to rent. Our family stayed in a condo, but they also have Villas if you are looking for a larger place. This resort also has a basketball court, playground, outdoor pool and hot tub, and is right off the beach.
- When you are visiting and need more ideas for things to do, Newman-Dailey offers a list of 40 Favorite Things to Do. From local hidden gems to rainy-day favorites, this list has something for everyone to help you plan your best stay.
What do you like to do in 30A? Let us know in the comments below!
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