ATTRACTIONS
The Emerald Coast is full of opportunities for excitement, whether being from the sky, the surface of the water, inland areas with room to play or below the water’s surface. Without spending a dime, the beaches and natural areas provide endless entertainment. When seeking excitement outside of what nature alone offers, you may need a little help from the people with boats, rental equipment and watercraft, golf carts and activity venues. You may want to try something you’ve never done, requiring someone with knowledge of the area and of the specialty equipment required. There are always new providers of entertainment and existing ones with additions to their operations. Ask around for what is new, and always experience a different activity from those you did during your last visit.
Airboat Tours
on “Wild Thang”
850-234-1532, 14856 Bay View Circle, Panama City Beach, just 5 minutes from the Beach off Hwy. 79. Web Site: wildairboat.com Experience real Florida as you skim across the backwaters & creeks in search of alligators, dolphins and birds of prey. Fun and educational for the whole family. Open year-round. Reservations suggested. Group rates. U.S.C.G. approved. 1/2-hour and 1-hour tours available.
Blackwater Canoe Rentals
850-623-0235, 6974 Deaton Bridge Rd., Milton, FL. Website: Blackwatercanoe.com We offer a complete round-trip service and are ready to serve all of your canoeing, tubing, and kayaking needs. The Blackwater River is the only pristine sand river left in the United States. The State of Florida purchased and designated it as a State Forest. Towards the end of your trip, you will encounter the Blackwater State Park. It offers
large pavilions, restrooms, and outdoor showers. You will end your trip back where your car is parked. Group rates available.
Boogies Watersports
850-654-7787, 16 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: boogieswatersports.com. Located at foot of the Destin Bridge at HarborWalk Village.E-mail:boogieswatersports@gmail.com. Open daily 8am-7pm. Group and Senior discounts. Two-hour narrated cruise of Destin Harbor, East Pass, Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. We offer underwater viewing, birdfeeding, crab-trap discovery, sightseeing, dolphin encounters and shrimp-net operations. Take pictures of your very own Jr. Captain as they captain the boat.
Breezy Tiki Boat
850-353-3399, 4607 Legendary Marina,
Destin. Website: CrabIslandTikiBoatRental.com. Whether you’re heading west to Crab Island, exploring Holiday Isle or venturing toward Okaloosa Island and Fort Walton Beach to sightsee or anchor up at Gulf Islands National Seashore, our 12-person pontoon Tiki Boats have plenty of room for your whole crew, coolers, water toys and more! We are the place for Tiki boat rentals in Destin.
Ebro Card Casino
850-234-3943, 6558 Dog Track Rd, Ebro (30 Mins from Destin). Website: GoEbro.com. Enjoy Ebro’s famous Prime Rib, play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 3 card poker, Fortune Pai Gow, Casino War, Crazy Pineapple and many more. Open 7 days a week, year round. Ebro is NW Florida’s largest poker room featuring 25 tables, huge jackpots, and weekend tournaments.
Magic & Comedy: Starring Bart Rockett
4207 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin, TX. Reservations required through MagicDestin.com. Unlike ANY other magic show you have ever seen before! This is not just a “magic show”, but an immersive, interactive experience for your whole family. Be a part of teleportation, levitation & even have your mind read as you witness original magic & illusions mixed with hilarious comedy & ventriloquism (in the styling of Jeff Dunham, who Bart trained under). Held in an intimate showroom inside The Palms Destin Resort, offering excellent table seating, both Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Beverages & a full menu of food & desserts before & after the show! Parking is FREE & Plentiful. Reservations required as seating is limited. For current show schedule & reservations, visit MAGICDestin.com
Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Fat Daddy’s Arcade
850-424-6021, 20009 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin (next to Fudpucker’s). Website: FatDaddysArcade.com. Fat Daddy’s Arcade is one of the area’s top attractions for family friendly entertainment, featuring over 120 of the latest and greatest arcade games, in addition to traditional arcade favorites. Test your skills and win great prizes at Fat Daddy’s Arcade! Major Credit Cards Accepted.
850-837-0113, 500 Hwy. 98 E., Destin. Website: sunshinedestin.com. Located on Destin Harbor across from Emerald Coast Scuba and Taco Bell. Look for the bright-red building. Open daily 8am-sunset. Snorkel to depths of up to 10 feet at the first stop and up to 40 feet at the next during a 2-1⁄2 hour tour. Instruction and equipment provided. Also offering Sunset cruises. Reservations recommended. Major credit cards accepted
Gator Beach @ FUDPUCKER’S
50-654-4200, 20001 Hwy. 98 E., Destin. Located at Fudpucker’s. Website: GatorBeach.com. Open daily at 11am. Come and experience the thrill of a lifetime at Gator Beach —“The World’s Greatest
Alligator Park.” See 100 LIVE GATORS and FEED THEM, TOO! We’ll even let you and the family have your picture taken while holding a LIVE GATOR! Be sure to check out our FREE interactive Gator Shows during the day, view our baby alligators, and check out our new “Mystical Gators” attraction. Visit our website for show times. Bring the family; take home everlasting memories! Admission is FREE!
Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Gilligan’s Watersports
866-359-3114, 530 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: GilligansWatersportsDestin.com Experience thrilling waverunner rides, relax on a luxurious pontoon rental, or soar above the Gulf on a parasailing adventure. We offer a variety of exciting water adventures for an unforgettable vacation. Major Credit CardsAccepted.
Glass-Bottom Boat
Dolphin Cruises
850-654-7787, 16 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: boogieswatersports.com. Located at HarborWalk Village. Open daily 8am-7pm. Group and Senior discounts. Two-hour narrated cruise of Destin Harbor, East Pass, Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. We offer underwater viewing, birdfeeding, crab-trap discovery, sightseeing, dolphin encounters and shrimp-net operations. Take pictures of your very own Jr. Captain as they captain the boat.
Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Gulfarium Marine
Adventure Park
850-243-9046, 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE. Fort Walton Beach. Website: gulfarium.com Located on Okaloosa Island, less than a half mile from Brooks Bridge. E-mail: info@gulfarium.com. Non-stop family entertainment featuring the Dolphin Show, Sea Lion Show and up-close animal encounters (reservations recommended). Exhibits include otters, penguins, sharks, alligators and an interactive touch pool.
Major Credit Cards Accepted
Gulf Breeze Zoo
5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze. Website: GBZoo.com. Located on Hwy. 98, 20 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. Open Daily Rain or Shine from 9am; last admission 1 hour before closing. (www.GBZoo.com for seasonal hours.) Group rates, Senior, Military discounts. Choose your adventure at the award-winning Gulf Breeze Zoo! Home to over 1,000 animals from around the world. Make unforgettable memories when participating in a unique sloth, giraffe, hippo, albino alligator, or Galapagos tortoise encounter. Discover gems and fossils at our new mining attraction and take selfies in the Budgie Adventure Aviary! Make it a perfect day trip with a guided Safari Line Train ride through the 30-acre preserve featuring rhinos, hippos, Western lowland gorillas, and Sumatran orangutans
Most Credit Cards Accdepted.
Hydro Jet
Boats
850-865-3557, 314 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: HydroJetBoats.com Climb aboard and ride the World’s Largest Jet Ski for an unforgettable experience on the water with
HydroJet Boats. Cruise our beautiful beaches in search of dolphins and other marine life, all while jumping waves and having fun!! children under the age of 5.
Just Chute Me
Parasail Co.
850-650-4630, 500 Hwy. 98 E., Destin. Website: sunshinedestin.com. Located on Destin Harbor across from Emerald Coast Scuba and Taco Bell. Open daily 8am-sunset. Group and Military discounts. We specialize in providing the safest, easiest, and most exciting watersports activity available – Parasailing! Now located at our easy-to-find location. Look for the bright-red building. We are Parasail Destin! Trips depart every hour and a half. Ages 6 and up. Reservations recommended. Major Credit Cards Accepted.
850-424-6444, 4609 Legendary Marina Dr., Destin. Website: midbaywatersports.com.
Located behind Legendary Marina and next to Lulu’s restaurant. Rent pontoon boats and waverunners and ride in a large expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay with no “no wake zones.” We have free parking for your car, and we are free from the traffic others have to deal with at the harbor. Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
850-909-2469, 16061 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach. Website:A Dolly Parton Company. Join Captain Blackbeard on a swashbucklin’ adventure! Watch as pirates battle on land, on deck, in the water, and in the sky above their ships. Enjoy epic stunts, live animals, and a delicious four-course feast at Pirates Voyage Dinner Show.
Rain Forest Black Light
Golf & Arcade
850-460-8878, 111394 Hwy. 98 W., Suite D,
Miramar Beach. Website: rainforestblacklightgolf.com. Located on the north side of Hwy. 98, and about a half mile west of Silver Sands Outlet Mall. Open daily. Escape to a world of adventure in our amazing rainforest-themed 18-hole golf course and our newly remodeled arcade. Plants and animals light up into amazing colors under our black lights. Play a round of golf, arcade games and try our new virtual reality rollercoaster. Fun for a family of all ages. Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Ripley’s Believe It
or Not
850-230-6113, 9907 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach. Website: ripleys.com/pcb. Experience Panama City Beach’s fun and most unique attractions. Check out the newest exhibits brought to our location from all over the world. Ride the interactive 7D Moving Theater and see if you can make it through the zombie apocalypse or plunder the most gold as you sail on a pirate adventure. Wind your way through our new Mirror Maze. Put up the top score in our Impossible Laser Race. Open daily. Check website for times and pricing. Group discounts available.Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Scream Machine
317-525-2941 5709 N. Lagoon at Adventures at Sea Marina, Panama City Beach. Website: FloridaScream.com Come aboard for 60 minutes of pure adrenaline and thrill seeking fun. A rollercoaster on water powered by a twin engine jet boat with turns, nose dives and the legendary 360 degree spin. You WILL get wet so dress accordingly. Children must be at least 38” tall to ride.
Sea Blaster
850-654-6888, 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: destinseablaster.com Located at HarborWalk Village Marina
E-mail: fun@destinseablaster.com. While enjoying free beverages, cruise the beaches aboard the Gulf’s largest speedboat searching for dolphins. Snorkel/dolphin combo, beach/dolphin cruises, and sunset/dolphin cruises available. Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Shark Boat
850-865-3557, 314 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: SharkBoatDestin.com Come out and ride inside the belly of a beast! The SHARK BOAT is a one-of-a-kind 40-foot tour boat that stalks Destin Harbor, Crab Island and the Gulf. Take a ride on the only shark that dolphins love. The SHARK BOAT in Destin was specifically designed to create a “KILLER” wake that dolphins love to jump and play in, giving guests unforgettable close-up encounters with these amazing animals in their natural environment. While onboard, check out Destin Florida known as “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” the Destin Harbor, the Gulf and Crab Island. The SHARK BOAT is an exciting adventure boat that delivers thrills, laughter and incredible photo opportunities for kids, teens and adults alike.
Sunshine Watersports
850-837-2299, 500 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Website: sunshinedestin.com. Located on Destin Harbor across from Emerald Coast Scuba. Open daily at 8am. Offering Pontoon Boats, Paddle Boards and Kayaks. Spend a great day on the water exploring the area, watching dolphins, fishing, snorkeling or relaxing at Crab Island. All fun in one. Major Credit Cards Accepted
Fun Park
850-654-4668, 1125 Hwy. 98 E., Destin Fun for the whole family, The Track offers 5 Go-Kart Tracks, Blaster Boats, Bumper Cars, Mini Golf, Kids Country rides, thrill rides like the SkyFlyer and Hurricane 360, an arcade and the new Spinning Coaster. Race you to The Track! Major Credit Cards Accepted.
WonderWorks
850-249-7000, 9910 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach. Website: Wonderworksonline.com
An amusement park for the mind with 29,000 sq. ft. of “edu-tainment”. The upside down building combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands on exhibits. Explore the 6 Wonder Zones for loads of family fun.
Xtreme H2O Watersports
850-978-3060, 7 Calhoun Ave., Destin. Website: XTremeH2O.net We offer the best prices in Destin for parasailing, dolphins tours via wave runners, pontoon boats, and jet skis. We offer no idle times, so you get the jet ski / wave runner for the entire time you paid for it! We include fuel for your jet ski / wave runner rental – no surprise fuel surcharges from us. Call a day ahead for reservations to guarantee your rental – we also accept walkup customers as well. Major Credit Cards Accepted
