Florida: Fort Walton, Fort Walton Beach, and Navarre, Family Vacations – Dolphin Spotting, Golfing, and Waterpark Thrills.
Known for sugar-white sand, pristine beaches edged by emerald blue-green water, and soothing Southern hospitality, Fort Walton, Fort Walton Beach, and Navarre make it easy to relax and get into the beach life with your kids. Build sand castles and play in the surf; float along a lazy river and go fishing with your kids. Have more fun at the beach.
See water, water, everywhere! With more than 40 water attractions plus an adventure park, Big Kahuna’s corners the market on water fun and thrills. The water world complex offers something for every member of the family no matter the age or swim level. Height restrictions are posted for all attractions and enforced. Ride the Honolulu Halfpipe with the never ending wave perfect for surfing or body boarding; enjoy the classic wave pool or tube a lazy river; go tandem down the Tiki River Run; try a high energy float on the Humunga River or the Jumangi - 70-ft. wet, wild and dark dare devil slide. The water complex offers little ones plenty of mini thrills and entertainment at Paradise Island.
The adventure park includes: mini golf, go-cart racetrack, thrilling “Cyclone” ride and a daring “Sky Coaster” not for the faint of heart. (Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park 1007 US Highway 98 East Destin, Florida 32541. (850) 837-8319 or
www.bigkahunas.com)
Go fishing with Little Nemo. 
The Little Nemo is a unique boating and fishing adventure created just for kids. On the three-hour sea life cruise adventure parents take a back seat watching the action unfold. During the outing passengers see plenty of sea life and oodles of coastal water birds. Even though the boat stays within sight of the shore, there is plenty of action. Kids get to fish for live bait in Destin's East Pass; spot crab traps then count, feed, and release the blue crabs. Part of the fun is trolling the gulf for mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish. Learn really cool facts like a dolphin's closest land relative is the hippopotamus, and that dolphins do not drink sea water they get their water from eating fish.
Bonus points: During each outing children are invited to share the helm with the captain – the perfect photo opportunity for adults to capture a memory. (Little Nemo. 210 Highway 98 East Destin, FL 32541. (850) 837-2404 or
www.littlenemofishing.com)
Try go-carting and bungee jumping. The Track is an action – packed family fun recreation center. It is the perfect place for kids to be kids and adults to be kids too. Entertainment options include two junior level go kart tracks, The Kiddie Karts and The Rookie Karts, and the super challenging Wild Woody, a three – tiered go-kart / roller coaster hybrid. The complex offers themed miniature golf, blaster boats for splashing and bumper cars for bumping. Test your courage from the top of the bungee jumping tower, or enjoy the thrill of a skydiving effect on The SkyFlyer. Test your skills and reflexes in a state-of-the-art video game arcade. For tykes in the family, you will find a mini train, carousel, spin tops, Ferris wheel, swinging boats and mini airplanes. (The Track 1125 Highway 98 Destin, FL 32541. (850) 654-4668 or
www.destintrack.com)
Go out to eat. Enjoying home-cooked meals while on vacation may save money but sometimes cab a drag for the one stuck with cleanup. Luckily, Captain Kidds Seafood has just the answer. Known for serving the best seafood on the gulf, Captain Kidds features a salad bar and an extensive buffet of more 75 seafood items including snow crab legs, butterfly shrimp, scallops, raw and fried oysters, mahi-mahi, grouper, flounder, pollock, and tilapia. The buffet also includes rib eye steak, mashed potatoes, corn, macaroni and cheese, plus a children’s’ buffet featuring pizza, chicken nuggets, corn dogs, and apple sticks. Guests may dine inside or sit at outside deck tables overlooking the beautiful Destin harbor.
Bonus points: The dessert bar includes pies, cakes, cobblers, and fruits plus a unique crawfish cheesecake. (Captain Kids Seafood Buffet 314 Highway 98 E. Destin, FL 32541 or
www.captainkiddsseafoodbuffet.com)
Do dolphin spotting. 
Join Captain Steve and Wendy aboard the Southern Star – an 80-ft., glass-bottom boat ideal for a family friendly dolphin spotting adventure cruise. The two-hour cruise offers easy going pace ideal for wildlife viewing. Once underway, children are invited to take the helm along with Captain Steve. Passengers are invited to feed the birds and enjoy entertaining music during the trip.
Bonus points: The Southern Star is also available for private family reunions, weddings, receptions, or birthdays. (Harborwalk Marina Highway 98 East, toll-free 1-888-424 -7217, (850) 837-7741 or
www.dolphin-sstar.com)
Rent a DVD and just chill out. Several of the partners offer free DVD rentals for guests. So if slowing down and being a couch potato makes sense then it is easy to do. Rent the best that Hollywood has to offer with the latest releases available at Movies & Games! Enjoy unlimited access to award winning films, family favorites and the most current hits every day of your stay. It’s the perfect way to unwind together after a day of rich experiences. (
www.moviesngames.us)
Free entertainment for all. The 28-acre bayside complex, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, is the spot for free family fun. A quaint Old Florida atmosphere frames more than 40 unique shops, restaurants, and galleries. Each week from May through October enjoy the free Wednesday Night Concert Series. On Mondays in June you’ll find free sandcastle building lessons demonstrated by pros who create magic with sand. Each Friday night is free family movie night under the stars.
For fun, kid-friendly
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Content researched and created by FTF staff. Images provided by Get More Vacations and partners. Copyright 2011.