7 Water Sports Activities to Try On Your Destin Vacation

Destin, Florida, once a quaint fishing village, has become one of the most popular family travel destinations in the Untied States. The allure of the sugar white sand and emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico attracts thousands of vacationers from across the world each year to enjoy the area’s beauty, and in particular to enjoy the water. Here is a list of the top seven water sport activities to try in order to get the most out of your Destin vacation. Whether you decide to rent a boat and pack in all the fun in one day or try assorted activities throughout your stay, time spent on the water provides a truly memorable vacation experience!

1. Go fishing - Destin is known for its abundant waterways and ample supply of fish, earning it the nickname the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”. It is not surprising, then, that sportfishing is one of the biggest draws to the area.

Charter boats and fishing boat rentals can get you out to where the fish are biting. Charter boats can find an abundance of grouper, red snapper, amberjack, and triggerfish while bottom fishing. While trolling, you can fish for sailfish, Wahoo, blue marlin, mahi, king mackerel, and different types of tuna. Cobia fishing is also popular amongst fisherman along the Emerald Coast.

If you prefer the do-it-yourself route, you can rent a fishing or pontoon boat and fish the inshore waters of the Choctawhatchee Bay and its surrounding bayous for an assortment of fish such as Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, and Sheepshead.

2. Relax at Crab Island - The area known as “Crab Island” is not an island, as the name would imply, but an underwater sandbar. It is one of the most popular gathering places for locals and tourists alike in the summer months. People anchor their boats in the waist-deep water and enjoy the beautiful emerald green waters for which the Emerald Coast is named. On most weekends in the summer, local bands play on floating stages, children bounce off of a trampoline or slide down an inflatable slide into the water, and people spend their days relaxing in the sunshine and enjoying the company of their friends and families. Floating restaurants and mobile food vendors complete the unique setting at Crab Island.

3. Go Jet Skiing - Satisfy your need for speed on one of these fast yet stable watercraft. Jet skis are fun for the whole family, and allow a different kind of riding experience than a boat. Race across the water and enjoy the feel of the water’s spray, or go at a slower pace and explore waterways of the backcountry that aren’t as accessible by boat.

4. Take the Family Tubing - Rent a pontoon or powerboat and an inflatable rubber tube and go tubing on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Skimming across the top of the water is sure to cause many smiles from family members of all ages and create wonderful vacation memories.

5. Go Snorkeling - The Destin jetties consist of large rocks placed on top of one another. They form a reef barrier, and have become one of the area’s most well known landmarks and most popular snorkeling destinations. Constructed in 1969 by the US Corps of Engineers to protect Destin’s East Pass from erosion, the jetties provide a habitat for fish and other sea life. The crystal clear waters of the Gulf provide an excellent view of marine life including thousands of fish, different types of crabs, and the occasional sea turtle, manatee, or stingray. Rent a boat and some snorkel gear and check out this snorkel destination, or take a snorkel tour on one of Destin’s snorkel boats.

6. Sightsee for Dolphins - Destin offers a natural ecosystem that is home to many marine animals. Dolphins are some of the most beloved of these animals. They are very intelligent, friendly and playful mammals that often play and jump in the air. Watching wild dolphins is a truly amazing experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. Be sure to watch for other marine life such as fish, sea turtles, manatee, stingrays, and birds.

7. Watch the sunset or see fireworks over the water - Take a sunset cruise and enjoy breathtaking views of the sun slipping across the sky and sinking over the water, the colors of the sky echoed in the reflection of the water which glitters with gold, crimson, orange, and lavender. Destin sunsets are truly beautiful and are even more memorable when seen from the water. On Thursday nights during the summer months, there are firework displays over the Destin Harbor, and the views of the sunset are replaced with the bright bursts of color against the contrast of the night sky. These views are a fantastic way to relax at the end of a full day on the water.

Published on Tuesday, February 22, 2011