6 minute read
Destin/Fort Walton Beach
DESTINATION
DESTIN FORT WALTON BEACH
Advertisement
ON THE CALENDAR APR/MAY 2020
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EXPO
Anyone who likes to explore the outdoors by land or by sea should head to Destin Commons in Destin for the Outdoor Adventure Expo taking place April 4-5. There will be boats, jet skis, kayaks, fishing equipment, cars, motorcycles and more to check out. Plus, live music adds to the festivities. Destinoutdoorexpo.com
MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION SPRING CONCERT SERIES
Professional touring artists take to the Dugas Stage in Destin during the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation 25th Annual Concerts in the Village – Spring Concert Series running for 15 weeks starting April 23. Guests can bring a picnic basket or purchase dinner from on-site local vendors while listening to different types of music for all ages from national, regional and local musicians. mattiekellyartsfoundation.org
LIONFISH REMOVAL & AWARENESS DAY FESTIVAL
The main events of the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament are set for May 15-17 in Destin. Cash and gear prizes and raffles are a part of the tournament. The FWC’s Lionfish Removal & Awareness Day Festival takes place on May 16 in conjunction with the Emerald Coast Open and educates participants on the majestic fish. emeraldcoastopen.com
It’s a weekend of classic car fun at Destin Commons during Burning up the Beaches on April 30, May 1, 2 and 3. The festive fun includes a Friday night themed pool party with live music, a Saturday night dinner, prizes, an event decal, event T-shirt and the exciting car show. burningupthebeaches.com
BURNING UP THE BEACHES
PLAN YOUR SUMMER VACATION
AT THE ISLAND
Take advantage of our spring promo: Stay 3 nights, get the 4th night free.
Book today at: allegiantair.com
EXPLORE EMERALD COAST
ADVENTURE FOR EVERYONE THE EMERALD COAST BECKONS WITH family Fun
By Gabriele Walkow
Families traveling to beautiful Destin/Fort Walton Beach, located along the heart of Florida’s stunning Emerald Coast, will find an array of fun activities waiting for them.
BUCCANEER PIRATE CRUISE
The young and the young at heart can take to the seas in search of undiscovered treasure aboard the popular Buccaneer Pirate ship, located at Destin’s HarborWalk Village. Pirate training, sword fighting, water gun battles, a treasure hunt, singing, dancing and authentic cannon fire are just a few activities offered. Only those brave enough to complete the pirate training will be made honorary members of the Buccaneer Crew. Parents can kick back and watch their piratesin-training having a blast! destinpirateship.com
THE TRACK DESTIN
Located in the heart of Destin, this action-packed family fun park is home to five go-kart tracks, two mini golf courses, an arcade, blaster boats, bumper cars, Kids Country for the younger guests, the high flying SkyFlyer and the thrilling Hurricane 360. The three-level Wild Woody and Family Track feature single and double gokarts. Nearby, Fat Daddy’s Arcade, The Track’s signature arcade, features over 50 classic and interactive arcade games. Guests can redeem tickets to win awesome prizes! The same point
card can be used on all rides and arcade games. funatthetrack.com/pages/destin-location
GULFARIUM MARINE ADVENTURE PARK
The whole family will delight in watching dolphins leap and sea lions play during the spectacular shows at this Fort Walton Beach attraction. A variety of scheduled animal chats, such as the otter chat, penguin chat and reptile chat, are also sure to entertain everyone. The popular Animal Encounters, including dolphins, alligators, stingrays, reptiles and penguins, must be booked in advance, for an additional fee. These animal encounters allow visitors to get up close and personal with animals for an adventure of a lifetime. gulfarium.com
THE VILLAGE OF BAYTOWNE WHARF
In nearby Sandestin, the Village of Baytowne Wharf features an array of boutiques, eateries and fun family activities. The Baytowne Adventure Zone, located in the heart of the village, includes a zipline, two ropes courses, a golf challenge, the thrilling Tower Climb and Eurobungy. The little ones will also enjoy the village’s playground and carousel, and the popular Blast Arcade & Laser Maze entertainment center has something for everyone. The website has a schedule of outdoor family festivals and special events. baytownewharf.com
A flight of beers brewed in-house at McGuire’s Irish Pub
EXPLORE DESTIN/FORT WALTON BEACH
NOT YOUR TYPICAL TAPS
By Heather Turk
Beer drinkers hoping to get a taste of what the Florida Panhandle craft beer scene has to offer during their Allegiant getaway will find several breweries in Destin-Fort Walton Beach that offer an array of house-made brews on tap.
DESTIN BREWERY
Founded in 2015, this family-run brewery started out with a 4-barrel system before upgrading to a 20-barrel system in 2018 to keep up with production demands. Although best known for its lighter bodied craft ales like the award-winning Emerald Köast Kölsch ricestyle lager, the brewery offers a diverse range of beers for beer enthusiasts to savor, including a series of pepper beers like the Ghost Pepper Peach Double IPA. Its family-friendly tasting room generally features 16 in-house brewed styles on tap, including the brewery’s own root beer, with prices ranging from $2 to $9 depending on the brew and pour. Most of its beers are made with as many local ingredients as possible, too, like Destin honey and fresh Florida citrus. destinbrewery.com
MCGUIRE'S IRISH PUB
Just like the Pensacola location, which opened its craft brewery in 1988, this lively pub’s Destin Harbor location brews its own ales, porters and stouts on premise. Since opening in 1996, the traditional oak and copper brewery has used only the finest ingredients — including its own house yeast — in its beers, which are brewed with the pub’s delectable dishes in mind. The 7.5-barrel system produces five flagship beers as well as a rotating seasonal selection, with pints priced at just $5.25 or $3 during happy hour. The pub even has pairing recommendations for guests, like the awardwinning Irish Stout with the Hickory Smoked Prime Rib of Beef and the full-bodied Irish Red Ale with the well-marbled Ribeye Steak. mcguiresirishpub.com
PROPS CRAFT BREWERY
This veteran-owned, aviation-themed brewery from Fort Walton Beach began operating out of a brewpub on Miracle Strip Parkway in 2011, producing just 1,750 barrels a year. In 2016, it opened a large-scale distribution brewery on Lovejoy Road that’s able to produce 10,000 barrels annually in order to distribute its flagship beers and seasonal selections along the Emerald Coast all year long. Guests can relish 12 beers on tap at the brewpub or 16 beers on tap in the distribution brewery’s cozy taproom, with prices ranging from only $5 to $7 a pint. Must-try selections include the Dos Pilotos Cerveza — a South Americanstyle lager that’s brewed with pale malts sourced from Patagonia — and the unfiltered and unpasteurized Blonde Bomber Ale. propsbrewery.com
