Baytowne Adventure Zone
by tampa_shawn
Visit or stay at Baytowne Warf
Hotel Resort, nature center, shops, restaurants...a destination in itself
There is also the Baytowne Adventure Zone
* Zip Line - $18
* Eurobungy - $12
* Ropes course - $12
* Tree climb - $6
* Baytowne Tug Boats - $3 (per ride)
Hours of operation :
Daily 5pm-10pm
Zip line opens at 3:00pm
Tug Boats daily 9am - 10pm
For more information about Baytowne Adventure Zone, call 850-428-2736 or click to to make reservations to stay at the Village of Baytowne Wharf, Florida
Fudpucker's
by Aliseeya
At first I was skeptical - how could a family restaurant turn into a nightspot! But, Fudpucker's quickly proved me wrong, and is one of my favorite places to go out in the summer.
The best thing about Fud's is the music. Their house band, Black Eyed Blonde, is consistently amazing. They play everything from Outkast's "Hey Ya" to "Blister In the Sun" and it all sounds great. They will get you up and dancing! At other clubs, the bands don't really play dance songs, you have to wait for them to take a break for the dance music to come on. That is NOT the case at Fud's -- they can play everything, and do!
The crowd is a lot younger than the one at A.J.'s and the Village of Baytowne Wharfe. While there usually a few older people there (40+), the vast majority of the crowd is in their 20-30s. It's 18+, which naturally attracts a younger crowd.
The best time to go to Fud's is thursday night during the summer. I always have a good time there -- I've never had a bad night! During the fall/winter it gets VERY dead, so I usually go to A.J.'s. But during the spring/summer, you can find me at Fud's!
Random tip: All of the nightclubs stay open until 4AM in Destin, except for the Village of Baytowne Wharf which closes at 3. Very casual.
Village of Baytown Wharf
by Aliseeya about The Village Door
This nightclub is located in the Village of Baytowne Wharf, which features other bars, restaurants, and shops. It has a decent size dance floor, and a live band is playing every night. A second floor has an additional bar, and some seating. There is a huge outdoor deck located on the water, with yet another bar.
The crowd is a bit older than the one found at Fudpuckers, Nighttown, and Swamp. The Famous Door is 21+, and the crowd is a mix of 25-40. If you are a girl, this club is perfect. There is always a majority of 21-30 yr old guys, while most of the women tend to be 35+! Therefore, if you want to have your pick of men, this is the nightclub for you.
I like this club for several reasons. The band is great, and during their breaks, dance music is played. This club has a great atmosphere; very upbeat and fun. Even if you aren't into dancing, there are plenty of areas to just hang out with your friends. The outdoor deck is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy yourself.
Every time I come here, I have a blast! Most of the people are on vacation, so they are very friendly and outgoing. I've met a lot of fun people at the Famous Door; I've even danced on stage with them! The only potential downside to this club is that it's a bit of a drive from Destin, and especially from Ft. Walton (however, there is free parking!). Very casual dress code. The guys usually wear jeans or shorts and a polo/collared shirt, and the ladies wear anything from skirts/cute shirts to shorts/t-shirt. You can basically wear whatever you want!
Sun, Sand and Walmart
by sunloverinatlanta
"Nice beach"
Destin has nice beaches and usually not too much seaweed but is very commercialized. Red Lobster, Walmart, Bass Pro Shop, Panera Bread, outlet mall etc. have taken over. There are few local restaurants left on the beach (see photo) and most of those are overpriced. If you go in the high season, it is bumper to bumper. If you don't, it is too cold to swim. I would recommend going east or west of Destin (but not Panama City). However, my family disagrees and we go back to Destin every year.
We have ten people in our family so we always rent a house in a community with a pool but there are some really cheap condo deals available as well.
Baytowne Wharf is a neat place to visit and have a meal but is a bit pricey.
"Nicer beaches east of Destin"
There are nicer beaches to the east of Destin all the way to the edge of Panama City. The water is cleaner but it is getting "trendy" (read expensive). Seaside is neat place to walk around but very pricey and can be crowded.