Destin, FL Summer Family Boating Trip

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

You had never swam in the ocean before this?

Lucky he didn't see a manatee lol. First time I saw one in the ocean I had no idea what is was, just a giant shadow in the water. I probably swam faster than Michael Phelps back to the float.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Actually, now that I think about it, I did snuba 1 time and sit at the beach in Jamaica a few years ago at a resort, which I forgot about., not sure why that slips my mind. So first time in an Ocean from a US shore, but second time in total. We went to Myrtle Beach recently but it was cold and the water was murky brown so I never got in. It was April of 2021. Been to Florida a few times in Orlando but never to the Ocean. First time seeing the Gulf and any ocean in Florida as well.

At Crab Island I was in the water for 3-4 hours having a blast. Didn't want to get back in the boat. Just floating, swimming, drinking, had the snorkel mask and fins on. Kids chasing crabs and got one 6 inches across.

I got them crab nets and they spent hours trying to get a small fish which were all over the place, but they were to fast.

Plenty of swimming though in the Great Lakes and surrounding areas though

 

[HangOutdoors]

Lucky he didn't see a manatee lol. First time I saw one in the ocean I had no idea what is was, just a giant shadow in the water. I probably swam faster than Michael Phelps back to the float.

When we were going under the Destin Bridge there was something about 7-8 feet long, looked bigger than a dolphin, maybe a shark that was about 7-8 feet down I think and cruising pretty fast just off the port side, it was dark colored. Easy to spot the silhouette in the teal waters. No Idea what it was. By the time I turned the boat, we were going no Wake it was gone. This was the first day we were out on the water. Then saw nothing else from the boat except crabs and smaller jelly fish.

 

[Babin Farms]

At Crab Island I was in the water for 3-4 hours having a blast.

You think the water was nice at Crab Island, wait till you go to Bimini.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

When we were going under the Destin Bridge there was something about 7-8 feet long, looked bigger than a dolphin, maybe a shark that was about 7-8 feet down I think and cruising pretty fast just off the port side, it was dark colored. Easy to spot the silhouette in the teal waters. No Idea what it was. By the time I turned the boat, we were going no Wake it was gone. This was the first day we were out on the water. Then saw nothing else from the boat except crabs and smaller jelly fish.

You can't mistake a manatee for either. They look like giant cows in the water, several feet wide. I believe sharks are pretty common up that way.

 

[2kwik4u]

When we were going under the Destin Bridge there was something about 7-8 feet long, looked bigger than a dolphin, maybe a shark that was about 7-8 feet down I think and cruising pretty fast just off the port side, it was dark colored. Easy to spot the silhouette in the teal waters. No Idea what it was. By the time I turned the boat, we were going no Wake it was gone. This was the first day we were out on the water. Then saw nothing else from the boat except crabs and smaller jelly fish.

We didn't see any mammals in the water at Crab Island or around that way. We did see some Dolphins up near Pensacola on the bay side. Just for a few minutes though, and they quickly went somewhere else.

Glad to hear you guys had a good time. We just booked a house in Destin for October. I said I would never go without a boat again, but it's causing some friction with the other family that is going, so we might not. Have to see how that plays out over the next month or so.

 

[fatboyroy]

I wanted to recap things I learned on this trip for those whom want to visit the area.

We stayed in Navarre in an AirBnB right on the Gulf. Fantastic View and a walk way right to the beach.

Townhouse in Navarre · ★4.80 · 3 bedrooms · 7 beds · 3 baths

3-Level Gulf Front Townhome w/ Breathtaking Views

www.airbnb.com

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Navarre Beach is sleepier than Destin and Pensacola which are each 30 minutes away in opposite directions. It has a great fishing pier, where we saw dolphins, sharks and some rays with a pretty cool restaurant/bar at the pier called Windjammers.

Across a Street is the Public Launch, which we didn't use since it would be about 45mins-1hour depending on weather and conditions to travel the sound to Crab Island. Plus I didn't want to keep dunking my trailer in and out everyday or more often.

Next to the public Launch is Juana's Pagoda's. Very cool for drinks, food was average, nothing to rave about, but we ended up here several nights and watched the kids play volleyball while we drank. I dove on the first night for a volleyball, after many drinks, and hurt my right and pretty bad and knocked the wind out of me. Hand still hurts, but an awesome time. Highly recommend visiting here if you are in the area.

Juana's Pagodas and Sailors' Grill (juanaspagodas.com)

Up the road a 1/4 mile is the Marine Sanctuary which has some very cool snorkeling off shore, unfortunately the surf and waves were to big all week so we didn't make it out there to Snorkel. Very bummed about that.

Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary | Navarre Beach Florida Marine Artificial Reef Snorkeling and Shore Diving


I wet slipped the boat at Adventure Marina, it ran me $650 for the week including a spot in the locked gate for my trailer. This is located on Okaloosa Island, about 4 miles from Crab Island and Destin. It is 30 minutes from where we were staying. They give you a code and there are camera's everywhere. You can access 24/7. There is a Bait Shop and fuel at the dock they are open form 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. I could of saved a couple hundred if I booked in January but I wasn't sure I wanted one. Although if we go to this area again, I will probably not wet slip since we would be doing the sound more for watersports and want the option to drop in at Destin or Pensacola depending on the weather. We like to explore.

Storage | Adventure Marina | Fort Walton Beach Florida

Pro's
1) I didn't have to drop the boat everyday.
2) Easy access, just pulled upto the boat took the cover off loaded and went.
3) Pretty cool restaurant/bar called Fubar's about 200 feet away right on the channel. Fantastic Pizza.
4) Staff was responsive and very helpful.

Con's
1) The launch at the Bait Shop is not great. Rocky, Mossy and there is just one.
2) Current can get strong there.
3) Gas Prices where ridiculous (I didn't burn a full tank the entire week, which was awesome.) Being close to Crab Island (4 miles) helped.

If I were to slip there again I would only put in and pull out at the Ross Marler Park Boat Ramp. I pulled her out on Saturday from there. Nice long deep water launches. Plenty of Parking

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Crab Island

Fantastic Experience. Water was awesome. A first for me swimming in the Ocean. Weather was hit or miss, but it seemed like the storms would swirl on the outside for the most part and then dissapate.
There were a lot of boats but plenty of room. Didn't see any asshats doing anything stupid. Glad we pulled the boat down, since renting a pontoon for 4 - 6 hours or so was $900.

They have floating food vendors. Burgers, Walking Taco's, Ice Cream, General Store, Barbecue, Pulled Pork, Turkely Let, etc. Prices were a bit high but still pretty cool. Had the ice cream girl come over a few times. Most take credit card but a few vendors only take cash.

As was suggested to me by other members here, go around high tide till a couple hours after, that is when the water is at it's best.

We also anchored/Beach at spots 2, 3, 4 which was cool since the water gets deeper quicker and you can watch all the boats come in. Great Snorkeling and the water stays clearer longer as the Tide starts going out.

There is also the Destin Harbor Boardwalk which is cool. Food is ridiculous at the restaurants, we ate there the first night and I felt liked I got robbed for $450 for 8 people at TJ's, which I don't reommend. The street vendors are more reasonable and toward the end of the week we also ate our first WhataBurger . Very cool vibe, nice shopping, a lot of fishing boats, I do recommend you visit there if you are in the area. Alos this iw where you would see a lot of different fishing charters, boat rentals, Jet Ski rentals, snorkeling charters and dolphin excursions. More than I have seen in anyone one place so far.

I attempted going out into the Gulf through the Destin Pass on Monday morning, but as I got closer I was looking at some serious Cresting and Rolling Waves, I didn't feel comfortable so I turned around. Back in the sound the water is non issue and we handled it great in the 21' boat every day. Didn't see any Dolphins in our wake or near the boat, which everyone was bummed about.

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As far as the weather, it rained a lot in Navarre, but not so much in Destin or Pensacola. Everyone like Pensacola and we will be going down again. Not sure if we will get back to Destin though. Crab Island and the beaches were worth it, but there is a better vibe for us in Pensacola. Maybe stay in Navarra Beach or Directly in Pensacola Beach Next time.

Finally, we went to Fort Pickens. Very cool and we walked around for a couple hours. Even the kids liked it.

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Overall, thanks to recommendations and pictures here from other Members, we had a fantastic Trip. The weather was a bit off but we made the best of it. Fantastic times on the beach late at night with the kids and their nephews. Good Memories.

The boat handled well. I am getting ready to do a thorough clean today. Noticed I lost a bit of speed toward the end of the week due to what felt like small bumps on the hull. I would assume it was salt build up. The Goodyear Endurance Tires, performed fantastic. Smoothest tow I have ever done. There was some pretty heavy downpours but the boat stayed dry thanks to the Second Bilge Pump I put in a couple weeks ago.

Trip down was two days and 16 hours of Driving including gas stops and rest stops. Coming home was horrible, Took 21 hours, we left at 4:00 am and drove straight through arriving just after 1:00 am this morning. Construction on the roads and Traffic in Tennessee and Kentucky was not good. We also stopped for dinner and a Cracker Barrel which took an hour and a half, worse service every, but we love Cracker Barrel and always had excellent meals.

Towing I was averaging circa 9 mpg. Gas was in the low to mid $3.00 's for most of the trip, except when you go back to Michigan it was a good deal higher.

Pretty sure I can now sell both Bimini and the Key's to the Admiral and kids with towing the boat down. We will see how the fall and winter goes.

I didnt know you were going to fort pickens but there is a snorkle(artificial reef) 25 yds from shore on the bay side of fort pickens rd, its a bout 10 ft deep and lots of fish, sometimes water is not clear though. Just adding here for future adventurer lol