Top 5 Activities for Family Learning Vacations in Destin

While it’s fun to take a vacation for entertainment, travel can also educate and inspire. Families who home school or have school age children disover that Destin learning vacations provide family fun and education.

Here’s our top 5 things to do in Destin for knowledge and fun:

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park– A great place to start for an overview of our coastal environment and native marine life. Gulfarium staff host animal shows during the day, and are also stationed throughout the park to share their knowledge about the animal ambassadors and the Gulfarium's conservation efforts. Consider signing up for the turtle encounter for a behind the scenes sea turtle tour, providing a deeper understanding of these endangered and threatened species. 

Fudpucker’s Gator Beach– Families can get up close and personal with the Florida Alligator at Gator Beach. Guided shows educate visitors about this often intimidating reptile that lives in the waterways throughout our state.

State Parks– Five state parks and Point Washington State Forest provide acres of natural coastal lands for self-guided or guided tours. Guided ranger tours are offered at Topsail Hill State Preserve or through South Walton outfitters. The area’s diverse ecosystem, including rare coastal dunes lakes and a range of upland communities such as Sandhill, Coastal Scrub, Hammock, Beach Dune, and Pine Flatwoods, provide diverse learning opporutnities. The Grayton Beach State Park, dune trail allows visitors to hike through the fragile dune system providing an up close and personal view of the patchwork of scrub oak and native plants that hold the dunes in place. Indigenous species in Northwest Florida, including the endangered Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse call the dunes home.

EO Wilson Biophilia Center– Another endangered local species is the Gopher Tortoise, and nobody is better educated on this species than Turtle Bob who has made it his life’s work to educate families on these special reptiles. Turtle Bob is one of the regular presenters at EO Wilson Biophilia Center, which is open to the public on weekends and filled with fun, interactive exhibits, providing life lessons in science and biology.

Emerald Coast Science Center– Move the lesson indoors at the Emerald Coast Science Center in downtown Fort Walton Beach for a fun afternoon of science. From Robotics to wind to color and light, interactive exhibits and daily programs make science fun.

So consider a Destin learning vacation to fuse fun and knowledge. And depending on which activities interest you, Newman-Dailey has the perfect South Walton or Destin vacation rental nearby. View our available rentals online or call one of our friendly vacation specialists to find the perfect Destin condo or rental home. 

Nature's coastal classroom is in session. See you soon!


 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015