If you’re planning a trip to Destin or the surrounding area, like Fort Walton, enjoying the Emerald Coast is probably top of mind.
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The area is renowned for its soft, white-sand beaches and clear, green-tinted water. Families return year after year to soak up the subtropical setting while enjoying Destin’s restaurants and nightlife. In short, it’s an easy place to unwind for a week or two thanks to the area’s vacation-forward amenities—even if you’re traveling in a larger group.
There’s just one catch: Actually getting out onto the water takes a bit of planning. After all, the vast majority of visitors don’t have a personal boat to dock.
Instead, the easiest way to enjoy the wonders of the Emerald Coast, from Crab Island to dolphin-watching, is to book boat tours in Destin that take you out on the water. Whether you want a relaxed, themed ride aboard a pirate ship or a high-octane adventure on a speedboat, there’s an option for you. (Seriously, the options are varied—they even include a murder mystery themed dinner cruise.)
This summer, these are the boat tours in Destin that you can’t miss. Book yours sooner rather than later—many fill up for major holiday weekends.
First up: Crab Island tours.
Crab Island boat tours in Destin
- Cruisin Tikis Crab Island Experience: Part boat, part Tiki-paradise, this unique adventure takes you to the crystal-clear waters of Crab Island. You can put together the perfect trip with add-on food and beverage packages. But the real magic is the floating Tiki-bar-esque nature of the boats.
- 4-Hour Crab Island Public Party Barge: While we’re on the theme of partying at Crab Island, here’s another highly rated choice for vacationers. This four-hour round-trip includes passage on a ‘party barge’ and includes lily pad-style floats that let you lounge atop the water like the world’s happiest frog.
- Private Crab Island Pontoon with Slide: Here’s my last Crab Island boat tour, which is a private pontoon option. You’ll have your own space to kick back when you reach Crab Island—and your own private lily pad float. The real coup is the mini-slide on top of the pontoon.
Dolphin & fishing boat tours in Destin
- Dolphin Cruise on Glass-Bottom Boat: This relaxed-fit boat tour takes you through Destin Harbor and down East Pass, where you can look for dolphins and other marine life. The boat is a larger vessel for anyone who feels more secure on big boats. Just know that there isn’t a large, expansive glass bottom where you’ll see dolphins swimming under the boat. It’s more like a design feature.
- Dolphin-Watching Cruise: This dolphin-watching tour lets you catch a glimpse of porpoises as they glide through the water and jump. The guides are also very knowledgeable about the area, the Gulf of Mexico, and the dolphins they regularly spot.
- Eco-Dolphin Cruise: This sunset cruise (which takes off from Sandestin) is in an eco-friendly vessel. You’ll get to spot dolphins as you enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise that comes with light commentary and family-friendly music.
- Dolphin Sunset Cruise on Shark Boat: Kids (and lighthearted adults like me) will enjoy the shark boat—which is a small 40-foot boat that’s actually shaped and designed to look like a shark opening its jaws. I’d probably enjoy this boat tour even if dolphin-sighting wasn’t on the docket.
- Morning Snorkel & Dolphin Adventure: Head out on this morning tour to cruise alongside playful dolphins before stopping at scenic snorkeling spots. It’s great for beginner snorkelers and for anyone who wants a more relaxed-fit boating adventure.
- Group Deep Sea Fishing Trip: Want to take to the open sea to see what larger fish you can catch? This group trip takes you out with other anglers, from novices to pros, for a chance to reel in the big stuff.
Relaxing boat tours in Destin
- Self-Driving Pontoon Rental (4 Hours): If you’ve got a boating license, you can take this self-driving pontoon out for a spin. The rental includes four hours, which you can use to explore Crab Island, Destin Harbor, and any other areas that catch your eye.
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: Step aboard an impressive yacht for a three-course meal from an award-winning chef. This dinner cruise also comes with live music and plenty of space to enjoy the colorful sunset from the open-air sky deck.
- Night Cruise in Destin Harbor: Remember those Tiki-style boats that you can rent for a Crab Island adventure? (The first on the list of recommended tours.) You can also take to the waters by night to enjoy the lights of Destin harbor from a Tiki-style vessel.
Family-friendly boat tours in Destin
- Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise: If you want an adventure the family will remember, check out this immersive, cheeky murder mystery cruise. It comes with a three-course meal and the chance to spot dolphins as the sun sets across Destin Harbor.
- Buccaneer Pirate Cruise: Pirate-themed boat tours are a thing—and the kids love them. In addition to swashbuckling activities for the little ones from staff who are great with kids, parents will enjoy the views as the pirate-style ship eases along the coast.
- Family-friendly Fishing Party Boat: Want to party while you fish… with family? There’s a boat tour in Destin for that. The trip is designed to be fun for the whole family and for anglers of all experience levels. That’s a hard balance to beat for adventurous families.
- Parasailing Adventure: As long as you aren’t afraid of heights, parasailing should be on your radar. This tour takes you 400 feet into the sky, letting you get a bird’s eye view of Destin for ten weightless minutes.
- Waverunner Rentals: Like parasailing, jet ski rentals aren’t hard to find in Destin. In case you’re looking for a hassle-free way to reserve your jet skis ahead of your trip, start here. Each trip comes with a full gas tank and maps for the waterways around Choctawhatchee Bay.
