Children's Activities?

mahrtanl · 11-18-2009, 02:07 PM

Although we love coming to SoWal every year we haven't been able to travel much with our young family.

We now have found out that I have a training class I must take at Eglin AFB June 27-July 2nd. As much as we'd love to stay in SoWal area, I'm just not prepared for those drive times during peak season, so we've got it narrowed down to Ramada Inn, Waterscape Condos, or DestinWest.

My husband cannot come, but my mom will be coming down with me and my 1 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son. Although we'll be staying on the beach and have the kiddie pools/splash gardnes/etc. I know how my mom is and she loves to get out with the kids and do as much stuff as possible. Also, at night adter classes I'd like to get out and enjoy the are as much as possible. That being said, I know from past experience that we'll probably want to avoid the actual Destin area and head down towards the SoWal area.

But what kinds of stuff is there for a 1yr old and 3 yr old to do? This is what I have found so far, but any additional information would be great! =) Oh, and also super kid friendly restaurant recommendations would be MUCH appreciated!

Activities I have written down:
-Freeport Sports complex has the wonderful play area
-Junior Museum in Panama City
-local story hours I'm assuming at Barnes and Nobles, Books a Million, local library (assuming no sign up in advance)
-a playground at Village of Baytown Wharf??? (haven't seen this in my past visits there, but then again, you don't notice things UNTIL you have kids of your own=P)
-Destin Commons play area and water sprinklers
-Market Shopps at Sandestin apparently has a nice play area with slide and sand and stuff
-Kids Play like Stinky Cheese Man at the REP
-Shopping at Perpetual Imagination (where I'm sure my mom will buy enough for the kids to keep them occupied for days!)
-Emerald Coast Science Center in Ft Walton Beach

Just checking to see if there is any other hidden gems such as the butterfly garden or the fountains at Seacrest I think it is that may be fun for small children. Thanks!

***We will also be down for a week in September with a bunch of family, but with that many adults and their kids, we'll probably just take it easy on the beach and the pool and take turns keeping the kids occupied.

Plus, we'll have a kitchen to enjoy my own cooking as well as take turns eating out at ADULT restaurants! YEAH!

Brenda Rees · 11-18-2009, 03:15 PM

Your Mom might enjoy taking the kids up to DeFuniak Springs for a field trip one day. They can linger as long as they like in the Walton County Heritage Museum (check out details, pics on my history blog). Right across the street is beautiful and wonderfully round Lake DeFuniak. A good place to run and play, have a picnic and watch the ducks. There is a sidewalk all the way around lake. The Little Big Store in historic downtown is a wonderful place to take the children in for some old fashioned candy and toys.

beachmouse · 11-18-2009, 03:21 PM

If the weather isn't hot enough to trigger a closure, the Niceville children's park is pretty neat. I think they might have a splash area there now too.

If you or Mom has a YMCA membership so you could get a travel/day pass, the Destin Y has a good kids area.

Butterfly garden thing in Navarre at the foot of the bridge to Navarre Beach.

Freeport and PCB can be a pretty long drive from the Island, especially in summer traffic. I'd look into Pensacola options because they'd save significant drive time.

Douglas the Intrepid · 11-18-2009, 06:24 PM

The playground at Ally's Beach is great for younger kids.

A picnic at Eden Gardens might be nice as well. Plenty of lush grass for wee ones to run and play on...

goodwitch58 · 11-18-2009, 07:56 PM

Sadly, Perpetual Imagination is no longer here.

I would find a place to stay that is closer to some of what you want to do with the children; summer traffic around here is not very compatible with young children...it can take hours to get through Destin sometimes.

Market Shops small play area is good; Destin Commons fountains are a favorite; the playground at Silver Sands is also good. Alys Beach playground is #1, but a long way from where you will be. Niceville playground and Freeport park and library are very nice.

If you get to Panama City, Pier Park has a Merry-Go-Round which is delightful...Borders at Pier Park has a storytime...usually on Saturday mornings. Picnics at the beach and building sandcastles are favorites when I have my grandchildren...and then, they will spend hours in the pool.