5-Day Destin Itinerary for Adventure Junkies

Your day-by-day plan

1. 1

   Jetties Warm-Up

   Morning:Snorkel the Destin jetties at Norriego Point: easy entry, structure full of fish, and you can rent gear locally or join a guided trip.

   Snorkeling:Turtle Snorkel Reef

   Afternoon:Stand-up paddleboard the calm Norriego pockets, with lunch from Dewey Destin's original on the water.

   On the water:Sage Paddle Company

   Evening:Gumbo and a cold one at Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill, the diviest, best-loved shack on the harbor.

   Dinner:Da' Matteo Ristorante Pizzeria

   Insider Tip:Snorkel on the incoming tide for glass-clear visibility.

2. 2

   Blue Water

   Morning:A two-tank scuba trip with a local shop. Emerald Coast Scuba and others run wrecks and natural bottom sites offshore. Not certified? Ask about intro dives.

   Diving:Emerald Coast Scuba

   Afternoon:Surface interval fish tacos, then a gear rinse and a nap you earned.

   Shopping:Be Different

   Evening:A sunset HarborWalk zip line run, then dinner at VKI Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar.

   Family fun:Starcade Billiards

   Insider Tip:Book diving early in the trip so you have buffer days if weather blows out. Gulf conditions change fast.

3. 3

   Freshwater Springs Raid (Day Trip)

   Morning:Drive about an hour north and swim Morrison Springs: free, absurdly clear, and 68 degrees.

   Adventure:Panama City Beach Veteran's Memorial

   Afternoon:Vortex Spring if you're diving or training, or Ponce de Leon Springs State Park for the classic spring-boil swim and a picnic.

   Diving:ScubaTech Destin

   Evening:Back in Destin for burgers and war stories.

   Drinks & nightlife:The Red Bar

   Insider Tip:Springs hit different in summer. Water at 68 degrees on a 95-degree day is the best free thrill in Florida.

4. 4

   Throttle Day

   Morning:Jet-ski dolphin tour through the pass into the Gulf.

   On the water:Gilligan's Watersports

   Afternoon:Parasail, then the Hydrojet speed-boat dolphin run if you still need more wind in your face.

   Parasailing:Destin Parasailing

   Evening:Recovery seafood at Harbor Docks, then an early night.

   Drinks & nightlife:Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar

   Insider Tip:Stack the motorized stuff on one day and one sunscreen reapplication schedule. Your skin keeps score.

5. 5

   Earn Your Exit

   Morning:Sunrise kayak or SUP on Western Lake in Grayton, paddling a rare coastal dune lake with herons for company.

   On the water:Grayton Beach Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals

   Afternoon:Final swim at Grayton Beach State Park, then a late lunch at Stinky's Fish Camp.

   Lunch:Grayton Seafood

   Evening:Drive home salt-cured and satisfied.

   Dinner:Redds Pub 3906 Hwy 98 W Unit 1

   Insider Tip:October adds a bonus mode: the month-long Destin Fishing Rodeo. Come back and enter something.