No vacation in Destin, Florida is complete without a little adventure! Boasting easy access to the breathtaking emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, our charming city is the perfect playground for anyone looking for some wet and wild fun. To help you make the most of your next getaway, the Henderson Park Inn has put together a guide to five of the best outdoor adventures in Destin FL.

1. Go Parasailing

Parasailing lets you see the Emerald Coast from a whole new vantage point! When you take a parasailing trip with Boogies Watersports, you’ll admire breathtaking views of Destin’s white sand beaches and the Gulf of Mexico from 800 feet in the air. Boogies offers parasails with one or two seats, so couples can choose to share this unforgettable experience together. Participants don’t have to get wet if they don’t want to, but we think that taking a nice refreshing dip in the water is the perfect way to end your parasailing adventure.

2. Rent a WaveRunner

Cruising around Destin Harbor on a WaveRunner is absolutely thrilling! What could be better than feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair as you and your sweetheart ride the waves at up to 47 miles per hour? Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins because these beautiful animals are often spotted by vacationers on WaveRunners. Both Boogies Watersports and La Dolce Vita offer excellent WaveRunner rentals.

3. Take a Snorkeling Trip

Snorkeling is another one of our favorite outdoor adventures in Destin FL. If you would like a closer look at everything going on beneath the lovely green water of the Emerald Coast, we recommend taking the two stop tour with Destin Snorkel. First, you’ll spend an hour at Choctawhatchee Bay enjoying shallow snorkeling in 3 feet of water, where you can search for crabs and shells. Then, you’ll head over to the famous Destin Jetties to snorkel for flounder, puffer fish, small snapper, octopuses, and other sea creatures. The entire three-hour experience is not to be missed!

4. Kayak the Day Away

Kayaking is a fantastic way to explore Destin’s stunning waterways. If you rent a kayak from La Dolce Vita, we suggest taking it to one of the area’s gorgeous coastal dune lakes. Situated along Scenic Highway 30A, these rare lakes are a phenomenon limited to the Florida Panhandle and just a few other locations around the world.

5. Enjoy Scuba Diving

Anyone who likes to go scuba diving will definitely want to schedule a trip with Emerald Coast Scuba! Participants will come aboard the Aquanaut (a boat that appeared in the movie Jaws II) and sail out to the reefs and wrecks off the Emerald Coast for a four-hour diving expedition. It really is a whole new world 60 feet beneath the surface!

When you stay at the Henderson Park Inn, you will have the ideal home base for enjoying all of these outdoor adventures in Destin FL. Located adjacent to Henderson Beach State Park, our adults only inn has been voted the most romantic hotel in America by the users of About.com and TripAdvisor.com. We are also proud to hold the Conde Nast Johansens Award for Excellence. To start planning your vacation, browse our selection of Destin hotel rooms!