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Getting to Destin
The drive to Destin was much more interesting than I expected. I was surprised that there was a decent stretch of the trip where we weren’t on a major highway. That made for much more interesting scenery.
While passing some fields, I first saw a miniature horse. Then I saw what I thought was a miniature zebu. When I saw the miniature donkey, I finally noticed the pattern. My thoughts were confirmed when we passed the sign for Live Oak Mini Ranch.
While driving through Cottondale, Georgia, we passed an interesting store near the road. I first noticed a display of tiny bonsai for $20. That made me pay more attention, at which point I saw a lot of larger, older bonsai in the windows. It was a very impressive setup, and I would have loved to stop, but it’s difficult to make last-minute changes like that while we’re towing. If you’re going to be in that area, be sure to visit Bonsai by Dori and tell me how it is!
Where We Stayed
Camping on the Gulf
The Campground
With about 200 RV sites and 20 cabins, Camping on the Gulf is a pretty big place. There are two pools, one of which has a water slide, a fishing pond, and laundry facilities.
The campground property is on the beach, so the last row of campsites is actually on the sand (talk about a view). Dogs are not allowed on those sites, but they are allowed on the sites on the other side of the row.
There are some beautiful trees on the property, so some parts of the campground have pretty decent shade. Some of those sites are also fairly spacious, especially for a campground on the beach.
Near the front of the campground, they have an air station (for lack of a better word). There’s high-pressure air, air for inflatables, a vacuum, water, and pressure water.
We did some laundry while we were there. The washers and dryers seemed clean.
Just outside the laundry building, there’s a pet wash station. It turned out to be really convenient. By the end of the week, they definitely needed a bath. (Just remember to bring your own dog shampoo!)
The bathrooms were much nicer than I expected.
| Campground Name | Camping on the Gulf |
| Location | Miramar Beach, Florida |
| Dates | August 30-September 6, 2025 |
| Site Number | 536 |
| Site Surface | mostly grass with a small gravel spot |
| Hook-ups | Full hookups |
| Cost | $168.4 per night (including taxes and fees) |
| Water Pressure | 60 psi |
| Voltage | 120-125 V |
| Verizon Speed Test | 9 Mbps down; 6 Mbps up |
| T-Mobile Speed Test | 33 Mbps down; 3 Mbps up |
The Beach
Camping on the Gulf has a private section of beach for the campground. Dogs are not allowed, sadly, but it was pretty cool to be able to walk from our site to the beach. The water is so clear! We could see fish swimming around our feet. Some of the fish would even follow you around, and we could feel them poking at our toes!
There were only a few, small waves, and the water stayed shallow. We saw two live sand dollars one day. Neither of us had our phones on us, so I don’t have photos, but it was my first time seeing a live sand dollar. They’re so cool to watch!
Our Site
Our campsite was not in the shady section of the campground, but it was close to the beach.
The sewer connection was smaller than we’re used to. Our Rhino sewer elbow just fit, but it was kind of precarious in there. This was a time when it would have helped if we still carried our old hose connector.
Camping on the Gulf Check-In Tip
When you check in, be sure to take a good look at the map (and how to get to your site) before leaving the desk. If we’d taken a minute, we’d have seen where they wrote “Only Travel Wrong Way for Parking RV.” Instead, we located our site on the map and started driving before really reading everything on the map. When we got to the intersection by site 533, we saw the One Way sign. Thinking the arrows on our map pointing us down the e obeyed the one-way sign, and we shouldn’t have! We ended up driving in the sand in front of the sites on the beach
What We Did
Big Kahuna’s Destin
The waterpark Big Kahuna’s Destin is only 8.5 miles from the campground. It’s not the biggest waterpark we’ve been to, but you’ll find a variety of slides and some creative touches that I appreciated. For example, there’s a large zero-entry pool area with a splash pad. In the back, in a 3 ft deep section, there’s a doorway and a few stairs. It’s just a clever way to put in an exit from the pool to another area of the park. They also have an area they call Fun Fountains on their park map. There were more fountains than I’ve ever seen in one place! Walking through it was like walking in the rain. It was kind of fun and something I haven’t seen before. (Their map shows three fountains, but that’s a gross misrepresentation of what’s there.)
My least favorite ride is the yellow tube ride called Tiki River Run. Jesse and I went down in a double inner tube, but they also have singles available. I wasn’t thrilled about it after the first time we went down, but I decided to give it another chance. I wish I hadn’t. The second time we went, our tube flipped over in the middle of the ride and dumped us out. We both got a little banged up on the rest of the way down, but we survived.
I think my favorite ride is the one they call Kowabunga Racer. You lay on a mat on your stomach and elbows and go down the slide holding the handles in front of you. If you’re looking for a big thrill ride, this isn’t it. It’s a gentler type of water slide, which is just my speed.
Gulfarium
I have mixed feelings about Gulfarium. I prefer to visit AZA-accredited institutions, but sometimes we’ll make an exception. This is one of the exceptions.
What I Liked
- Gulfarium has lots of keeper talks. We arrived just in time to see several in a row. I think being able to listen to a keeper talk about the animals and their care really enhances the experience.
- For a mostly outdoor venue, there was a good amount of shade.
- Gulfarium is active in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation. There’s a center on-site for rehabilitating sea turtles.
What I Didn’t Like
Some of the enclosures were sad, specifically the shark and penguin exhibits. Now, I am not an expert. Perhaps the spaces were perfectly adequate, but they appeared pretty small to me with minimal opportunities for enrichment.
I was impressed by the staff at both the sea lion presentation and the dolphin presentation. The employees were very organized, keeping an eye on where there were empty seats so they could direct guests as they arrived.
The shark keeper chat was really neat! You don’t see those offered at many places. It was interesting to hear a keeper talk about sharks and see that they’re target-trained for their food.
A note about the dolphin presentation…if you sit in the lower section, you WILL get wet. The keepers direct the dolphins to do specific tricks that will splash (sometimes a lot!) You’ve been warned!
Dog-Friendly Hikes
Grayton Beach State Park
Grayton Beach State Park is a 22-minute drive from the campground. There’s a $6 fee per vehicle (with 2-8 people). There’s a $5 fee per vehicle (with 2-8 people).
There are two hiking options listed on the park’s website: a 1-mile nature trail that begins at the beach parking area and a 4.5-mile hiking/biking trail through the forest. (On Google Maps, the nature trail is called Dunes Lake Trail, but I didn’t see it named on the park’s website.)
We opted for the 1-mile nature trail, and it turned out to be one of the most unique hikes we’ve done. According to the Florida State Parks website, the nature trail goes “through the dune ecosystem, along the salt marsh and circles back through the pine flatwoods.”
We started out trekking through sand.
We followed the trail into a clump of trees and then out to more sand. After that, it took us into a new, larger group of trees and made a loop through the forest before pointing us back in the direction we came from.
The shaded sections of trail were easier since the terrain wasn’t the soft beach sand. For one short section, the ground was covered in broken shells. We don’t know if they got there naturally or were added as the beach alternative to gravel. Either way, Corona did not enjoy walking on them.
I’d guess about 2/3 of the trail was in the trees and therefore shaded, which we really appreciated. Be sure to pack water for you and any pets you’re traveling with.
Corona was unlucky enough to find two of these spiky plant things during our hike. We were walking through the sand when all of a sudden she started limping. I felt around in her paw pads and found these. After we got back to the RV, I noticed I had picked up a few on my shoes. I don’t know what the plant they come from looks like, so all I can do is say keep an eye on your pups while you walk.
The dogs are not allowed on the beach; however, there is a spot with access to Western Lake. At the back of the parking lot, there’s a short stretch of boardwalk that leads to a small picnic shelter. Western Lake is about 20 feet from the other side of the picnic shelter, so the dogs got a chance to get their feet wet.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a 10-minute drive from the campground. There’s a $6 fee per vehicle (with 2-8 people).
The park has trails for hiking and biking as well as a public beach. The parking area isn’t huge. I imagine on really nice days and weekends, it probably fills up early.
There is a tram that leaves every 30 minutes, so you don’t have to walk all the way to the beach.
However, we weren’t there for the beach. One day, we walked the Campbell Lake Bike Path. On another, we took the Turpentine Trail to Campbell Lake View Point. There’s not a ton of shade, so be sure to bring water.
On the edge of Campbell Lake (at the end of the bike trail), we found a selfie station!
Jesse and I aren’t fond of being in pictures, but we took the opportunity to get a photo of the four of us together. Our selfie game needs some work. The dogs aren’t used to us standing behind them. We took a few, but in the one where we look the most normal, the dogs are looking up and away and anywhere but at the camera. We’ll do better next time!
Because of the chance of alligators, we didn’t want the dogs to wade too far out. The water was pretty clear, and we found a spot with minimal vegetation.
Panama City Dog Beach
Dogs are not allowed on any ocean-side beaches in the area except for the dog beach at Pier Park Panama City Beach, which is about 45 minutes from the campground. Aiken loves the ocean so much that we decided it was worth the trip.
The dog beach is on the west side of the Russell-Fields Pier in Panama City Beach. It’s a very short section of beach where dogs are allowed, but there were minimal waves, and the water stayed just a few feet deep for a good distance.
Dogs are supposed to be kept on leash. Most people we saw were following that rule, but not all. Overall, Aiken did a good job of ignoring the other dogs.
There are stations with free waste bags where the entrance boardwalks meet the sand. At entrance 56, there’s a shower for rinsing the sand off people and pets.
Legion Park
Someone also told us about a place called Legion Park. It’s only a 5-minute drive from the campground. It’s on the bay side, but dogs are apparently allowed to use the boat ramp. We stopped by without the dogs to check it out.
If we hadn’t had time to make it to Panama City Beach, this would have worked. The actual dog beach was better, but the elevated area above the water made for some terrific wildlife viewing.
Does anyone know what these shimmery fish are?
We also saw a hermit crab and fish of all sizes. First this large one…
And then hundreds of little ones!
Dolphin Cruise
We took a dolphin cruise with a company called Southern Star. You check in at their booth on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. (Check-in is at a booth near Margaritaville, at the same place you check in for the Buccaneer Pirate Cruises.)
We went on a weekday, and I think that helped with the crowd. There is seating on two levels, but the seating definitely wasn’t full. We saw so many dolphins! At the end, we saw a lot of sharks and even what they believe was a manta ray!
Emerald Coast Zoo
Emerald Coast Zoo is about 48 minutes by car from the campground. It’s not like your typical zoo. There aren’t any paved paths (that I remember). It’s more petting zoo, less center for biodiversity and conservation. This falls under another exception to my AZA-only rule, and I have mixed feelings about it.
Things I Liked
There are lots of critters for kids to touch and feed. Included in your admission price is some food for the livestock animals and tokens to feed the birds and giraffes. If your kids have never been up close to a goat or an emu, feeding them seems like a fun way for them to get a good look.
The enclosures for goats and other livestock-type animals seemed fine.
You’re able to get closer to the enclosures, so you’re able to see more. For example, I’ve never gotten such a good look at a spider monkey’s tail, and you can get a much better sense of the size of the lion’s paw.
We saw the Patas monkeys let out with new enrichment items. It was fun to watch one of them shake pieces of food out of this bottle.
We passed this amazing mural on FL-293 on our way to the zoo. It’s on the side of a large building on the south side of the Mid-Bay Toll Bridge. I think I would skip the Emerald Coast Zoo if we come back to the area, but I would drive to the mural to see it again. It was that impressive.
What I Didn’t Like
Some enclosures seemed…inadequate. Specifically, the lion, cassowary, and crocodile enclosures looked below average. I’ll admit I am not an expert in this area. Perhaps they are perfectly fine, but I thought they left something to be desired.
The was a sow with her very young piglets in one pasture. She appeared to have two more piglets than she had teats. I assume that’s not a big problem and that everyone eventually gets a turn as the first ones to eat fill up and let go. One piglet was clearly looking for a spot; however, one of the piglets wasn’t moving. You could see he was breathing, but he really didn’t look well.
I brought it to the attention of an employee who said they’d checked on him and he was alive, but that they couldn’t go in to help him. The reason didn’t make sense to me, and I will never know if it’s because it wasn’t a good reason or because he just didn’t explain it well. Granted, I know next to nothing about pigs. Perhaps this is just how it’s done, but it didn’t seem right to me.
Pontoon Boats and Crab Island
Crab Island is a submerged sandbar next to the Destin Bridge and is a popular spot for boaters. The only way to get there is by boat. (There’s a whole website if you want to learn more about it.)
We rented a dog-friendly pontoon boat so we could visit Crab Island with Aiken and Corona. Aiken took to boat life so much better than I expected! He walked on the boat like he’d done it dozens of times before. He hopped up on the couch and made himself comfortable for the ride.
Once we made it to Crab Island and found a spot to anchor the boat, we unrolled this thing called a lilypad. It’s basically a large floating piece of foam. The water was only 2 or 3 feet deep, and Aiken quickly learned that he could swim up to the lilypad, put his front paws on it, and pull himself the rest of the way. Then he could rest in the water instead of swimming the whole time.
The thing that surprised us the most was the jellyfish! We first saw them from the boat during the dolphin cruise. At about 12 inches across, they were much bigger than any I’d seen before. We had to watch for them while we were swimming at Crab Island and get out of their way when they came through. Fortunately, there weren’t too many, they’re pretty slow, and the water is so clear they’re not difficult to spot.
In addition to the vacationers and locals out there to enjoy the water and sunshine, there are enterprising individuals (and businesses) trying to make some money. There are boats cruising around selling everything from ice cream to Chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches. The prices reflect the situation, so plan accordingly and bring snacks if you’re so inclined. There’s even a more permanent-looking structure called the general store with a bunch of floaties outside it. We didn’t go over, but I imagine they have all kinds of miscellaneous things one might want but forgot to pack.
After spending some time at Crab Island, we loaded everything up and took the boat to an island on the other side of the bridge (closer to where we came from). When we took the dolphin cruise, we noticed there was a narrow strip of beach there, and we thought we’d give the dogs an opportunity to go to the bathroom on dry land. You just slowly float up to the sand and let the boat lightly beach itself. Then we threw the anchor on land. We had to do a bit of pushing to get out, but it worked.
I think that was Aiken’s favorite part of the outing, because we put him on his long leash and let him chase the waves. The water got much deeper much faster here, but it was also much quieter than Crab Island. We didn’t see any jellyfish here, so we were happy.
After a little time there, we got back in the boat and took the long way back to the boat rental place, taking the scenic route around Crab Island. Aiken must have been worn out, because he hopped up on the couch and closed his eyes. Corona settled on the floor.
If we do this again, which is unlikely because this wasn’t inexpensive, I’d like to figure out a way for Aiken to get on and off the boat more easily. He wasn’t too sure about just jumping off the boat, and the water was a little shallow for us to easily lift him onto the boat when he wanted to get back in.
Looking back at the day, there were a few things that really impacted our experience. Here are some of the things we did that helped dogs and humans have a good time on Crab Island.
- We started early; our rental period was from 9:30-1:30, and we got there a little early. It gets really crowded in the afternoons, and we wanted to be one by then. Plus, I was worried about the dogs overheating, so going in the morning helped with both.
- We had more cold water than we needed for the dogs. The campground has an ice machine. We purchased a plastic jerry can (looks a lot like this one) and brought it to Florida with it. On our way to pick up the pontoon boat, he filled the can with ice at the campground’s machine. Then we added as much water as would fit. (Don’t forget the dog bowl.)
- Adding the lilypad to our rental made all the difference because Aiken could be in the water without swimming all the time.
- Bring snacks. Being out in the sun makes you hungry, and you may not want to pay the prices to get something from the boat shops.
- Bring sunscreen and be sure to reapply if you’re there long enough!
Where We Ate
Margaritaville
Everything tastes better when you’re sitting at a table on a covered patio with a view of Destin Harbor, not that the burgers and fries needed any help in that department. The food was delicious, and it was fun to watch the birds and the boats go by. The only problem was that the sun comes on the patio at that time of day. Most of our table was shaded when we sat down, but the sun quickly overtook it.
Wildlife
Florida is practically paradise for wildlife lovers, and Destin did not disappoint!
No idea what’s going on with these two, but they were quite the sight on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.
While we were waiting for the dolphin cruise boat to leave, we spotted this osprey on top of a nearby boat enjoying a fish he caught.
I was very excited to spot these softshell turtles on the dock in the campground pond.
We found this spider and butterfly at Topsail Hill Nature Preserve State Park.
More Photos
Happy travels!
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