Top 10 Things to Do at HarborWalk Village — According to Kids
We asked the toughest critics on the Emerald Coast — actual kids — to rank everything at HarborWalk Village on Destin Harbor. Their standards are high, their attention spans are short and their verdict is final. Here are the top 10 things to do at HarborWalk Village with kids, ranked by the kids themselves.
The Zipline Over the Village 🪂
“You can see the WHOLE harbor. And the boats look like toys.”The undisputed champion. HarborWalk Adventures runs a dual zipline between two steel towers, about 1,000 feet round trip, and bills it as Destin’s longest and tallest. You ride out with the harbor, the boats and the Emerald Grande spread out below, then ride back. Rides start at $34.
HarborWalk Adventures →Becoming a Pirate on the Buccaneer 🏴☠️
“I won the sword fight. The captain said so.”A 100-foot pirate ship that leaves right from the HarborWalk marina. Kids go through pirate training, take on the sword-fighting challenge, fire water guns, hear the cannon and hunt for buried treasure, and the littlest crew members get their own group. Cruises run 1.5 to 2 hours, and fares run $34–$44 a person with infant pricing.
Buccaneer Pirate Cruise →The 40-Foot Glowing Rock Wall 🧗
“I rang the top and my little brother didn’t. That’s the whole story.”Three lanes, 40 feet up, with LED handholds that light up as you climb. Siblings race side by side, and parents get the best photo of the trip from the bottom. Climbs start at $19.
HarborWalk Adventures →Dolphins Through a Glass Floor 🐬
“A dolphin looked at me. Right at me. We’re friends now.”Southern Star is Destin’s original dolphin cruise: an 80-foot glass-bottom boat with a narrator, leaving from the HarborWalk marina. It advertises a 98% dolphin-sighting rate. The daytime cruise runs about 90 minutes at $20–$30, and the sunset cruise is $29–$39.
Southern Star Dolphin Cruise →
Ultimate 7D 🎬
“I got the high score. Dad got zero. ZERO.”Part roller coaster, part video game. You ride a motion simulator with 3D, laser effects and surround sound, and you shoot targets the whole time while it keeps score. Expect a rematch request before you’re out the door.
Find it at HarborWalk →The Mirror Maze at America’s Fun Spots 🪞
“I walked into myself four times. On purpose.”A mirror maze, a shooting gallery and the Atomic Rush game, all in one spot on the boardwalk. Good for the stretch of the afternoon when it’s too hot to do anything else.
Find it at HarborWalk →Fireworks Over the Harbor 🎆
“They go BOOM and you feel it in your chest. Best part of the trip.”HarborWalk shoots its fireworks right over Destin Harbor, and they’re free to watch from the boardwalk. In the fall that means Saturday nights in October and the Halloween Spooktacular, and New Year’s Eve has an early 8 PM show for families. In summer, Thursday is fireworks night. Check the HarborWalk events calendar for the next one.
Harbor Raceway 🏎️
“I crashed my mom on purpose. She’s fine.”Remote-control cars on an oversized custom track, with up to four drivers racing head-to-head. It’s short, loud and very competitive, and it’s the one where parents ask to go next.
Find it at HarborWalk →Pirate Pearls 🦪
“Mine was PINK. Nobody else got pink.”Pick an oyster, crack it open and keep the pearl inside. It takes about five minutes, and the pearl comes home in a pocket and gets shown to everyone back at school.
Find it at HarborWalk →Mini Golf, the Cubby Caboose & Face Paint 🚂
“I was a tiger for the whole rest of the day.”Three little ones bundled together. Harbor Mini Golf is nine holes on the boardwalk, the Cubby Caboose is a small train that loops through the village for the youngest riders, and People Painters does face painting and airbrush tattoos.
Find it at HarborWalk →Find it at HarborWalk →Fuel the Fun: The Official Kid-Approved Treat Stops 🍦
No HarborWalk ranking is complete without the sugar circuit. The panel was unanimous: at least one treat stop per visit, ideally one per hour.
🍍 Tiki Time
Dole Whip, fresh coconut water and pineapple drinks from a walk-up stand on the boardwalk. It’s the panel’s pick for the hottest part of the afternoon, open 10 AM to 9 PM.
Find it at HarborWalk →🍫 The Fudgery
Fudge made in the shop, with flavors like chocolate, peanut butter and salted caramel. It’s open 10 AM to 10 PM, so it works as dessert or as a bribe.
Find it at HarborWalk →🍓 Drizzle
Fresh strawberries in a cup, covered in white or milk chocolate or a Dubai-style drizzle. It’s technically fruit, which is the argument the panel used.
Find it at HarborWalk →🍧 Honorable Mentions
Kona Ice parks near the Kid Zone with a build-your-own flavor wall, Spun Fun spins cotton candy in several flavors, Ice Cream on the Harbor has shakes and frozen bananas, and Boardwalk Fry Co. does fries and powdered-sugar funnel cakes.
Find it at HarborWalk →
The Parent Cheat Code
Do the zipline and the rock wall in the afternoon while everyone still has energy, then put the boat in the late afternoon: the pirate cruise for the sword fighters or Southern Star for the dolphin fans. Eat dinner around 6, and on a fireworks night, stay on the boardwalk for the show. It’s free and there’s room to run.
Parking on-site is $20 per vehicle from March through September, and one payment covers the whole day with re-entry. The city lots across the street run about $15. Everything at HarborWalk is walkable from one spot, and the village itself is free to walk in. Check this week’s HarborWalk events schedule before you go; it updates live, with the forecast.
HarborWalk Village with Kids: Quick Answers
Is HarborWalk Village good for kids?
Yes. HarborWalk Village on Destin Harbor has a zipline, a 40-foot LED rock wall, a pirate ship cruise, a glass-bottom dolphin cruise, a 7D theater, a mirror maze, RC car racing, mini golf and plenty of treat stands, all within walking distance.
How much is the zipline at HarborWalk Village?
HarborWalk Adventures lists zipline rides from $34 and the rock wall from $19. Check harborwalkadventures.com for current prices.
Is parking free at HarborWalk Village?
On-site parking is $20 per vehicle from March 1 through September, good all day with re-entry. City of Destin lots across the street run about $15.
Bar-top dancing, a speakeasy, daiquiris and fireworks from a speedboat. After bedtime, the harbor changes shifts.
See the Adults’ Top 10 →
Attraction availability, prices, hours and event schedules change seasonally, so confirm details before you visit. Prices checked October 2026 against each operator’s own site. Rankings certified by an unscientific panel of sunburned experts. See everything at HarborWalk Village →