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Classic outdoor pirate-themed putt-putt with two full 18-hole courses, waterfalls, and a buried-treasure storyline. The cleanest pick for the first putt-putt night: easy for the kids, fun for the adults, nothing fancy.

A whole family entertainment complex: go-karts, bumper boats, a slingshot and bungee, an arcade, and a good mini-golf course. The better evening pick if the group wants more than putt-putt. Go in the morning or after dinner to dodge crowds and heat.

The aquarium day. Dolphin and sea lion shows, penguins, sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles in an open-air park right on the beach. Open daily 9 AM to 5:30 PM, roughly $16 to $24 a head. Go at opening for the first shows and the coolest part of the day, and it doubles as the rainy-day plan.

Not an island at all, but a shallow, turquoise sandbar just inside the harbor where boats raft up and everyone stands waist-deep in the water. The signature big-group Destin day. Rent a pontoon for the crew (book ahead in summer), pack a cooler, and plan to be out there for hours.

The whole reason to come. The community beach is a short walk with the house's wagon and chairs, and that's most mornings. For a proper outing, Henderson Beach State Park has the cleanest sand, dunes, restrooms, and showers a few minutes east. Mornings beat the heat and the afternoon storms.

Slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool, plus the largest mini-golf course on the Emerald Coast attached to it. A strong Friday flex-day pick if the kids want one big day, though it's a full sun-and-crowds commitment. Buy tickets online ahead.