People with kids have two tons of crap with them. They have boogie boards, kick boards, noodles, buckets, shovels, rakes, plastic things shaped like stars and turtles, coolers, chairs, towels (enough for way more than the amount of people with them) eight varieties of sunscreen, (baby sunscreen, face sunscreen, sunscreen in the form of a stick, spray, cream, sweat proof, water proof, keep you looking like Casper guaranteed), umbrellas, and a big giant blanket. People without kids have a towel, a chair and a cooler. People with kids have a cooler filled with juice boxes, sandwiches, pretzels, goldfish, watermelon, grapes, granola bars, water, cookies, chips, crackers, cheese, yogurt sticks, strawberries and a baked ham for the love of Pete. There is pretty much nothing left in the kitchen of their home. It’s all in the damn cooler. People without kids have beer, water (if they’re smart), and a sandwich. People with kids look exhausted before they even set up for the day.
They seriously look like they need a nap, an IV of coffee and possibly a hospital stay. People without kids look either hung over or well rested. There is nothing in between. People with kids set up beach chairs but never sit in them for all that long. They are either building a sand castle, getting their kids a snack, chasing a kid, calming a crying kid, applying sunscreen to a kid, preventing a kid from going out to sea or looking around and wondering how long everyone will stay happy. They absolutely never get to sit back and close their eyes. People with kids are like prison wardens…always watching. People without kids are sitting in their chairs, holding conversations, sipping a beer, or simply watching the waves. They may even *GASP* get to close their eyes and take a nap. (I’m getting sleepy just thinking about it.) When people with kids decide it’s time to leave the beach, it’s usually because the kids are crying, hitting each other, pooped through a stupid flipping swimmy diaper, or there are no snacks left to keep the kids quiet.
It takes them approximately 45 minutes and 12 seconds to pack up all the crap they showed up with. They may actually NEED a hospital stay at this point. They head to their mini vans and SUVs and throw all the crap in the back. They then load up all the kids, get in the car and head home to relax. HAHAHAHHAHAHA No, that’s not right. They head home to give a bunch of tired kids baths, feed them (kids seriously eat ALL THE TIME) and hopefully get them to bed before they themselves are face first in a plate of cold spaghetti. People without kids fold up their chairs and head off the beach to a bar. They then go home take peaceful hot showers and sleep for 14 hours. Florida Family Resorts and Hotels > Florida Panhandle Family Resorts and Hotels > Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Activities Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Family Activities The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has two outdoor swimming pools onsite, plus one indoor pool and one toddler pool.
The largest pool ranges from three to eight feet deep, the middle pool ranges from three to six feet deep, and the toddler pool very shallow. The indoor pool is three feet to six feet deep. Pool hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the outdoor pools, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the toddler pool, and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. for the indoor pool. The pool deck area is large and the bathrooms are off to one side of the largest pool. Therefore, keep this in mind when searching for a place to hang out for the day. The hotel also provides pool towels to hotel guests so there's no need to pack beach towels unless you prefer to have your own towels with you. The beach and ocean are easily accessible right from the pool deck. There are beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent; however, given the easy, short access to the beach, you may just want to bring your own. Other onsite activities available include kayaking, flatboard paddling and beach volleyball. Arrangements to rent sports equipment can be handled at the Pool and Beach Services Hut located between the pool deck and the beach.
Should you need any essentials, the hotel operates two onsite gift shops, one in the lobby of the hotel and another (primarily for sun needs) on the pool deck just outside the hotel. For children ages 5 to 12, the hotel offers Kids Krew, a children's program filled with activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, games, and more. Each child receives a T-shirt and lunch. The seasonal program (Spring Break through Labor Day with some seasonal holidays) hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Kids Krew is available during other times of the year, too. Children also can enjoy a night with their peers as part of Kids Night Out, where they enjoy dinner together and participate in fun activities like watching movies, playing games, making arts and crafts, crab hunting, and more. This seasonal event takes place Monday through Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. for kids ages 5 to 12. This program cost includes dinner and a T-shirt. Parents wanting extra time alone can extend Kids Night Out with Midnight Madness.
This extra add-on program to Kids Night Out runs from 10:15 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a per-hour fee for each child. Hilton Sandestin Beach also holds special kids activities outside of the Kids Krew, such as Tie-Dye Tuesdays from noon to 2 p.m. Each child can create his or her own souvenir T-shirt. Every Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., children can take part in complimentary face painting and balloon creations from the hotel's stilt walker. For teenagers, Hotel Sandestin Beach hosts Hilton Teen Night every Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for teens ages 13 to 17. This event includes a beach volleyball tournament and teens-only party as well as pizza and soft drinks. The hotel also maintains a game room suited to older children and teens. Each video game requires a token, which may be purchased through the onsite token machine. The game room is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For guests venturing off-property, you will find many nearby attractions as well. Just across the highway from the Hilton Sandestin Beach is The Village of Baytowne Wharf, home to a collection of activities and restaurants.
Activities include a zipline, a ropes course, a Eurobungy (think bungee on a trampoline) and rock-climbing wall, among others. Cuisine choices run the spectrum from a burger, fries and milkshake all the way to fine dining. Also in the nearby vicinity, the Big Kahuna's Water Park is comprised of more than 40 water rides and slides for both children and adults. In addition, Big Kahuna's offers an Adventure Park with mini golf, go-karts and thrill rides. No outside food or beverage is permitted inside the park. The Track Family Recreation Center keeps visitors entertained with go-karts, mini golf, bumper rides, thrill rides and a special kids section for younger children. Tickets are required for each ride. Local, military and senior discounts also are available. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, where they can bike, bird, canoe, kayak, fish, hike, picnic and swim. There is an admission fee per vehicle with two to eight occupants. Other attractions of interest include the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, the Destin History and Fishing Museum, Air Force Armament Museum, and National Naval Aviation Museum.