Crab Island
Sometimes visitors might hear about Crab Island and many times visitors would think to plan if they have a chance to visit Destin, Florida. But today we insist every visitor to take a separate vacation with your family to Crab Island. Such a brilliant destination in Destin, US, where visitors surely dwell its beautiful surroundings and natural settings along with its vibrant water activities.
Crab Island actually is not an Island, it is a shallow underwater sandbar where visitors go to experience floating activities, emerald green water and coastal sunshine, making it one of the country’s most renowned hangout points. Since the landmark offers great laid back atmospheres, floating restaurants and family parties and fun vibes, Crab Island is one of the country’s best family vacation points
Visitors encounter here more lily pads, sandbars and water trampolines where live music and daiquiris served boat services. Backpackers even bring their own boats or book captained cruises to explore sandy bottomed gathering places.
Related Search: Destin Beach- A Complete Travel Guide.
Where is Crab Island?
Crab Island is a combinations of popular shallow water sandbar, tiny island and recreational area located in the south side of Choctawhatchee Bay in the Gulf of Mexico near Panama City Beach, Destin, Florida. The island is located just 2.2 miles away from the Destin and 15 miles away from the Choctawhatchee Bay.
10 Best Things to Do in Crab Island
1. Experience Both Floating and Sunbathing
Crab Island is a heaven of shallow, crystal clear water where visitors going to enjoy the most breathtaking floating and sunbathing activities. Island’s floating restaurant and food vendors is another great example where seafood’s, ice creams and Mexican cuisines are available within floating restaurants. Visitors can rent a boat or bring their own one including paddleboards and pontoon to reach the sandbar and try to soak up in the sun. Remember late May to early September was considered the peak season when more floating vendors and more family friendly activities took place.
2. Do Snorkeling
Snorkeling is another popular water activity that helps visitors to explore islands, clear waters and discover marine life. Crab waters are changing in nature and its currents and increased depth help visitors to spend more time in waters and also help proficient snorkelling and swimming too. If you have a plan to take a trip with family, island waters help for beginners and family members to take snorkeling if you book “family friendly” Crab Island Adventure at destin snorkel. Here private charter allow upto 6 peoples and snorkel reef available 6 to 10 feet below and surface in 20to 30 feet of water.
3. Take Boat Rentals
Try to take a Pantoon for rent or join any popular boat cruise with friends to enjoy the region’s best boat parties. Boat cruises help travelers to see Choctawhatchee Bay, and Destin Harbour. Pontoon Boat Rentals is one of the major boat rides that is easy to drive, spacious and shaded. These sort of boats include music venues, and separate room systems that help for family members. Visitors can choose My Cruise Island to get different rental options, tour types and boat styles according to their choices and preferences. Destin Vacation Boat Rentals are another primer option to get different sorts of boat options. Each boat ride exhibits Destin’s most emerald coast views.
4. Spot Marine Life
Home to vibrant marine life including dolphins, stingrays, and various colourful fish species and hermit crabs. Additionally Crab Island holds fish species like seahorse, ethereal jellyfish, gentle manatees and sea turtles in a huge number. All these fish species and marine beauties are available in a close up for those who are willing to take the snorkelling and scuba diving. However, Marine Life is also visible and enjoyable even through boat rides and floating. So, never miss out to watch if you want to see hammerhead sharks which is a rare one and spend more time under the water.
5. Enjoy Dolphin Cruise
Taking Dolphin Cruise is a more enthusiastic activity and considered as one of the top rated things to do in Crab Island. Visitors cruise through emerald waters of the island and Choctawhatchee Bay while massive wild dolphins jump and swim alongside the boat. It looks really impressive and one of the ideal activities if you come up with family members. Along with dolphins, visitors also take a look at other marine life like sea turtles, rays, pelicans and manatees. Crab Island Dolphin Tours help us to book our Dolphin cruise with the boat captains who have an extensive knowledge about Destin’s dolphins.
6. Take Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing is not just the easiest mode of transportation to reach Crab Island, it is also one of the ideal things to do. Renowned adventure activity where visitors feel the thrill of riding a jet ski around the island. Perfectly known for families and couples, Jet Skiing in Crab Island tries to exhibit areas in a small group at high speed including beaches, coves, native birds and fish species. Jet Skies rentals require a boating licence from Florida and rentals also include age limits (minimum is 21) and a certain level of boating test. Book your Jet Skiing rentals at Crab Island Water Sports.
7. Watch Sunset
Watching sunset from the boat could be the ultimate adventure at the end of your Crab Island tour. Sunset offers vibrant color over the island that paint the sky in a very brilliant ambiance. Another popular family friendly thing that offers the most incredible views of the sun. Make sure that visitors should bring snacks, cozy towels and playlist. Along with sunset cruises, visitors are also more fortunate to watch dolphins, marine species and soak in the golden hues of the sky. Watching the sun dip over the water from your boat or pontoon is really a spectacular thing to enjoy. Book your Sun Set Cruise Sun Venture Cruise or Crab Island Luxury Adventures.
8. Experience Paddleboarding or Kayaking
Paddleboarding is truly a fun activity visitors can do in Crab Island’s crystal clear water. Visitors through paddleboarding also explore the amazing gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay. Recommended to all sorts of backpackers and one of the perfect activities matching for all ages, body types and skill level. The paddle includes enough space to paddle with dog, friend, and child. It is a full body core workout and helps visitors to catch the beauty of Destin waterways.
Kayaking is another activity having equal value and importance like Paddleboarding. Often known for more relaxing ways to explore destinations and beaches including Crab Island. Visitors should take a Kayak for rent and start to explore through the waters with friends, family members or solo. Destin Board Walk helps to choose which is most suitable and recommended Kayk and Paddleboards to us.
9. Go for Fishing
Fishing charter brings us to much closer the beauty of the Island and fishing activity offers anglers of all skill levels. Listed in World’s Luckiest Fishing Village, where enthusiastic backpackers can choose deep sea fishing, inshore and bay trip fishing with the ranging from private charter to shared group boats. Visitors would catch some of the greatest fish species like red snapper, grouper, king mackerel, amberjack and even small sharks. No matter whether you are an expert or just a beginner in Fishing, Destin’s Crab Island’s emerald waters provide the best sportfishing on the Gulf Coast.
10. Just Soak up the Sun
Crab Island is a place where visitors can kick back and soak up in the Florida Sun. The island’s location is the ultimate gateway to soaking up the Florida sun in order to create unforgettable memories. Visitors choose floats, lounge in the warm weather and shallow waters that help us to spend more time enjoying the sun. However it is important to wear hats and sunglasses for protection due to higher ranges of tropical rays. It is also important to make sure the layers of sunscreens.
Cheapest Way to Get Crab Island
There are multiple ways to reach Crab Island in a very affordable way. Lets see
1. Driving
Through driving, visitors can reach the island in a very cheap and affordable way. Driving usually includes car or bike, available carpools or their own, often includes less cost and even economical if they travel with a group.
2. Ferry or Boat Rentals
Another popular option to reach Crab Island, considered as the cheapest mode of transportation is ferry/boat rentals. Sometimes, visitors will get low cost boat rentals or group boat tours if they are ready to book well in advance. Choose My Cruise Island or Pontoon Boat Rentals to get more information about boat rentals and prices.
3. Public Transportations
Public transportation includes buses or shuttle services usually run from the nearest city like Marler Bride of Destin, Choctawhatchee bay and Panama City beach areas to Crab Island. Public transportation offers limitless services to Island under very friendly prices, even though they have limited options.
Despite the above 3 major transportation options, Island is also accessible through group tours, Tiki boats, public crab island tour and other charter services.
Best Time to Go to Crab Island, Destin, Florida
Each season catering different activities and things that help visitors to understand which season they should head to Crab Island. Let’s see;
1. Spring Season
Spring in Destin starts from March to May, during this season temperatures are wilder, therefore visitors would find low humidity and water. Additionally spring boasts lower travel crowds compared to other seasons that help take activities without any hustle and bustle. Since weather is calm and serene, visitors are usually willing to take activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming.
2. Summer Season
Starting from June to August, summer season is often considered as the most ideal and recommended season to explore the vibrant beauty of Crab Island. Since the season offers more water temperatures, and hot sunny days help us to take paddleboards, floating restaurants, food boats and attend live music venues. Considered as the peak season where the island receives more numbers of crowds and often considered as the more lively atmospheres.
3. Fall Season
From September to November, Crab Island boasts the fall season and is also recognised as the best time to visit. Since water in fall stays warm, air is comfortable and less crowds making it an ideal period to enjoy boating and paddleboarding. However, since the season holds low rental rates, boasts floating restaurants and snorkelling during this season. Never forget to enjoy sunset cruises, wildlife spotting, snorkelling to see marine life such as sea turtles, and rays.
4. Winter Season
Travelers who are looking to spend more time with bird watching, photographic and Boat Parades such as Pantoon Boats and Boat rides this season for them. Starting from December to February, winter includes more tranquil atmospheres and less travel traffic. Water temperature, often mild, starts from the 50s to 60s, making it an ideal condition for boating and sightseeing. Bring binoculars and thermos of hot coffee or cocoa for better experiences.
Top 5 Popular Restaurants near Crab Island
1. Harbour Docks
Harbour Docks is a waterfront seafood restaurant offering fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico and other popular global cuisines such as sushi, cocktails and steaks. Besides its mouthwatering cuisine options, the restaurant also caters fresh crab dishes, oysters with breathtaking waterfront views. Each dish is made with fresh local ingredients and stuff, its menus serve Spring Rolls, Potstickers, Salad, Gulf Seafood Entrees, Shrimp Tortellini and many more. However, Treasures serves its guests from most welcoming ambiances and lively music venues that help visitors stay more fun while tasting local seafoods.
2. The Crab Trap
Another most recommended restaurant near Crab Island that serves fresh and delicious sea over a period of time. The Crab Trap ideal restaurant for family visitors offers beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico along with relaxing outdoor settings. Offers most casual foods ranging from seafood to Gulf of Mexico, Crab additionally includes food options on its menus such as crab boils, signature Hot Crab Dip, and shrimp at most family friendly vibe.
3. Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House
Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House located on the Destin Harbor, catering their guests over 40 years of time with great hospitality and dining options. Opened in 1985, restaurants serve fried green tomato and jumbo lump crab, crab cakes, oysters, gumbo, crispy fried calamari, spinach and artichoke dip. Along with that restaurant also serves salads, soup, and oyster bar options that help visitors stay more time with restaurant charms. The restaurant’s waterfront patio provides the most perfect views and refined dining experiences.
4. AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
Often known for its Gulf Coast oysters and Cool libations servings from 1984. Over a period of time this AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar became popular for its fresh oysters and cold beers. Guests could enjoy things like fresh oysters, flaky fish, shrimp, crab legs, under relaxed Caribbean inspired ambiances. The restaurant’s laid back settings are perfect to enjoy fresh seafood and tropical drinks. AJ’s music venues, lively atmospheres and special occasions creates the most welcoming environment to backpackers.
5. Fudpuker’s Beachside Bar and Grill
Owned and operated since 1982, Fudpuker’s Beachside Bar and Grill exclusively made those who were looking to spend more time with Food, Fun and Family. More family oriented restaurants purely built on snarky t-shirt designs, and crazy decorations, where a number of gator shows, live music venues and outdoor games are held. Menus highlights, Fud burger, Fudinator, Shrimp A La Fud, and Kids Menu like cheese, moo juices, seafoods, mac and chicken burgers. If you are looking for a restaurant for casual group outings for both locals and tourists, then choose Fudpuker’s Beachside Bar and Grill restaurants.
Suggested Articles: Key West, Florida.
