Try Something New
Where every wave, trail, and table offers something new to learn
Pack your curiosity alongside your sunscreen; you will need both. Along the Emerald Coast, the experience goes beyond the view, inviting visitors to step into a more hands-on kind of getaway.
From Destin to 30A, the rhythm of the beach shifts from simply relaxing to actively exploring. Catch a wave, perfect your cast, learn a new step, or sharpen your skills in the kitchen. Here, the lesson is part of the fun.
Build Your Dream Castle
Ready to trade your beach towel for a bucket and carve out some fun? Beach Sand Sculptures in Destin teaches professional techniques in two-hour sessions to build 3½-foot-tall castles. SandCastle Rockstars, serving Destin to 30A, offers beginner and advanced classes, complete with arches and bridges. Working from Navarre to Inlet Beach,
Dan Castles guides groups in constructing massive 6-foot masterpieces.
Photo courtesy of David Mangum / Shallow Water Expeditions
Reel in the Fun
Hooked on the idea of leveling up your fishing game? Emerald Coast Bay Charters in Destin offers kid-friendly, light-tackle trips. Destin Inshore Guides caters to all skill levels. In Navarre, Emerald Ghost Charters specializes in nearshore fishing, while Shallow Water Expeditions in Santa Rosa Beach offers beach and bay fishing instruction and gear.
Catch a Wave
Check off that bucket list. Ride On Surf School and All-A-Board Surf School in Destin offer both individual and group surf lessons for all levels. Austin Magee’s Surf School in Seaside and Grayton Beach Surf Club in Santa Rosa Beach round out the options with everything from surfing to skimming and paddleboarding. Prefer calmer waters? SUP classes and demos at various locations are available at YOLO, Wet Paddle Boards, and SUP Express. Love adventure? XLKites in Fort Walton Beach will help you take flight via kiteboards, wing foils, or efoils.
Photos courtesy of Dylan Sims / Ride On Surf School
Even More Beyond the Shore
Dance & Drama
Trade your flip flops for dancing shoes with a wide variety of adult classes at Luna Ballroom in Santa Rosa Beach or Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Fort Walton Beach. Envision Dance Studio in Destin adds variety, while 30A Ballet will get adults on their toes, and Emerald Coast Theatre Company taps into your Broadway star with tap dance and drama classes in its Grand Boulevard studio for 55-plus adults.
Cook Up Something New
Hungry for a hands-on culinary experience? Twisted Fork Culinary Classroom in Panama City Beach, Somethin’s Cookin’ in Panama City, and Pensacola Cooks Commissary & Classroom offer cooking classes for all ages and skill levels. At Jackson’s Steakhouse in Pensacola, monthly classes feature wine pairings and dishes led by chef Irv Miller. Prefer to stay in? 30A Private Chef brings the experience to your rental home. For food lovers who want to sip and swirl, try a sommelier-led tasting with 30A Wine Experience, or join a demonstration at Williams Sonoma at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach.
Whether you’re learning to sculpt sand, dance the jitterbug, or cook the perfect paella, the Emerald Coast makes the memory of trying magical.
Feature image: Photo courtesy of David Mangum / Shallow Water Expeditions
