Top 3 accommodations with family friendly activities

After the 50th time they’ve asked “Are we there, yet?” and the parental ping-pong of “Go ask your father,” and “Go ask your mother,” you can finally relax and let the family-friendly places to stay in Destin-Fort Walton Beach take the child entertainment steering wheel.

Here are the top three places to stay with kids that feature activities:

Newman Dailey Resort Properties

Laugh, play, and reconnect with a game of “Beach Bingo” when staying at a rental home or condo from Newman-Dailey Resort Properties. The creative and—shhh, don’t tell them—educational game offers prizes for five in a row.

To cross off a square, families work together to take pictures, identify marine species, explore local attractions, and do something good for the environment.

Picture options include a boat, dolphin, sandcastle and even a “cold treat,” such as ice cream! For a biology class hidden in a detective game, identify shells, shorebirds, and butterflies. Fill in holes dug in the sand to help nesting sea turtles.

In addition to beautiful beach photos to send to grandparents and friends, pose by a pond of alligators at Fudpucker’s restaurant and the gorilla statue at The Track Family Fun Park, or visit one of five gorgeous state parks. Once you get five in a row, return the card to any Newman Dailey office and get a free gift.

The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa

At The Henderson Beach Resort, not only will kids make new friends at Poppy’s Kids Club, they’ll have a blast while mom and dad relax at the pool with an adult beverage or enjoy a fancy restaurant.

Each day has a theme at the kids club. Mad scientists put on lab coats and conduct experiments. Secret agents create their code name and go through obstacle courses to earn a badge. “Pirates Palace” involves costumes, searching for buried treasure, and walking the plank. Under the Sea explores the Gulf with marine life crafts. “Super Hero” kids make masks and go through training to save the world. Lego day has crafts and challenges while watching The Lego Movie. “Camping Adventure” is a scavenger hunt to learn about nature.

For “Kids Night Out” during weekend evenings, themes are “Out of Space,” where they create their own constellation, and “Pizza Party,” where they make their own pizza.

Rounding out the fun are a family pool with a splash pad and lazy river, an old-fashioned ice cream shop with a checkerboard floor and ‘50s stools, and “canine ambassadors” Dune and Ranger.

The Island

Little mermaids can meet a big mermaid named Misty at The Island. The beautiful siren, with pearls and shells cascading from her hair, makes appearances near the Grotto pool waterfall for “Mermaid Tales.”

She reads books to children, such as “Beach Day” and “How to Catch a Mermaid,” and poses for pictures to prove she exists to friends back home.

The aquatic theme continues with pool games and dive-in movies. Across the street is Island Time, an attraction chock full of kid amusements, including Fat Daddy’s Arcade and Escape Zone 60. A few minutes of walking also lands you at the ever-favorite Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.