One of the best things I have ever experienced from all my yearly trips to Florida!!!! read more

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Well, over glorified spot to my taste. According to my youngest if "you enjoy walking half waist in water and hang out on the boat" it's your place. Unless you come to drink, have a little kids and like wet obstacle stuff it's not really so fun as they advertise. Great party spot no doubt, just not for us. Food was good surprisingly read more

Despite the fact that I've been coming to Destin since I was a guppy, I had never once stepped foot onto the shallow isle where one might find crabs...crustacean or otherwise. While it is preferable to be rolling deep with a good crew to hit up such a spot, three of us ventured out to the island on our rented pontoon boat. It is absolutely gorgeous out there and a good expanse of space. We went on a less crowded Memorial Day. Because our radio wasn't working, we crept around near various boats with boombastic jams that might suit our fancy, finally settling near the stationary dock/bar that had a DJ. Apparently on a less windy day they would have had a volleyball net out there. There are ice cream boats that come around to quell the heat if you're interested, and there is an inflatable course you can run too but I didn't find out much about that. There was a hodge podge of families seeking solace in the shallows as well as girls gone wild-esque bikini grinding and stripper poles. I would say check the boats around you before anchoring just to get a feel for what you're in the mood for on your epic trip out. Things To Bring: -A boat with an awning/shade. Don't be cray cray and get out there and not have any shade what-so-ever. Your future self sans skin cancer will thank you. -Beer AND water. Hydrate to dehydrate, ya' heard. -Plenty of waterproof sunscreen, shades, maybe a cap when you're roaming the shallows. Re-apply often. -Towels, for drying off just to realize that you want to jump back in the water. -Sandwiches, chips, fruit. The best food trifecta ever for chillin' in the shallows. -$ if you run out of said sandwiches, beer or water. -Volleyball, football, frisbee...something to aimlessly throw back and forth. -Tunes, sometimes the boat you rent doesn't have tunes so make sure to bring a jam box. -Floaties and rope, so you can pass out and still be tied to the boat OR your friends -Friends you can trust not to abandon you (see other reviews; unless you can find totally awesome dudes to rescue you, make out with, get sensitive parts of your body pierced, and score a delicious Applebee's meal from) -A sense of adventure and acceptance... You're going to see a broad spectrum of folks, and maybe you might be the 30 year old broad watching a gaggle of high school/college chicas bouncing bikinis off each other starboard with your boyfriend and his friend, whose eyes are glazing over.... You don't have to teach them what you learned on Bourbon Street that one Wednesday night, but avoid stink eyeing them supes hard, #saltlife #crabsohard. I will definitely be returning 'cause it was a great way to spend an afternoon, but I think anyone's good times will be amplified by bringing more friends and going on a day that's popular since I think they have more going on with the stationary platform out there during busier days. read more

This is going to be long, and very blunt. So please excuse me. Crab Island is a great place to spend an afternoon enjoying the water and the scenery of one of the most beautiful places in the south. My family spends many weekends there when the weather cooperates. But Crab Island can be a very dangerous place, and "first-timers" and novice boaters need to understand what's going on out there. The current runs over the island, and it can be pretty swift...faster than you can swim. Unattended kids (and dogs) can get in a lot of trouble, very quickly. Drunk boaters are almost as dangerous as the novice boaters who rent pontoon boats and tempt fate as they stumble around Destin pass. Destin Pass is no place for first-time boaters or people who don't understand the dangers of operating a lumbering boat in swift current, around structure, swimmers, fishing lines from off the bridge, and lots of other boats, many operated by drunks or novice boaters who know very little about their boat, or about the waterway. People get hurt out there. Some visitors have returned home in a box. On an "average" Sunday in Destin Pass you'll see more stupid people operating boats than you'll probably see anywhere in the country, except maybe Panama City at Spring Break. Rookies on jet-skis are constantly making sharp turns and dangeous maneuvers around larger, heaver boats. Many who rent pontoon boats are only seconds away from tragedy, never realizing the danger they're in. I recently watched a guy pull a full pontoon in on the "up-current" side of Dewey Destin's docks in a fast, outgoing tide. As the boat started to disappear under the dock his entire family rushed to the upstream side of the boat...to "safety." Their weight lowered the up-current side, and raised the side of the boat that was alrady under the docks even further, giving the current got a better grip on the boat, and pushing it even further under the dock. The driver throttled up quickly and plowed his way out, tearing the starboard side railing and seating off the boat as he went. Had he hit that throttle a second or two later he would have had a prop spinning around him and his family as the boat was sucked under the dock. I'd estimate that a third of the boats near Crab Island on a weekend day are being operated by inexperienced people. And this is a very congested and dangerous waterway. If you see a pontoon boat with large numbers or a business name in large print on the side, chances are its being operated by a tourist who is clueless about his/her surroundings. Specific to the "island," parents really need to keep their eyes on the kids out there. This is not a place where you simply MUST watch your kids constantly. When things go bad here, they go bad very quickly. When you notice the first sign of danger you must react quickly and aggressively to protect your kids. Boats move through the other boats and the crowd all the time. Many of the boaters trying to slip through the crowds are inexperienced drivers trying to do pinpoint navigation as the boats, people and current move around them. Boats break lose of their anchor lines and pushed by strong current, can plow through anything in their path. And kids don't always pay attention to what's going on around them, especially when they're having fun. Small kids don't understand the dangers of running boat motors. Turn your back to your kids as they play in the water, just for a minute, and they could have a boat on top of them before you even realize they're in danger. Crab Island is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family. But the dangers of the natural elements of the waterway and the bridge and dock structures, combined with the drunk boaters create a situation that can become tragic in a hurry. Add to that dozens of tourists who have little to no experience operating boats, all moving about in one of the most dangerous passes in America, and you're in a situation where disaster is only a few seconds away, all day long. If you're a first-time or novice boater thinking of renting a jet ski or a pontoon to spend the day in Destin Pass (or around Crab Island), please be sure to take sometime to learn the "rules of the road." Ask the rental company about the dangers of operating in fast current around structures, like docks and piers, bridge pilings, and other boats. Learn a little about how the boat you're renting maneuvers in current before you start trying to operate is in a very dense-traffic environment like Destin Pass. No matter where you are around Crab Island there's something stupid going on within 100 yards. Don't go home from Destin in a box. Don't go to Crab Island for a great day with the family and return home with one less child. Learn safe boating skills, and educate yourself on what this waterway is like before you venture out there. And have a nice day! read more

I love crab island. We had the best day ever. But then, around 4pm, after participating in a "bud light shower," from some random boat with a bunch of guidos, my group of girlfriends and I realized that the idiot man we were with had left us on the island. My friends and I were stranded in 3 ft water with no phones, cash or dignity. Then, out of nowhere, some nice drunk sunburned people offered to give us a ride back to shore. We actually went 45 minutes the opposite direction via boat but that's ok. We ended up making out with all of them, getting our nipples pierced, and getting a free Applebee's meal from them. Love crab island. read more

This is a must when you are at the Gulf Coast. Clear water, friendly people, & a great time!!

I love crab island. I even got a free tshirt when I showed a 12 year old my goods. I don't even care that it's muddy. They have the best hotdogs in destin. I basically rode around on an inflatable gator the whole day and got drunk with my girlfriends. It was fun. Then we found a floating jacuzzi, got in and were all showed with bud light. I recommend crab island. read more

Fun for the kids. My family rented a pontoon boat and anchored out there for a few hours. Bought wristbands for the younger kids so they could play on the obstacle course, which they enjoyed. If you want to avoid the partiers, definitely go on a weekday. When we went there were only a few other boats. Also, even though the water is shallow (probably around 4 feet), there is a steady current, so keep an eye on the kids. Probably wouldn't spend a whole day there, but it's a nice place to stop at for a while. read more

Crab Island is always fun. Everyone should give this hangout spot a go. The inflatable obstacle course is a great attraction for the kids. the price is $20 for two hours or $50 for the entire day. read more

This place is so fun! I'm so glad we were able to get the boat out and that the weather cleared coz this was probably the highlight of our trip. The walk between vendors were a bit far so definitely take paddle boards, kayaks or jet skis to make for easier trek to and from and around crab island. But once we finished exploring and got settled where our boat was it became a very relaxing and fun experience. There weren't any jellyfishes this time of year as I've heard there can be a lot. The water was a little cold at first but you adjust as you stay in the water. Bring frisbees, football, or anything to play on the water. The kids enjoyed the floating bounce house but most of the obstacles were hard. One hour access is $15 per child and $20 for two hours. Unless you know your kid will utilize two hours then one will suffice. Our kids maybe lasted 10 minutes. They wanted to just swim and play in the water instead. Oh well. Fun little spot; only accessible by boat so definitely plan ahead and book one. The pontoon boats with a slide and diving deck was a popular choice. Add this to your destin bucket list! read more

Is not a family friendly place to stay I saw a tampon just floating in the water and a inflated penis on a boat with a place filled with people grinding on each other read more

Wear life jackets. It looks safe but it's not, especially at the edges and in crowds. For God's sake at least put life jackets on your kids. Research the drownings out there and you will see. Save yourself the grief my family has to endure now. read more

SUCH a scam. Save your money and stay on the beaches.$400 to drive out 5 min into the worst crowds.

When you walk all the way to get food and back to the boat check throughly that all your food is there. I was missing a meal when I got back to our boat. Also they are not allowed to sell alcohol so bring your own. It was $11 for a daiquiri. It was $30 for a burger, hotdog, and fries. read more

Fun place to go sit on the bayside. This was our second time we have eaten there. It is a shack, you go to the window to order and eat at wooden picnic tables. I get crab stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon and deep fried. Yum yum! read more

Had a really great time at crab island today ! This was mine and my family's first time going and it was quite an experience! It was absolutely beautiful out in the water and there was so much stuff to do . Also the two guys who were the captains of the boat we was on was great ! Very nice and made sure that we all had a great experience! I would deffinately do this again! Also it started to storm while we was out there so since we had to leave they took us out to a clear area and let us see dolphins to make up for lost time we got to have at crab island ! read more

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Crab Island day on our vacation was hands down my favorite day! We rented a pontoon boat and came out around 10am. There were a lot of jellyfish in the morning that made it difficult to just sit back and relax, plus were getting slight stings all morning, but they cleared out by the afternoon. We took our son to the inflatable obstacle course and we all played for an hour! It was quite the workout ;) We hunted for hermit crabs and found a ton! Paddle boarding was also pretty reasonably priced so we took turns for a while. We walked over to Reef Burger and it was fabulous!! I would go back to Crab Island any day! read more

I had heard a lot about crab island when mentioning I was going to Destin. I went with a group of four people and we rented tandem kayaks for $60 for 4 hours and we had a blast! There are floating restaurants and even an ice cream boat! read more

Very fun place! We rented a pontoon boat and had a blast at crab island! If you have a chance to go, do it! It's probably not an ideal spot for little kids. read more

The island was awesome. Water was crystal clear!! The obstacle course was fun for everyone. We tried a few of the places on the water. The water world bar was not so great. The bartender/ owner was really rude and nasty. Im not sure if she was just having a bad day or what but I suggest if your going to spend 15$ on a drink go over to the red building. read more

My family and I were in Destin for a weeks vacation and this place was the highlight of our trip! We rented a pontoon for a half day and loved crab island. As the kids played on the water trampolines and slides, hubby and I waded in waist high water soaking up the sun. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the whole crab island empire, Eric. He was a fun and interesting character.this is a must on any trip to Destin. read more

Great place to go if you have a boat. Make sure you go there near High tide when the water is clearer. Try to keep your anchor line short so you don't inconvenience other boats trying to move in or out. The water is only several feet deep and you don't need more than 10 or 15 feet at most. read more

Fantastic! The bunch of different colors you see in water around crab island are spectacular. I can still close my eyes and remember such gorgeous scenery. You need to boat around bay for this. read more

Went on the crab island tour with my family and had a great time. There are some boats that sell food which is nothing extraordinary but it's not bad. We captain Larry and he was a blast! Very personable and funny and showed my family and I a great time! read more

A must do in Destin Florida! There's a new boat in Sandestin called the SunVenture that does weekly Crab Island cruises. You have to drive to the harbor to catch other Crab Island cruises so this one saves time! read more