Coolest Fastest Way to Get Around Town

Electric Bikes!

Coastal Cruisers

Pedego Electric Bikes

Big Daddy Bikes

Birds, Limes and Jumps. You can easily pick up these electric scooters in big cities all across the country.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately as some might think), these scooters are not readily available to us here On the Coast. What IS available, though, are electric bikes! And we are super fans of them.

Electric bikes allow you to tour all our coastal towns in a day and get a real feel for each little area unique to our coast. Not only are there so many paths to ride on, but you can also stop at each quaint town and spend time shopping or enjoying the great flavors of the many restaurants and coffee houses that preside along 30A. 

Electric bikes make it so easy to travel around Sandestin too. Touring along Miramar Beach from the Silver Sands Outlet all the way to the Brooks Bridge makes for a great day now that there are sidewalks and bike paths the whole way. It sure does beat being in a car or in some cases riding manual bikes where the heat just gets to you after a while! Parking is a breeze too.  

You can pick up electric bikes at many locations On the Coast. We suggest you call ahead and reserve them because carriers have a limited supply! 

Cool factors: You don’t have to pedal the whole time, Cover a lot of distance, quickly, Gets you outdoors and active

Coastal Cruisers

12605 Emerald Coast Pkwy

Miramar Beach

850-543-6146

Pedego Electric Bikes

174 Watercolor Way #106

Santa Rosa Beach

850-598-6380

Big Daddy Bikes

2217 West 30A

Santa Rosa Beach

850-622-1165

Coolest Place to Go Wild!

Emerald Coast Zoo

So, you ask, what makes this zoo so special? Well…it’s the people! Yep. The people. Last year Rick de Ridder (Rick the Reptile Guy) from the A&E TV show “Wild Transport” heard about the Emerald Coast Zoo and how it was in danger of closure by government agencies. He knew that if the zoo closed, many of the animals there would be euthanized, and he just couldn’t just sit back and let that happen. He sold his home and all his belongings and purchased the zoo. How about that for making a difference and taking action!

Of course, he couldn’t do this without the blessings of his wife Sara and their three kids David (better known as Tarzan to the locals), Suzy, and Betsy. They purchased a large camper and moved their family of five onto the zoo property, and there they live. We can't think of many families that would even begin to make an idea like this a reality, but that's what this family does.

With the de Ridder’s love and passion for the animals they acquired comes a new passion to make the zoo survive. Many locals have rallied around them with a progressive Go Fund Me page to help with the building of the required larger, new enclosures. For the community it brings a new awareness that there is this super cool zoo right here in our backyard that so many never even knew about

The de Ridders have started new programs to bring awareness such as summer camps, goat yoga and many amazing animal encounters. Rick makes himself available to go to church groups, schools and events to educate, entertain and inform. 

This non-profit, family-owned and operated zoo is not out of the woods yet. It takes a lot of money to feed the lions and tigers (which zoo workers actually held and played with when they were just little cubs some 15 years ago) and all the other wonderful animals at The Emerald Coast Zoo. With new enclosures still being built, the zoo is asking for assistance as they are truly in need of money to improve it. With everyone’s help, they’ll be able to reap the rewards of seeing these animals live in environments more natural to them and will have continued access to these amazing animals who, for the most part, were all hand-raised at this very zoo. 

To contribute, please visit the Go Fund Me link at https://www.gofundme.com/manage/p5kmr-please-help-us-help-them

Cool Factors: So many hands on encounters, Passionately owned family non-profit, The big cats.

Emerald Coast Zoo

5262 Deer Springs Dr

Crestview, FL. 

850-682-3949

www.emeraldcoastzoo.com

Coolest Way to Catch a Wave

View fullsize

JetSurf Destin

10 Harbor Boulevard

Destin

(850) 900-7873

www.jetsurfdestin.com

Yyyyeeewww!! Tyler and Tyler, the co-owners of Jetsurf Destin, are here to bring the waves to you with motorized surfboards! Originally invented in Czech Republic by a professional surfer, the JetSurf board can reach speeds up to 37 miles per hour.  Yes...you heard that right! In other words, right here in Destin Florida, YOU can carve, grind, and fly on this board at record speeds. Jetsurf is one of a kind, and, after seeing this sport on a YouTube video, the Tylers decided to quit their jobs and move down to the beach to be the first and one of the only to bring the board to America and offer it for rental.

Though Jetsurf can be a seriously competitive sport, anyone over the age of 14 can enjoy the easy-to-ride board.  From lessons to couples surf to stunt surfing, the Tylers have created an inviting environment for everyone to enjoy. JetSurf Destin offers a full experience for those who want to learn and ride or simply chill out on their boat and giant inflatable paddle board.  In other words, we can guarantee a phenomenal time whether you are ultra competitive or just along for the ride. Tyler and Tyler are enthusiastic and committed to making JetSurf Destin a highlight of your year. Born from a need to push the limits of conventional water sports, this company is new and thriving, and with the opportunity to try a brand new and rare sport right here on the Emerald Coast, how can we pass it up?

Cool Factors:  Bragging rights for riding the best and fastest motorized surfboard in the world, Tyler and Tyler, surf with no wave

Coolest Place to Jump

View fullsize

Just Jump

11220 Hutchinson Boulevard Panama City Beach

844-344-5867

www.justjump.com

30,000 square feet of dedicated family fun (for all ages) awaits you at Just Jump Trampoline Park in Panama City Beach! Whether you’re a parent looking for a safe, fun and clean place for your kids to burn some energy or you just want a new and exciting way to get active, Jump Jump is an ideal location for you to do so. You’ll find a tumble track, two Soc-Air courts, dodgeball. basketball, a double trapeze, a Gladiator Pit, a Ninja Course and their oh-so- popular Air Bag within the walls of this epic play zone. There’s even a Kiddie Area for jumpers who are 6 and under with a huge play structure, separate trampolines, a foam pit, a climbing wall, and basketball goal! For only $15/per hour (per jumper), you can have full reign of the whole place. They offer group discounts! On Monday nights, they offer family time from 5-9pm – for just $30, a family of four can spend an hour playing and running all of that energy out. They do require grip socks, but sell them on premise if you need them!

This state-of-the-art facility is complete with a large open jump area, the latest technology and unique designs to captivate the attention of any visitor – even those who don’t wish to engage in the fun themselves. If you’re  supervising, you can treat yourself to a bout in their massage chairs or you can watch the fun from above on the mezzanine.

Not only is Just Jump a great option for the family, but it’s even better for parties. You can have the best birthday ever by letting them handle all of the details for you. They also have fantastic rates for school field trips, church groups, and group events of any size.

Cool Factors: 30,000 sq ft of fun, Subconscious Exercise, Endless Activities