Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico may have made headlines this summer, but lionfish are the real Jaws of the sea. The Indo-Pacific fish has devoured up to 90% of native fish in areas of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Destin-Ft. Walton Beach hosts the largest invasive lionfish collection and outreach event in the world. As a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week, I met excited conservationists, divers/hunters, chefs, and servers who educate the public on the most effective way to combat the lionfish invasion one bite at a time.
Lionfish multiply and consume at a rate that sounds like science fiction. Females can spawn from 27,000 to 100,000 eggs every 2.5 days. They invaded the western Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean where they have no natural predators by way of people dumping them from aquariums and from transport boats sunk by Hurricane Andrew.
One lionfish can consume 20 fish (each over one-half of their body size) in 30 minutes. They eat over 100 species of native fish (including 30 Gulf species like groupers, snappers, and lobsters). With rising water temperatures scientists predict lionfish will also invade coastlines in France, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, South Africa, and New Zealand. Another study found that Lionfish can eat 42% more food during the months when the water is warmer. Unlike most fish, Lionfish use more energy digesting food than they do swimming. They can eat 30 times their stomach volume. The good news is they move slowly, so divers find them easy to spear. Even with puncture-resistant gloves, however, harvesters must be careful to avoid the fish’s 18 needle-like spines. If pierced by one of them, the venom is very painful and could cause an allergic reaction.
During Restaurant Week I spoke with Coastal Resources Manager and Fisheries Biologist Alex Fogg whose method of lionfish removal in the Gulf has been so successful that he has he has teamed with global researchers to quell the invasion in the Mediterranean Sea. While he continues developing traps and remotely operated vehicles for harvesting lionfish from depths beyond diver accessibility, his main initiative — the largest lionfish hunt and festival in the world — provides a successful means of removal already within reach. In 2023, over 24,000 were cleared from the Destin-Ft. Walton Beach area. In 2024 despite storm conditions, over 11,844 were harvested at the yearly event and a record number of prizes were won. Join or sponsor the 2025 hunt here.
Lionfish are safe, nutritious, and delicious. Unlike pufferfish that are poisonous and need to be prepared by a professional, lionfish are venomous because of their spines. Once the spines are removed, lionfish are safe to handle and can be fried, broiled, or baked. They can be, served as sushi or in tacos — in many delicious ways. As the authors of The Lionfish Cookbook claim, “there’s no ‘greener’ fish you can eat.”
You can request lionfish at your local fish market or — if you’d rather leave cooking to the chefs (imagine a Lion vs. Bear challenge), then request lionfish be added to your local restaurant menu. We can create a demand in the hospitality industry, greatly impacting removal efforts as one way of saving our seas.
I also joined a demonstration by local artist, Harley Van Hyning, who gave children an art/conservation lesson on lionfish. Check out his work using the century-old Japanese art form of Gyotaku below and here.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Destin-Ft. Walton Beach for this event. The cookbook mentioned has an affiliate link. The opinions here, as always, are my own.
Disclosure: I was invited by Destin-Ft. Walton Beach as a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament Restaurant Week (more in next post). Since 2021 I’ve attended their live virtual media events to learn about “Little Adventures” — interactive experiences offered after COVID-19 to get children and their families outside. The initiative was such a success that in 2024 they’ll offer 700 free classes through local businesses and four outposts. I’m convinced this is THE Florida beach destination laser-focused on children and conservation. They’re the experts at creating both a bonding family vacation and a summer camp experience for all ages. As always, the opinions here are my own.
Best of Both Worlds: Summer Camp AND Family Vacation
Since the 1940s, my mom’s family has vacationed in the Florida panhandle. My dad went with us. Once. He preferred camping and fishing with Mom, my sister, and me in Kentucky. Our den was full of his fishing tournament trophies, so — no surprise — on his first cast into the Gulf of Mexico, he caught (and released) a sand shark. I wanted to fish in the ocean, too.
Our family started vacationing on Florida’s Emerald Coast in the 1940s.
I went to a Conservation Camp at Land Between the Lakes when I was eleven with my friend Sally. We won badges for archery, boating, swimming, and fishing, but cried every night in our bunks. Instead of gaining confidence from our new skills or feeling energized by adventure, we felt like wimps for missing our families. Some kids are ready for a week away from parents at that age. I wasn’t until I was a teen.
I signed up for Conservation Camp to please Dad. I figured I’d love it because I loved fishing with him. He’d crank the Mercury motor to a roar, then tame it to a growl as we glided through the No Wake Zone. When we took off full throttle, the bow bucked as we slammed across the waves. My sister and I laughed until we cried in the spray. When we reached his secret fishing spots, we’d troll into the brush and bait our hooks with minnows slippery and cold. I still like lakes — so much so that I live on one.
Old Hickory Lake is part of Lake Cumberland running between Nashville and Hendersonville, Tennessee.
But since I was a kid, I dreamed of living on snow-white sand beside the emerald waters of Florida. I would have loved a summer camp where we studied creatures of the sea. When I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, I remember thinking: Meh. Space is cool, but I want to see what lives in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Nothing but blue skies and emerald water for exploring the Gulf of Mexico. Photo Credit: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
Dad passed away at 57. Too soon. I’m grateful for all the summers we fished in Kentucky and that wonderful week we spent on The Emerald Coast when he went, too.
Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Offers Little Adventures With BIG Payoffs
Many Experiences are Free.
I returned to Destin recently where I’d vacationed years ago with my daughter and son. We did a dolphin cruise there with their cousins, but now the area is THE Florida destination for LITTLE ADVENTURES with BIG payoffs. For parents stressed about choosing between the cost of summer camp and family vacation, here you get the best of both worlds: free classes in nature led by expert instructors (“scouts” much like camp counselors) AND SO MANY bonding experiences for the whole family. Most of the free classes last about an hour.
Destin-Ft. Walton Beach has Pickleball courts and reefs for diving for “Big Kid” Adventures, too. . Photo Credits: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
To help you decide which class or experience is right for your child based on age, interest, and other factors, they have online “scouts,” too — a Mom Squad (see chat box). In an age when most websites are run by bots, I can not stress enough how helpful speaking with local parents is. I chatted online with several of them who gave me invaluable intel. I loved staying at Henderson Beach Resort which provides bikes for Henderson State Park. You can also camp at the park. One of the Little Adventures meeting points is a short walk away.
Little Adventures meeting point located off Florida 30-A near Henderson Beach Resort.
Special thanks to Hayley Ardoin who emailed me this list of free family activities:
Little Adventures include fishing from the pier, kayak, charter boat, or paddle board. Photo Credit: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach
Summer Camp and Family Vacation: Memories Across Generations
It turned out that while I was in Destin exploring Little Adventures, my cousins were having them — riding waves and building sandcastles with experts just down the beach.
Uncle Preston and his great-grandson, Preston, on Florida’s Emerald Coast.Patterson, Preston, and Parker with their instructor from Skim the Gulf Destin. Photo Credit: Courtney NolandDan Castles is another Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Little Adventure. Learn more here. Photo Credits for shots above and below: Courtney NolandSkim the GulfSkim the GulfDan CastlesDan Castles instructor shows Parker, Patterson, and Preston sandcastle options for inspiration. Photo Credit: Courtney Noland
Benefits of Playing in Nature: Family Bonding, Emotional Health, and Increased I.Q.
Traveling is therapy for adults and children. According to Dr. Margot Sunderland, child psychotherapist, author of What Every Parent Needs to Know, and Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, family vacations make children happier and smarter. Time away from work, school, and other obligations gives parents and children time for “attachment play” — unstructured time together in the pool, playing miniature golf, or fishing. She says this is crucial for bonding and self-esteem.
She adds:
But holidays aren’t just about bonding; they also help develop a child’s brain. On a family trip, you get to exercise two genetically ingrained systems in the brain’s limbic area: for “Play” and for “Seeking” (terms coined by Professor Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University.) The Play system kicks in every time you bury your child’s feet in the sand; the Seeking system is exercised each time you go exploring together.
Once you activate these systems in your own brain and that of your child, they trigger neurochemicals which reduce stress and promote warm feelings. With both limbic systems firing, family members can refuel emotionally….Using the Play and Seeking systems well brings about growth in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in cognitive functioning, social intelligence and goal-directed behaviours.
Dr. Sunderland also noted that scientists have proven that just 20 minutes of “Green play” in a natural setting improves concentration.
(Green play) calms the body, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels… enriched environments — those that offer opportunities for social, physical, cognitive and sensory interaction — turn on the genetic expression of key ‘brain fertilisers’ in the frontal lobe, enhancing functions such as stress regulation and concentration, and improving physical and mental health. The brain fertilisers triggered in enriched environments are also associated with higher IQ in children.”
Big Adventures for the Whole Family: Destin Inshore Guides
So about that dream I had of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico… thanks to Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun, owners of Destin Inshore Guides and Emerald Coast Bait and Tackle, and hosts of the new series on Waypoint TV, Goin’ Coastal, it finally came true!
Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun of Destin Inshore Guides offer Charters for Fishing with Kids in Destin-Ft. Walton Beach. Watch their adventures on Goin’Coastal on Waypoint TV.
Josh has worked on boats since he was 14. Since he and Anna were teens, the high school sweethearts have fished together. Now parents to two young daughters, they specialize in Charters for Fishing with Kids.
Unlike most companies in Destin that require a 4-hour minimum, they offer two or three-hour fishing trips that are kid-centric. Moms know that the old adage, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” isn’t true. As Anna laughed, “Everyone knows the youngest child controls family vacations.” If children decide they don’t like fishing, no problem. Captain Josh revs the motor and off they go on a dolphin or sea turtle search. They are experts in making family time fun on and off the water. To their daughters’ delight, the couple recently bought Goofy Golf, a Ft. Walton family institution since the 1950s.
Storms were rolling in (later that night there was a flash flood warning and tornado watch) so though we could see schools of redfish, they weren’t biting. During our three hours of fishing, we spotted two dolphins and I did catch (almost) three fish. None were edible and the biggest, a ladyfish — you guessed it — was the one that got away. Smart girl, she flipped off the hook when I tried to get her into the boat. Still, fishing with this couple was the highlight of my recent trip to Destin-Ft. Walton Beach. It was such an adventure, and they’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet!
The Edge Restaurant and Sky Bar: Delicious Fresh Catch (Whether Yours or Not)
Fishing charters are gulf to table or catch and release. The Edge Seafood Restaurant was on standby to cook my catch. Anna called The Edge to say we were coming in empty-handed. I was thrilled to hear what they were frying up as Plan B — a whole red snapper with pineapple mango salsa and coconut rice — my favorite fish dish since living in The Dominican Republic! We pulled into a slip and headed upstairs to the Sky Bar for lunch with a panoramic view of Destin Harbor, East Pass, and The Gulf of Mexico and live music.
The Edge Restaurant and Sky Bar, located on Harbor Blvd, is easily reached by car or boat.
The award-winning local hangout is the best perch in town for watching 4th of July fireworks, Christmas Boat Parade, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet of the world’s largest charter boat brigade. I appreciated meeting the owners, Chris and Heather Thomas, on their way to their child’s graduation. Their family roots include local fishermen. The Edge, built over the water, is named for the popular fishing spot where the continental shelf drops off just a few miles off the coast. Downstairs is casual family dining. They have several parking slips for boats. Upstairs is adults-only where friends gather on couches and around fire pits and the spacious bar. The view was spectacular and the food and cocktail delicious.
I was so excited to be on the water in Destin fishing and seeing Crab Island that I called dolphin “big fish.” Sign me up for this class immediately!
Whether the weather and fishing in Destin-Ft. Walton Beach is typical or not, families go home with summer camp and family vacation memories. Children actually look forward to writing that first fall homework assignment — an essay on “What I Did On My Summer Break.”
Henderson Beach Resort is a New England- style luxury complex in Destin, Florida. Photo Credit: Destin-Fort Walton BeachGuests at Henderson Beach Resort and Henderson Inn enjoy a private, spacious beach that runs along the coastline of Henderson State Park. Photo Credit: Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Destin-Ft. Walton Beach and partners, including Henderson Beach Resort. As always, the opinions here are my own.
I was invited to be a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament Restaurant Week and Festival to learn how we can best fight the lionfish invasion one delicious bite at a time. I grew up fishing with my dad in Kentucky and vacationing on the Florida Gulf. Also, I enjoyed editing articles about sea creatures for A-Z Animals and believe that adults — not just students — should be able to write an essay titled “What I Learned on My Summer Vacation.” So after some research and a Zoom call, my response was a no-brainer. “I’m in!” Now I’m obsessed with lionfish and I’ll explain why (stay tuned).
For over a decade, solo travel has been my go-to when I need to rest and reset, but I knew that returning to a place with so many memories of vacationing with family and friends would be bittersweet. After many years away, I wasn’t surprised that Destin is off the chain with so many locally owned businesses, but it’s also now a major hub for global brands. Destin Commons alone has over 85 stores and restaurants. See where to eat and drink — iconic hangouts and new finds — listed at the bottom of this post. In the next post, I’ll share my adventure on the World’s Largest Charter Fishing Fleet in the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village and “Little Adventures” with a Mom Squad to help parents choose what’s age-appropriate and of interest to their children. Orlando may be the “Magic Kingdom” with Disney and Universal Studios, but Destin-Ft. Walton Beach is Florida’s kid-centric beach “Wild Kingdom.” As a new grandmother, I love that.
I also LOVED Henderson Beach Resort. Its location makes it a great home base to explore all that the area offers but be warned. It’s like Hotel California (in a good way). You can check out anytime you like, but you may never leave.
Smitten at First Sight
My 72-hour stay was booked from Thursday through Sunday. My flight was scheduled to arrive by noon, giving me the afternoon to unwind at the resort. After finishing my 43rd year of teaching (I’m also a caregiver of a parent), I couldn’t wait to splash in the pool, hot tub, and Gulf, then nap on a beach lounger under an umbrella. Sadly, my Thursday morning flight was canceled due to storms and rescheduled for Friday. Thankfully, my prayer was answered. I switched airlines and got the last seat on Southwest (they have the fastest route from Nashville to VPS). I arrived at the property five hours later than originally planned — only an hour before I’d need to Uber to our group dinner — but that was long enough to fall in love! Cue Etta James!
A lounger and umbrella on the private beach of Henderson Beach Resort is my idea of paradise.
Below is a quick tour of Henderson Beach Resort’s private beach, adult and family pools, hot tub, lazy river, vintage photography, and suite overlooking Henderson State Park and the Emerald Coast. Staff members, like Crystal Wisdom in the video at the rooftop bar and Gabby Armijos at Henderson Inn (the resort’s sister property where you access the beach), give a Southern-sized welcome that makes you feel at home.
Where To Be When Blue Skies Turn Gray
Sadly, the theme song of the weekend changed to another Ella Fitzgerald classic.
I remembered nothing but blue skies over Destin on previous trips, but on Friday, there was a tornado and flash flood watch. Storms loomed the next morning, so my beach yoga class was canceled. The Lionfish Festival scheduled for Saturday was rained out. Conservation and Cocktails was moved to Sunday when I’d be on a plane headed home. And yet, I had amazing new experiences on and around the water with Captain Josh and Anna Calhoun of Destin Inshore Guides; the Destin-Ft. Walton team and other guests at Harbor Tavern and AJs; Heather and Chris Thomas, owners of The Edge Restaurant and SkyBar; and artist Harley Van Hyning — all of which I’ll share in the next post.
I’m energized by new adventures and nice people. When bad weather created an itinerary plot twist, I powered on in the rain Saturday afternoon. I planned to return to AJs on Saturday night after a bubble bath. It was my last night — last chance — to dance to the band as I’d done with friends for years. The rain had stopped, and I might meet someone interesting.
From the tub, I could see the city skyline in the distance beckoning. From the wedding reception below, I could hear the band playing Whitney Houston’s, “I Want to Dance With Somebody.”
I wrapped myself in a robe and took my glass of wine to the balcony. Straight ahead was the lush, green park. To my left, waves crashed along the coast. Below, under a big white tent, the wedding party was in full swing. Above, the sky was painted by a beautiful sunset. I stayed on the balcony in the dark, enjoying the music and glow of a bonfire beneath me. Rather than go out, I indulged in guilty pleasures.
I slid under cool sheets and toasted the new season of Bridgerton. I popped another chocolate truffle into my mouth. Who did I think I was, Queen Charlotte, the Queen of England, lounging about eating bon bons? I remembered the phrase Dolce far Niente that Italians taught me twenty years ago. Ah, “the sweetness of doing nothing,” I relaxed to the rhythm of the tide, breathed in the salty air, let go of doing, and enjoyed just being.
Welcome gifts — California wine, the chef’s chocolate truffles, and San Pellegrino — were waiting at Henderson Beach. Resort. There’s a station with my favorite Starbucks coffee in the room and across the hall where there’s also sparkling water on tap.
A Sunny Sunday Kind Of Love
On Sunday morning, Ella was singing a new song in my head.
I walked on the beach, then journaled and had breakfast on the wraparound porch at Henderson Park Inn just steps from the water. I met a couple who had returned to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Later I relaxed on the softest, whitest sand to the sounds of waves and children laughing in the surf. I had an 11 AM Uber to catch.I made a wish. Please let all departing flights be canceled today …
Henderson Beach Resort was the sum of my favorite things. New England-style seaside elegance. A safe community with onsite events, a fitness center, a spa, great restaurants, two bars with live music, and bikes included with the resort fee. White sand and Caribbean-colored waters on a private beach off Old Florida’s Highway 98.
They made everything so easy. Lingering over coffee on the balcony. Going up for a rooftop drink and live music. Going down for big breakfasts and dinner at Primrose where I had a luscious fillet of beef. My massage was so soothing I fell asleep. Kirstin is amazing!
Breakfast at Henderson Beach Resort is served in the Primrose dining room or you can opt for room service and eat on your balcony.Henderson Beach Resort has an adult-only pool but the result is family-friendly.The massage by Kirstin at The Henderson Spa began by choosing from quality oils (I always choose Neroli Blossom which reminds me of living in Morocco) and ended with Tibetin chime (needed because I was so relaxed I fell asleep).Henderson Park Inn is an adults-only getaway where couples honeymoon and return for anniversaries.200-acre Henderson State Park separates Henderson Beach Resort and Henderson Park Inn from high-season crowds.There’s nothing like Florida’s Emerald Coast.
When I did leave the resort, my favorite spot was the sister property, Henderson Park Inn, a beautiful place to journal and watch waves over breakfast.
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