If you’re looking for the perfect location with exciting activities and tourist attractions for a weekend getaway, you might want to consider visiting the city of Crestview, FL.
Situated just north of Interstate 10, between Tallahassee to the east and west of Alabama, in the Florida Panhandle, Crestview is a city with a population of over 21,000 people.
One significant feature of the state is its annual rainfall which is the second-highest in the state.
Famously known as the Hub City, Crestview sits atop a long forested ridge between the Yellow and Shoal rivers.
Crestview is home to the 7th Special Forces Group of the United States, and they reside six miles south of Crestview on the Eglin Air Force Base reservation.
Interested in all Crestview has to offer? Here’s a list of the best and most fun things to do in Crestview, FL.
Things to Do in Crestview, FL
1. Visit John McMahon Environmental Center
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Founded in 1989, John McMahon Environmental Center is an outdoor center that focuses on educating kids and adults about wildlife and nature in Crestview.
Named in honor of the late state forester who founded the organization, John McMahon Environmental Center features more than 100 native Florida trees planted in a reserved two-acre land at the center.
Visiting hours are currently undecided, although the exhibits at the center are open to and accessible to all.
John McMahon Environmental Center also contains a forestry lookout tower that ranks as the 1000th historical landmark on the National Historic Lookout Register.
Visitors can access the park during the day and enjoy the incredible scenery with friends and loved ones.
Location: 130 Butler Cir, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
2. Have Fun at Crestview Parks and Recreation Department
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Crestview is a city with numerous tourist attractions for locals and visitors, and one of those exciting places is Crestview Parks and Recreation Department.
Community Recreation and Enrichment Services (CRES) offers social and recreational fun activities in Crestview. The department aims to provide top-notch activities and cultural possibilities for the local population in the city.
Crestview Parks and Recreation Department features several sub-departments, including the Department of Public Services, which caters to most of Okaloosa County’s parks.
They also organize educational, sporting, and recreational events that create a unique experience and foster a sense of community.
Location: 100 Hathaway St S, Crestview, FL 32539, United States
3. Grab a Glass of Coffee at Casbah Coffee Company
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If you’re a coffee addict wondering and thinking of the perfect place to fulfill your coffee addiction, go no further than Casbah Coffee Company in Crestview.
Situated on West Pine Avenue in Crestview, Casbah Coffee Company is a popular location for lovers of coffee in Crestview.
Casbah Coffee Company is the only coffee pub in the region; hence its products are unique and can’t be found anywhere else in the city.
Their drink menu features a collection of tasty drinks and fresh baked goods. They also serve soups, salads, and sandwiches to complement your drinks.
The pub also stands out for its bagels and cinnamon buns. You can’t run out of what to eat and drink in Crestview, so do well to stop by this fantastic location when you visit Crestview.
Location: 196 W Pine Ave, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
4. Feed Animals at Twin Hills Park
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Twin Hills Park is a multifunctional park for all lovers of the wild in Crestview.
The park spans over 24 acres and lies off East Highway 90 in the city’s heart.
Twin Hills Park has many exciting features that make it a unique destination. The park contains a beach volleyball court and a basketball court.
Tennis lovers aren’t left out, as there are several tennis courts and pavilions with picnic tables.
Another significant feature of the park is the presence of two ponds with lighted paths, a gazebo, and a community center.
Visitors can also check out the sports fields perfect for games like soccer, football, and baseball.
You can’t run out of what to do at the park because there’s always something for everyone in Twin Hills Park.
If you’re not a fan of the activities mentioned above, you can decide to walk along the shaded tree and enjoy lovely views.
You could also feed water bodies such as ducks, turtles, and fish at the park’s covered dock.
Location: 100 Hathaway St S, Crestview, FL 32539, United States
5. Meal Treat at Desi’s Downtown Restaurant
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If you’re not a fan of crowded places, then you’ll appreciate having a meal treat with family and friends at Desi’s Downtown Restaurant.
Desi’s Downtown Restaurant is an eatery perfect for those in need of traditional and homemade dishes.
The restaurant is family-friendly, with excellent and friendly staff and a comfortable dining environment.
They offer an enticing menu with many mouth-watering dishes, including meatballs, crispy deep-fried fish, barbeque, and others.
If you’re patient enough, you may find fresh fruit and vegetables at the eatery for taking home.
Location: 197 N, Main St, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
6. Check Out Ancient Exhibits at the Air Force Armament Museum
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If you’re searching for something less touristy, you should consider visiting the Air Force Armament Museum.
Situated on Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, the Air Force Armament Museum is a state-of-the-art facility in Crestview.
It seeks to promote and preserve the ancient ideology that dropping deadly devices from airplanes on people’s heads is good politics and fun.
The Air Force Armament Museum focuses on exhibits dating back to the Korean and Vietnam War eras and modern conflicts in Iran and Afghanistan.
Significant exhibits at the museum include restored aircraft and the famous SR-71 Blackbird ( the fastest plane ever built).
Location: 100 Museum Dr, Eglin AFB, FL 32542, United States
7. Get Up Close With Animals at Emerald Coast Zoo
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Are you an animal lover? Would you love to visit a place where you can get up close with animals in Crestview? If yes, prioritize a visit to Emerald Coast Zoo on your checklist.
Emerald Coast Zoo is a wildlife haven owned and managed by reality star Rick the Reptile Guy, popular for his appearance on the A&E television show.
Since 2017, Emerald Coast Zoo has focused on creating an environment that promotes interactive animal experience and bridges the gap between humans and animals.
They achieve this through camel rides, pet sloths, and bird-feeding sessions at the zoo’s aviary.
If you feel you have what it takes to do something scary and fun, you can help with lion training sessions under the supervision of experienced animal trainers or hop with kangaroos and wallabies.
Emerald Coast Zoo is the best place to get up close with your favorite animal and even get a chance to snap and feed them.
They also offer goat yoga courses which allow participants to relate with animals while stretching in the environment.
Opening days are Tuesdays to Sundays around noon. You can also go on tours at the zoo either with a group or alone.
Location: 5262 Deer Springs Dr, Crestview, FL 32539, United States
8. Play a Ball Game at the Crestview Spanish Trail Park
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Crestview is a city with several ball fields, but none offers an unmatched fun experience like Crestview Spanish Trail Park.
Situated on Stillwell Boule just off North Ferdon Boulevard, Crestview Spanish Trail Park is a 26-acre park in Crestview.
Crestview Spanish Trail Park is home to the ancient Spanish Tail, a historic location in the city.
The park boasts different fantastic activities for both adults and children in Crestview. In addition, Crestview Spanish Trail Park hosts a soccer league during the fall and contains an adult softball complex.
Crestview Spanish Trail Park is an ideal location for events. The park fully utilizes its space and serves as the venue for popular events such as baseball tournaments, annual fairs, private rentals, and community gatherings.
If you need to shop for fresh items, you can check in the farmer’s market at the park. There are so many activities for kids to enjoy.
Location: Crestview, FL, United States
9. Grab Your Favorite Liquor at Peaden Brothers Distillery
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Peaden Brothers Distillery is one of Crestview’s best and most fun places to visit.
Peaden Brothers Distillery is a family-owned distillery located inside Crestview’s historic fox theater building, built in 1945
The distillery opened officially in 2014 and has undergone several renovations in previous years.
Founded. by business partners Robert Ellis and Tyler Peaden, The distillery features five different collections of liquor sold all year round in Crestview.
Peaden Brothers Distillery serves various liquor collections, including their signature Strawberry Angel Whiskey, dedicated to late Peaden’s late daughter.
Other drinks at the distill include Shock the Monkey Whiskey, which boasts a unique banana FLavor, Cherry Da Bomb, and Blue Berry Curve.
Peaden Brothers Distillery also specializes in traditional corn-based moonshine evoking traditional bootleg moonshine FLavors.
Guests with a tongue for a drink can engage in liquor tasting at the company’s tasting room every Wednesday to Saturday.
Location: 382 Main St, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
10. Enjoy Country Music at Panhandle Opry
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Originally initiated in 1979 by a troupe of area country and bluegrass music performers, including Woody Collins, Betty Jones, Gordon Porter, and Ed Strickland, Panhandle Opry is one of Crestview’s best musical shows.
The show started as a regular radio performance on popular stations in the city, such as Defuniak Springs’s WGTX and Crestview’s WSAZ.
The center moved its permanent site to an area in Mossy Head, where it offered bi-weekly performances from 1992 till date.
Visitors can have fun listening to live country music performances every first and third Saturday.
If you feel hungry, you can purchase a snack at the concession stand that sells hamburgers, popcorn, and hot dog.
Location: 657 DeShazo Rd, Crestview, FL 32539, United States
11. Dine and Shop at Emerald Isle Seafood Restaurant and Market
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How about visiting a place where you can simultaneously eat your favorite meal and shop for new items?
Amazing right?
Only one place in Crestview offers you a chance to shop and dine alongside the Emerald Isle Seafood Restaurant and Market.
Emerald Isle Seafood Restaurant and Market is a family-friendly dual center operating as a market and restaurant in Crestview.
They pride themselves in serving delicious, freshly caught Gulf Coast seafood. The restaurant also stands out for its delightful chef specials, which include fish taco platters, fresh catch dinners, fried and broiled seafood, and surf and turf combination entrees.
Also available at the restaurant are other mouth-watering meals like Gulf shrimp, Mississippi catfish, home-style crab cakes, fried catch platters, and cheese grits.
Visitors can also carry out their fish selections at the facility’s fresh seafood market, which sources its catches from the Gulf daily.
Location: 1260 S Ferdon Blvd, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
12. Dine at Pounders Hawaiian Grill
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Opened in 2014 as a traveling food truck by couples Skylar and Kakela Peters, Pounders Hawaiian Grill serves delicious Hawaiian-style fare prepared with Aloha spirit.
They opened their permanent business site in Crestview in 2015 and still serve their meals in a take-home container, maintaining its food truck roots.
Their special Hawaiian-style meat platters come in three different sizes, one of which is the small kine platters, a Hawaiian term that means ”just enough.”
Other meat platters include regular and pounder sizes. In addition, their menu contains meat options, including kalua pig, teriyaki steak, and garlic chicken.
Visitors at the restaurant can decide to pair their meat platter with other side dishes like macaroni salad or a glass of Hawaiian-style canned juice.
Location: 1338 N Ferdon Blvd, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
13. Play Disc Golf at Countryview Park
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If you’re a golf lover, you should consider visiting Countryview Park in Crestview.
Countryview Park is the latest park in Crestview Parks and recreation system. Like other typical parks, Countryview Park is a beautiful area with fun activities for adults and kids.
The park contains a playground with equipment for kids to play and have fun with other kids.
Countryview Park is a 33-acre facility with a covered picnic pavilion, drinking fountain, restrooms, and a kid’s playground.
There’s also a fenced-in field perfect for kids and adults to relax or take a walk.
Countryview Park features a golf course of about 2.7 miles where beginners and advanced players can showcase their golf prowess in the city.
Residents of the Countryview Subdivision and the southern part of Crestview take pride in Countryview Park as a neighborhood attraction.
Location: Northview Park Dr, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
14. Eat Italian Cuisine at The Wild Olive
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Initially opened in 2007, The Wild Olive is an Italian restaurant that serves Italian cuisine in Crestview.
The restaurant offers a casual dining experience for locals and visitors in the region.
The Wild Olive seeks to create an excellent dining environment that reFLects in-house dining for people in Crestview. It hopes to achieve this by incorporating home-style decor elements throughout its dining room.
They offer tasty traditional entree, which includes meals like fettuccine alfredo, chicken parmesan, buttermilk fried chicken, and blackened shrimp and grits.
Their menu covers meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their lunch menu boasts numerous delicious delicacies, including bacon-wrapped jalapeños, sandwiches, and burgers, while their breakfast menu contains bread pudding and housemade buttermilk pancakes.
Location: 797 N Pearl St, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
15. Eat Delicious Hub City Smokehouse and Grill
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How would you rate visiting a place that serves delicious barbecue in a scenic and fantastic environment?
Well, if you’re a lover of traditional barbecue, you should prioritize Hub City Smokehouse and Grill at the top of your itinerary list.
Hub City Smokehouse and Grill is a popular barbecue spot in Crestview. Lori and Mike Carroll opened the site a decade ago, sometime around 2011, before moving to its current location in 2015.
They offer meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all through the week and are open from Monday to Saturday as early as 6:00 am.
Aside from its signature barbecue, Hub City Smokehouse and Grill also serve other enticing meals like beef brisket, smoked pork, and Louis-style baby back ribs paired with baked beans, Cole slaw, and photo salad.
They also serve barbecue sandwiches alongside appetizers such as onion ring towers, cheese fries, and loaded nachos.
Location: 168 S Main St, Crestview, FL 32536, United States
16. Learn About Scientific Facts at The Emerald Coast Science Center
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Emerald Coast Science Center is one of the best and most fun places to visit in Crestview.
Due to the alluring water shades of blue that vary from turquoise jade, and emerald, locals refer to Emerald Coast as the coastline along the Gulf of Mexico.
Emerald Coast Science Center is a tourist center situated on SW Memorial Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. The area is best for travelers who desire to include learning in their kid’s vacation activities.
Emerald Coast Science Center focuses on activities relating to science, history, culture, and the natural world. It also includes mind-challenging topics like robotics.
Emerald Coast Science Center staff is polite and knowledgeable about most of the exhibits and topics taught at the center. In addition, they help to ensure that guests, either adults or kids get great fun while learning at the center.
You can check their website for class schedules and other details if you want to know more about Emerald Coast Science Center.
Location: 31 Memorial Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, United States
17. Take Kids to Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
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If you’re in the mood for something adventurous, try visiting Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone in Crestview.
Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone lies on Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. The area is relatively modern and a fun place for kids.
The center comprises over 20,000 square feet and boasts numerous fun activities for people of all ages, from an arcade room to a 3-D movie theater and different laser games.
Visit with your family and friends and endeavor to come early because Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone is one of those fun zones that leaves you with incredible encounters and makes you lose track of time.
Visit Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone and get thrilled at the countless fun activities in the area.
The things to do in Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone are too numerous to mention, and one is sure you won’t ever feel bored at the center, so make sure you stop by before you leave Crestview.
There’s also an onsite food concession in the area, so just in case you feel hungry, you can visit the stands to purchase your favorite snack and drink.
Location: 1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, United States
18. Destin History and Fishing Museum
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Florida is a city with more coastline than any other state. The town has a rich fishing history that spans centuries.
Located on Stahlam Avenue, Destin History and Fishing Museum is a great place to learn about fishes and how they impacted Florida’s history.
There are numerous items on display at the museum, including fishing equipment, photos, and a wide range of stuffed game fish commonly found in the region.
Although most of the Destin History and Fishing Museum exhibit focuses on fish, a few others also contain information on the area’s history and culture.
So whether you wish to learn about fish or Crestview’s history, Destin History and Fishing Museum is the perfect fit for you.
Visitors can also go on guided tours either personally or in groups.
Location: 108 Stahlman Ave, Destin, FL 32541, United States
19. Go Back in Time at Baker Block Museum
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Located in Baker, FL, Baker Block Museum is a history and genealogy museum in Okaloosa County. The museum focuses on preserving information on the history of the Florida Panhandle and the county.
The museum contains ancient artifacts that date back to the region’s early days.
Baker Block Museum features a log cabin, corn crib, post office, mill, blacksmith shop, and an outhouse that contains antiques, tools, and a period display.
The museum also contains an assortment of vintage garments, uniforms, and exhibitions.
There’s a gift shop at the museum to purchase souvenirs and other gift items for your friends and family.
Location: 1307 State Rd. 4 & FL-189, Baker, FL 32531, United States