We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Big Kahuna's to provide all Ocean Reef vacation rental guests with discounted tickets to their famed Water Park in Destin, Florida. Here at Ocean Reef we are pleased to be able to offer you and your family this additional "thank you" for being our guests. As many of you know, Ocean Reef already provides our guests with other complimentary tickets as well as other discounts for area attractions. These perks also include a free round of golf, a "buy one get one free" dinner cruise aboard the luxurious SS Solaris and free video rentals. (Check out our Reef Rewards.)

Big Kahuna's has become a Destin landmark over the years as a family destination favorite for fresh water fantasy, thrill rides and lushly landscaped miniature golf courses. This refreshing paradise is known especially for the creation of a tropical water world fantasia complete with waterfalls, a myriad of spurting fountains, awesome slides, rivers for tubing, white water rapids and even some big wave action. 

This fun, water filled oasis includes the following adventures:

Bombs Away Bay, a lagoon with waterfalls cascading down rocky cliffs into a fountain festooned basin which includes a wrecked Pirate Ship with a big bomber airplane hovering overhead; The Cobra Twister, a slow moving twisting slide for kids and the faint of heart; Crocodile Flats, twirling slides specially made for youngsters which deposit them into a basin with crocodile floats and an abandoned ship; Hammerhead, two slides that descend from the Temple of Doom into a splash zone below; The Honolulu Half Pipe, an amazing wave action pool that swirls 36,000 gallons of water per minute where you can catch a wave, surf or go body boarding; The Humanga River, a little white water action for tubing with splashy currents which lead down to Crocodile Flats; Jumanji, a seventy foot long free fall tube where you can plummet down to the water below in the dark; The Lazy River, a relaxing excursion on inner tubes where you can float lazily by the landscaped scenery and drift under sparkling waterfalls; The Maui Pipeline Speed Slides, a triple set of slides that offer another free fall opportunity with rocketing speed; The Monkey River, a basin containing a slide that spins you around with 360 degree turns; Pleasure Island on the Raging Rhino River, a virtual paradise for kids in low depth water with more crocodiles and even a giant octopus that provides a surprise soaking; Thunder River, another excursion with sloping rapids that spin and turn through chutes that go past lush landscapes before splashing down into the Humanga River and The Tiki River Run, one of the water park's most popular rides that you navigate on single or double tubes that slide, twist, tunnel and turn through waterfalls as you descend down to the splash pool.

Besides the water park, Big Kahuna's has 54 holes available at the miniature golf courses in three sets of eighteen. Besides all the fun of navigating this unusual course, it is a visual tropical wonderland that includes more waterfalls, little wooden bridges over streams, ingeniously sculpted foliage and beautiful flowers. You can almost get lost under the thick canopies of leaves and even a rocky cave.  Don't worry, the Tiki Gods will guide your way!

For the kids and young at heart, you can pretend to be your own favorite NASCAR driver on a speedway track located in the back of Big Kahuna's. Here colorful, numbered, mock race cars zip around the large oval course.

If you or the family are interested in an adrenaline rush you may want to try the Cyclone or the Sky Coaster thrill rides for kicks. The Cyclone straps you on to a harness that zips you up to the top of an eighty-five foot tall pole, literally in seconds. Once suspended at this height, you are sent twirling around in the air on a 160 foot wide propeller. This ride is definitely NOT for the faint of heart! The Sky Coaster is not much tamer. On this ride you get launched 100 feet into the air where it begins to swing sideways in mid air. You would be amazed at how much adrenaline rushes through your system as this ride swoops back and forth toward the ground at speeds up to 60mph.

Since most Big Kahuna guests spend a full day at the park there are changing rooms, bathroom facilities, showers and locker rentals available. Three restaurants and additional snack stands are scattered throughout the complex. There is even a fun novelty shop called The Big Kahuna's Trading Company where you can buy souvenirs, gifts and articles of special clothing.

Big Kahuna's is open 10am to 5pm on weekends in May with daily admission from May 23rd to June 3rd. Starting June 4th and running through August 14th it is open daily from 10am to 6pm. On August 15th through the 19th it is open daily from 10am to 5pm and then during the same hours on weekends  August 20th thru Labor Day. The park is located at 1007 Highway 98 in Destin about half way between the junctions of Airport Road and Main Street. Regular admission is $36.99 for adults and $29.99 for kids under 48" tall. The Senior Rate is also $29.99 and Twilight Admission for just the last three hours of the day is $28.99. A three day pass is available for $54.99. Miniature Golf is only $6.99 for Adults and $4.99 for kids under twelve years of age. Go Carts are $6.99 and the two Thrill Rides are $14.99 each. If Go Carts, Mini Golf and the Thrill Rides are your thing you may purchase a Fun Pass that covers three of them for $25.99. Special Seasonal Passes, Group Rates and Military Discounts are also available. Of course, don't forget that Ocean Reef Resort guests now also receive a discount, be sure to ask your reservation agent for details.

If you are in the mood for this kind of unique and exotic fun, Ocean Reef has some wonderful vacation rental accommodations just minutes away. If you have a large family or are planning a big reunion with friends, you may experience the best of both worlds, both beach and Big Kahuna's water park, at Villa Vittoria.

Villa Vittoria is a Tuscan inspired castle of sorts that sits right on the Gulf. This four story, five bedroom, four and one half bath home can sleep up to twenty with pull outs. Comfortable elegant furnishings, soft brown Travertine marble flooring, high ceilings, a gourmet kitchen that seats six, an adjacent dining room for ten more and awesome gulf front views are yours to be had. The entire first floor can be used as separate quarters for the kids with a playroom, a queen sized bed and two double bunk beds.

Another choice is the luxury condominiums at Sterling Shores. This complex is right across the street from the beach and located on "restaurant row' which includes the popular Back Porch. Sterling Shores 404 has three bedrooms each with two baths and can sleep between 6 and 8 guests. All of these Destin accommodations include a beautiful Master Bedroom Suite with large private balconies and luxurious garden tub bathrooms. This complex has its own 4,300 square foot lagoon type pool in case you wanted to practice for the upcoming Big Kahuna's water park adventure. Sterling Sands also has as a fitness facility and stunningly beautiful views of the gulf.

There are two private rental properties available at the prestigious Silver Shells luxury condo towers next door. Silver Shells looks out over the Gulf of Mexico towards the south and borders the expansive Henderson Beach State Park to the east. Silver Shells has a 7,500 square foot cement lagoon outdoors with a beach side cafe and another pool inside at their state of the arts fitness center and spa. There are also tennis and basketball courts along with a Cardio Center with aerobic machines. At St. Croix 304 we have a comfortably furnished, bright and airy three bedroom, two bath residence with full views from the living room out onto the spacious balcony. This overlooks the tropical, palm studded lagoon pool and the shimmering, jewel toned gulf beyond. For that very special occasion, we also have a two story Penthouse at the top of the St. Lucia tower. This is a four bedroom, three bath home where the Master Bedroom Suite alone is the size of a small apartment with a large private balcony. Each of the other Guest Suites also offer gorgeous views of the beach and waters beyond with another set of balconies.

No matter where you decide to stay with Ocean Reef, we are pleased to offer you discounted tickets to Big Kahuna's as our guest. It is a water fantasia adventure that you and your family will remember for many years to come. Perhaps it will become an annual fun, vacation tradition as you come down to stay with us at your favorite home away from home. Happy splash downs!