About Fort Walton Beach
Visitors come to the Emerald Coast/Okaloosa Island for the stunning white-sand beaches and relaxing environment. In addition to the magnificent beaches and serene neighborhoods the area is ideal for outdoor activities and fabulous restaurants.
GREAT FUN THINGS TO DO IN FORT WALTON BEACH
Olin Marler’s Dolphin Cruises & Fishing Charters – This Semi-Private Group Fishing Charter with Olin Marler is an authentic deep-sea fishing experience.
Saltwater Floats My Boat Tours – Hop aboard this 23-foot pontoon boat and explore beautiful Destin, Florida. Glide across the water and view places such as Crab Island, Destin Harbor, East Pass, and more. Have a chance to see the marine life that calls this place home.
Everything But Fish – If you want to spend the weekend like the locals then look no further than this Captained Crab Island tour for 6 guests! This is THE trip to choose if you want to lounge at one of the greatest attractions in Destin, Florida. Crab Island is a sandbar shallow enough to get out and walk around and enjoy the sun with your friends and family.
Time Off Fishing – If you’re looking for the best angling adventure in the Destin area, then this Gulf Charter is the one for you! Cruise brilliant emerald waters as your expert captain puts you right on the fish. Learn expert tips and tricks, as well as local secrets that will ensure you have the trip of a lifetime!
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park – Guests cannot help but be enchanted when meeting a dolphin family during this hands-on dockside encounter. Play, laugh, and learn about the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, known for their curious nature and spirited disposition.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park – Sign on for the experience of a lifetime with the Gulfarium’s VIP “Trainer for a Day” adventure. For ages 13 and up, this fully-immersive training day teaches people what it takes to be a bonafide marine mammal trainer
Destin Tikis – Climb aboard the Tiki bar boat that floats for a fun and relaxing Harbor Lights Cruise through the Destin Harbor.
SunQuest Cruises SOLARIS Dining and Entertainment Yacht – Get out on the water for dinner and enjoy the area’s only fine dining entertainment yacht.
Hydrojet Thrill Ride – If you are searching for some fun, then look no further than the Hydrojet dolphin cruise. Known as the world’s largest jet ski, the Hydrojet jumps waves while cruising along the mesmerizing emerald coast in search of dolphins and native wildlife.
East Pass Sailing Company – Take a relaxing cruise through the emerald waters of Destin, Florida, and see the beautiful sights on this Destin Gulf Sailing Charter. Choose a daytime sail or a sunset cruise.
Destin Aquatic Adventures – Hop aboard the Key Cat, a 26-foot power catamaran for an adventure to remember! Join your guide, a 5th generation Florida native with extensive knowledge of Destin, Florida, and the surrounding areas.
Indian Temple Mound Museum – The Fort Walton Mound is an archaeological site located in present-day Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States. The large platform mound was built about 850 CE by the Pensacola culture, a local form of the Mississippian culture. Because of its significance, the mound was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Still reduced by time, the massive mound is still 12 feet high and 223 feet wide at the base. It was an expression of a complex culture, built by a hierarchical society whose leaders planned and organized the labor of many workers for such construction. The mound served combined ceremonial, political and religious purposes. At the center of the village and its supporting agricultural lands, the mound served as the platform for the temple and residence of the chief. Successive leaders were buried in the mound and additional layers were added over time. This is one of three surviving mound complexes in the panhandle, the others being Letchworth Mounds and Lake Jackson Mounds state parks.
Emerald Coast Science Center – The Emerald Coast Science Center is hands-on science discovery center located in Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida. The Center was established in 1989 as the FOCUS Center, and changed its name to Emerald Coast Science Center in 2001. ECSC is a nonprofit center with a mission of inspiring and growing a scientifically engaged community.
CAMP WALTON SCHOOLHOUSE Museum – Not far from the Indian Temple Mound Museum is the Camp Walton Schoolhouse. The two-room building depicts the environment and education of children from the early 1900s to 1930s that resided on the military base of Camp Walton. Though the school no longer occupies its original location across from the present-day Chamber of Commerce, it still accurately represents what Camp Walton students experienced in their primary years.
GARNIER POST OFFICE MUSEUM – In 1906, a man by the name of Euphrates A. Mooney took up residence as the PostMaster of Fort Walton Beach. For over fifty years, the Mooney family delivered mail to the residents of the small village of Garnier Bayou near present-day Fort Walton. The Garnier Post Office closed by the late 1950s, but it was not until 1986 that the office became a museum. The building contains artifacts from the Mooney period. It stands in much the same shape as when it closed in the 50s. Since its dedication, the Garnier Post Office has stood as a testament to the Mooney family and the postal service’s dedication to Fort Walton citizens.
ISLAND PIER AND BOARDWALK – Enjoy stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico, ample shopping, and delicious food during your visit to the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk located on Miracle Strip Parkway. The boardwalk is a short walk from the previously mentioned fishing pier and has been a beloved fixture of the Walton Beach Community for years! The Boardwalk offers a variety of entertainment options. Unique boutiques, coffee, gelato, and surf n turf restaurants provide plenty of food to fill you up after a day on the beach!
RATCHET HATCHET AXE THROWING – As an avid fan of ax throwing, I can tell you there is nothing more relaxing or fun than chucking an ax at a target and watching it stick! But, seriously, that thunk of the ax hitting the target makes the best sound.
DOWNTOWN FORT WALTON BEACH FARMERS MARKET – Nothing’s better than spending a morning strolling the beach and enjoying locally made foods and crafts! At the Downtown Fort Walton Beach Farmers Market, you can get the best of both worlds by shopping at the farmers market before hitting up the beach.
LIZA JACKSON PARK – At Liza Jackson Park, you’ll find 1,000 feet of waterway waiting for the fisherman or boater in your family. If you want a quiet, out-of-the-way space to enjoy water-front views, Liza Jackson Park is the place for you. This park has ample amenities for families, including picnic tables, a playground, and restrooms. In addition, the park’s pier offers excellent fishing opportunities and a safe place to view the crashing waves for younger visitors.
DAY TRIP TO PENSACOLA – Just an hour away from the quiet oasis of Fort Walton Beach, the bustling city of Pensacola waits. This city houses a famous Naval base home to the Blue Angels, several museums, galleries, shopping, and more.
DAY TRIP TO CRAB ISLAND – Just a short drive away from Fort Walton Beach is a floating party zone called Crab Island. If you love home improvement channels as much as I do, you may have heard of this watery attraction! Crab Island is not, in fact, an island. It’s actually a sandbar that happens to be the favorite hangout of hundreds of boats daily. This attraction offers an experience like none other, with floating food and restaurant boats offering unique meals, an inflatable water park, and scenic views of the ocean! It’s a novelty experience you won’t find anywhere else!
DAY TRIP TO DESTIN – Destin is another city near Fort Walton that offers activities for tourists of all ages and interests. It also happens to be right next to Crab Island, so you can make a day of exploring both locations if you want! This ocean-front town offers sunset cruises, dolphin experiences, and plenty of fishing for water activity enthusiasts. Culture lovers enjoy strolling the Destin Harbor Boardwalk and exploring the Village of Baytowne Wharf’s restaurants and shops.
Cattywampus Catamaran Cruise – is a low-riding, double-hulled boat upon which up to 43 people can journey into the Gulf of Mexico for eco-cruises. The daytime dolphin cruises start by anchoring on a sandbar in the bay to give passengers a chance to snorkel in shallow waters to view marine life, and to search for shells and sand dollars. From there, the catamaran heads into the Gulf of Mexico, which teems with friendly bottle nose dolphins.
Goofy Golf – has been operating in Fort Walton Beach, Florida since 1958, and has always been an inexpensive way of spending quality times outdoors with family and friends. Goofy Golf has two 17-hole courses, and share the 18th hole, which is called “The Snake’s Mouth.” Goofy Golf offers tournaments, day passes and t-shirts.
The Fort Walton Beach Flea Market – is indoors, air-conditioned, and has over 70 different vendors and a food counter for quick meals and drinks. In its 14,000 square foot home, visitors and local residents can find a constantly-changing array of goods, including quality vintage clothing, purses, music, books, costume jewelry, musical instruments, art, furniture, and décor items.
Uptown Station – is Fort Walton Beach’s premier shopping district, with over 60 stores, services, and food vendors. Shoppers can buy anything under the sun at Uptown Station, which has stores dedicated to clothes, home furnishings, sporting goods, and everything in between. There is a large supermarket and a dollar store.
The Fort Walton Beach Golf Club – municipally-owned, offers two superb 18-hole championship courses, which are beautifully maintained, and set in pristine North Florida landscapes. The Pines Course is 6,800 yards, and is a challenge as it goes uphill through a pine forest. The Oaks Course is 6,400 yards, and plays through narrow, oak-lined avenues and over difficult water hazards. The Golf Club has a full-service restaurant, a large lighted driving range, and a golf shop.
Parasailing – is the sport of gliding through the air wearing an open parachute while being towed by a motorboat. Fort Walton Beach Parasailing is the only company in the region that offers parasailing, and it guarantees safety, professionalism, excellent views of the entire Fort Walton area, and an experience that visitors will remember for the rest of their lives. Parasailers are loaded directly from a dock, and can fly alone or with one or two companions.
The Island Pier – stretches majestically out into the azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The substantial pier is 1,262 feet long and provides visitors with stunning views of the white sand beaches, sunsets and sunrises. You are welcome to just take a walk along the pier to admire the amazing wildlife which inhabits the clear waters – be on the lookout for dolphins, turtles and a myriad of seabirds. If you love angling you can find everything you need for a successful day of fishing at the tackle shop, located at the base of the pier.
Escape Zone 60 – is a great way for families or groups of friends to spend a fun few hours trying to solve riddles and escape the room. Each of the escape rooms has a different thrilling theme and it will be up to you to work out the crafty clues that will allow you to escape within the designated time. You will need to use all your ingenuity and practice great teamwork to solve the puzzles. At the Fort Walton Beach venue you can choose between the Mummy’s Tomb and the Mystic Mansion escape rooms.