Fort Walton Beach sits along the beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, with its emerald shaded waters in northwestern Florida on the Panhandle. The year-round moderate temperatures attract visitors even in the winter months when the beaches are less crowded. Your upscale Fort Walton Beach vacation rental puts you within easy walking distance of the best attractions. From days spent on the beach to shopping at the local shops, your vacation offers time to relax. Here’s a quick peek at the top 15 things to do in Fort Walton Beach.
1. Enjoy a Day at the Beach With Lazy Day Beach Rentals
Okaloosa Island Beach provides miles of pristine white sand, and Lazy Day Beach Rentals makes your day by providing you with comfy beach chairs and massive umbrellas to provide you with a little shade. Help your kids collect shells as the tide goes out and splash in the surf. This company also rents paddle boards to get out on the water.
2. Unwind at It’s All About You Massage and Day Spa
Start your relaxing beach vacation off right with a trip to It’s All About You Massage and Day Spa. Book a couple’s massage to reconnect with your special someone one or a hot stone massage to work out all the kinks. A deep-cleansing facial rids the toxins from your daily life, or opt for a pedicure so your toes look outstanding on the beach.
3. Hit the Links at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club
Don’t let your swing get rusty with a day at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club. The club features two courses, the Pines course, and the Oaks course. With the Oaks course, you navigate some challenging water features to keep your game sharp while the Pines course is great for beginners. Both courses provide a stunning vista as you play from hole to hole.
4. Visit Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Since 1955, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has delighted visitors of all ages who enjoy learning more about underwater life. Get a little wet as dolphins explode out of the water and perform tricks for their trainer when you watch one of the shows. For something a little more intense, sign up for a dolphin or shark experience where you can run your hands over the slick flesh of these beautiful sea creatures.
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5. See Planes at the Air Force Armament Museum
Close to Elgin Air Force Base, the Air Force Armament Museum combines indoor and outdoor exhibits to teach you more about planes and weapons used by the United States in past wars. Walk among fighter planes used in World War II and take a tour of the indoor armament exhibits with a knowledgeable guide.
6. Learn More About Science at the Emerald Coast Science Center
On a rainy afternoon, get the family out of the vacation rental and to an attraction where they can have fun while learning at the Emerald Coast Science Center. Enjoy the hands-on exhibits for robotics and colors, or stop by the Emerald Coast Ecosystem exhibit to learn more about the area and its inhabitants. One day a week, the center offers animal experiences so check the schedule.
7. Head out on the Water With Cattywampus Catamaran Cruises
Board a comfortable catamaran and leave land behind with Cattywampus Catamaran Cruises. The excitement starts when the captain secures the anchor along a sandbar just off the coast for a little time snorkeling in the shallow water as a rainbow of fish swim by. After snorkeling, enter the Gulf of Mexico to catch sight of pods of dolphins scurrying beside your boat and leaping out of the water.
8. Find Treasure at the Fort Walton Beach Flea Market
Beat the heat and indulge in a little retail therapy at the Fort Walton Beach Flea Market. This air-conditioned flea market offers more than 70 vendors selling anything from antique furniture to the record you had in your collection in the third grade. Each time you visit, you find new hidden gems as the stock is constantly changing.
9. Reach New Heights With Fort Walton Beach Parasail
From the back of a speeding boat, the wind catches your sail and whisks up into the air for amazing views of Fort Walton Beach and the Gulf of Mexico with Fort Walton Beach Parasail. There are early morning and sunset trips available, and each sail can accommodate you and up to two other riders. If you want to get wet, asked to be gently dipped into the ocean before returning to the boat.
10. Learn at the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
In days of the Civil War, Fort Walton was actually Camp Walton, and your group can learn more about that era with a visit to the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum. The school opened with just a little over a dozen students, a single teacher, and a single room. Learn more about what life was like for a child going to school during this time.
11. Get all Wet at Big Kahuna’s
Make the short drive to Big Kahuna’s water park for a day of sun and fun, and zoom down the towering water slides. Teens love the Cobra Twister and trying to stay on their surf boards at the Honolulu Half Pipe. For the mom who needs a break, there is a lazy river where the water gently pushing you along. There’s even a special area for the smallest kids.
12. See a Film at Cinema Plus
Located in a historic movie theater, Cinema Plus is the best place in Fort Walton Beach to see a movie on a rainy day. Start your visit with a pizza, burger, and a glass of wine for older members of the group at the sit-down dining and movie area. When the movie starts, you don’t even need to leave your table.
13. Play Putt Putt at Goofy Golf
When you pull into Goofy Golf, you know you’ve found the area’s most iconic mini golf course by the towering T-Rex at Goofy Golf. Two 17-hole courses share the final 18th hole, and it’s a doozy. Open since the 1950s, this course has a traditional, vintage mini golf feel.
14. Play at Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
With indoor and outdoor activities, the Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone is a dream for kids and the young at heart with a spacious arcade with all your favorite retro and modern games, laser maze, and a 3D movie theater with moving seats.
15. Rent Bikes From Coastal Cruisers
On the Emerald Coast, the best place to rent bikes is Coastal Cruisers with its selection of fat-tire bikes, tandem bikes, kid’s bikes, and so much more. A knowledgeable staff member helps you pick out the bike right for you, gathers helmets and other safety items, and arranges for an hourly, daily, or weekly rental.
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