Fort Walton Beach Overview
- Overview
- Attractions
- Events
- Facts
- Kids
With a reported 343 average
days of sunshine per year, Fort Walton Beach is a sun lover’s paradise. Combine
beautiful weather with magnificent beaches, great attractions, dolphins playing
in the surf, a host of activities, as well as great food and entertainment, and
you have the ideal formula for a perfect vacation.
There is even significant
evidence of pirates visiting the area, the most notorious being Billy Bowlegs,
between 1500 – 1800; not to mention artifacts dating back thousands of year. Be
sure to visit the Indian Temple Mound and Museum
which offers glimpses into Indian civilizations of the past 10,000 years.
When it comes to near perfect weather, Fort
Walton Beach can top the list. With a moderate climate year round due to
its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and its western Florida location, each
season has something special to offer. Winter and summer are the two busiest
times of year, although late February and the entire month of March become quite
crowded when thousands of spring break students hit the area. In the winter,
people from the north enjoy coming south for the warmer temperatures and
numerous activities the city has to offer. With so many sunny days, any time of
year is perfect for watching the dolphins display
their “dancing” abilities in their natural surroundings while you sip on a cool
drink.
For a change of pace, visit the US Air Force
Armament Museum. This indoor-outdoor museum is located on one of the world's
largest air force bases and displays aircraft and weaponry of the American
military from WWII to the Gulf War. The museum's showpiece is the SR-71
Blackbird spy plane, but a variety of other fighter and bomber planes are on
exhibit as well. It’s an interesting and educational experience not to be
missed.
For a day with the family, there are numerous
opportunities available. The Gulfarium is one of America’s oldest marine parks.
It hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Peruvian penguins,
Ridley turtles and more in fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits. Watch these amazing
animals fascinate adults and children alike as they soar towards the clouds
while performing the “Dolphin Dance”.
For top enjoyment in water sports, visit the
Okaloosa Island Pier. It’s a perfect vantage point for surfing and fishing as
well as people-watching and catching a quick bite to eat.
Special events abound throughout the year
including Spring Break, the annual Boat Show, as well as concerts, ballet and
the performing arts. No matter what the interest, Fort Walton Beach has it.
Easily accessible and quite affordable, this
Florida Panhandle destination has just the right mix of things to do and see to
make it a “let’s do it again” destination. Bring your camera, Fort Walton Beach
is waiting.
