Fort Walton Beach Vacation Information

A Civil War encampment, eighteenth-century pirates, and Indian civilizations dating to prehistoric times – Fort Walton Beach visitors can still see reminders of them all. But the attractions that keep people coming back to this Northwest Florida city today are the pure-white beaches and the glittering waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Part of the famed Emerald Coast, which enjoys an average of 343 sunny days per year, Fort Walton Beach is a popular vacation destination year-round. And that means there are plenty of things to do, even for those whose vacation expectations go beyond lounging on the beach and wallowing in the surf. Swimming, fishing, diving, snorkeling, and sailing are all popular pastimes with Fort Walton Beach visitors.

Golfers have a choice of more than 1,080 holes on courses whose natural beauty can actually be a distraction to the game. Other land-based activities include shopping, skating, biking, bungee jumping, and miniature golf.

Fort Walton Beach is also home to Florida’s Gulfarium, a marine park with exhibits sure to fascinate visitors of all ages. And its Heritage Park and Cultural Center, a museum complex documenting local history, received national attention when it was featured in Smithsonian magazine.

An annual event, the Billy Bowlegs Festival, commemorates the city’s piratical past. And there’s a Mardi Gras celebration on Okaloosa Island, the barrier island that separates the city from the Gulf of Mexico. Other special events – concerts, arts and crafts shows, seafood festivals, and more – keep visitors entertained throughout the year.