You haven't truly experienced the Emerald Coast until you've stayed in Fort Walton Beach. With dozens of must-see spots, top of the line thrills, and family-friendly adventures, it's easy to outline an action-packed week. On top of that, it's almost a guarantee that as soon as your plane takes off to head home, you'll start planning your next Fort Walton vacation.
KIDS
Take your little ones to the Destin Track and Recreation Center, where they can drive age-appropriate Go Karts, bumper boats, and test their skills on the best miniature golf course in the area. If you're brave enough, test the elasticity of their bungee cords - a 65-foot drop over a padded surface is sure to leave you breathless. To slow your heart back down after the fall, head over to the arcade and play Skee Ball while you shakily sip a decaf coffee.
ADULTS
Fort Walton has some amazing nightlife - take a stroll along the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk and see where it takes you! There are romantic restaurants, family-friendly eateries, and plenty of shops where you can pick up souvenirs. The fresh ocean breeze and the mild temperature make wandering down the Boardwalk a perfect wrap-up for the day.
SPLASHERS
The Pleasure Island Water Park is home to a massive water slide, a wave pool, and plenty of shallow dipping spots for little ones. They recycle the water hourly, so you can be sure you're swimming in a virtually germ-free environment (which is good to know when you look at the sea of toddlers who fill the pools). You can also rent jet skis, wave runners, and give parasailing a shot, so this place is definitely worth a visit.
MILITARY BUFFS
Fort Walton Beach is steeped in military history, and the Air Force Armament Museum provides an interesting glimpse into the history, present, and future of military weaponry. It's right outside the main gate of Eglin Air Force Base, and visitors are allowed to take pictures to their hearts' content inside.
THRILL SEEKERS
Some people just can't get enough opportunities to challenge nature - and that's why they kiteboard along the Emerald Coast. It's becoming more and more popular among adrenaline junkies, and involves trying to stay balanced on a surf-board type contraption while (are you ready for this?) being attached to a wildly swooping kite. If that's your cup of tea, there are lots of places to rent the equipment right on the beach; there's also a local hospital with quick-responding, highly qualified ambulance drivers standing by to deploy.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
There are lots of other must-see (but self-explanatory) hotspots in Fort Walton Beach that will make it rank among the best vacation destinations that you've been to.
While you're there, don't miss the sixty-year old Gulfarium - they've got several live shows every day and have a wide variety of underwater creatures from all over the world.
Get a good workout by paddling a canoe on the nearby Blackwater River - or hire a guide to do all the work while you sit back and enjoy. You can also kayak or be dragged along in an inner tube - and they've even got a campground so you can stay close to nature!
You can spend a day on the links in Fort Walton, too. The city is home to quite a few public and municipal golf courses (most with pro shops and rental facilities) that cater to novices and experts alike.
Fort Walton has been beckoning visitors for decades; maybe it's time to see what the Emerald Coast has to offer you!
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Kids, grownups, adventure seekers, exercisers, and war-buffs--everyone and anyone you feel like vacation with--can all have a blast in Destin. And they can have even more fun when they return home at night to a fabulous Destin vacation home rented at Zonder.com.