Let's say someone blindfolded you, whisked you away, and placed you on
the beach at Ft. Walton, without telling you where you were. Once the
blindfold is removed, and you see the sugar white sand that's been
softly cradling your feet and the clear emerald green waters stretching
to the horizon, and you feel the warm tropical breezes kissing your
skin, you'd swear you were somewhere in the Bahamas, or Jamaica, or the
Cayman Islands. But you'd be wrong! You'd find yourself in the good ol'
USA, in northwestern Florida.
Throngs of visitors flock to Ft. Walton Beach each year for its
unsurpassed beauty, and it's a great destination for families. The
beautiful beach and calm gulf waters provide for plenty of sun and fun
like snorkeling, swimming, shelling, sunning, boogie boarding, and
skimmer boarding. For the more adventurous, adults and kids over 14 can
rent a jet ski and cruise the sparkling gulf waters. A nice feature of
the beach, especially when traveling with children, is the safety flags
flown to advise you of water conditions: blue for safe swimming, yellow
when caution is advised, and red signifying a strong undertow. This
system offers great peace of mind for parents.
The area has plenty of other activities available, too. Try a family
paintball battle at the Niceville Youth Center, the Panhandle Paintball
Field, or the Tyndall ARB Paintball Field. The area also has a
skateboard park, bowling, fishing piers, skating facilities, and
several miniature golf courses.
The Gulfarium offers entertaining and educational shows featuring
trained dolphins, seals and sea lions, along with exhibits of marine
life. The Interactive Dolphin Encounter allows visitors to swim with
Kiwi, a friendly Spotted dolphin. With so much to see, the Gulfarium is
sure to be a hit with the whole family.
If rain threatens to ruin your vacation, take the family to one of the
twenty cinema screens in Ft. Walton, or to Fasttrack, where the kids
can ride go-karts indoors. If you're visiting during late autumn or
early winter, check out Okaloosa On Ice, where the whole family can ice
skate. Take in a live show at the Niceville Arts Center, with year
'round productions like Broadway musicals, orchestral concerts, hoilday
specials, and children's theater. Nothing equals the excitement of a
live show, and with a large variety of presentations, you'll find one
the family will love. Kids and adults will thrill to the 250 hands-on
interactive exhibits at the Emerald Coast Science Center.
For the ultimate family vacation experience, rent a private home
that fits your group with a little room to spare. You will really
enjoy all of the luxury amenities, plus the little comforts that come
with a home.
From fast food to fine dining, the Ft. Walton area has a huge variety
of restaurants. Visitors can choose from Italian, steaks, wings,
barbecue, Mexican, brunch, Thai, European-style sidewalk bistros, and
Japanese. If you don't feel like going out, order some delivery grub.
Of course, while you're on the gulf, seafood reigns supreme, and I'm
convinced it's the best in the world! The fish and shrimp are so
fresh, you can actually taste the sea with every bite.
Ft. Walton Beach is a great family getaway. It offers the same beauty
and amenities as other Florida gulf beaches, but it's not as crowded as
places like Destin and Panama City. Cruise the internet for some color
photos of the area, and you'll quickly understand its appeal.
This guide to Fort Walton family fun was brought to you by Holle Abee
Family
vacation time is right around the corner. Make sure that you pack
enough sunscreen, Dora DVDs, and Valium for Mommy! Find the perfect
holiday home for your little brood, and ensure that you have enough room for family togetherness (and time apart!)