This place is a fishing community and a tourist hotspot that tends to reach its busy period during the summer seasons. But is there anything to do here?
Well, you should know that wherever the tourists go, so do the stores, clubs, fishing spots, tourist destinations and hiking trails. Fort Walton is brimming with things to do, not just for the adults, but for the whole family.
So what are the best things to do in Fort Walton Beach? Are there activities for both adults and children? How much will it cost to have a great day out?
Well, we’ve combed through everything from museums to art galleries to seaside relaxation spots. So let’s get stuck in!
Why Should I Go To Fort Walton Beach?
This has been designated as one of the best places to visit in the North Florida area. This is largely suburban and could be described as a generally affluent area, although there are some poorer parts of the city.
This beach comes with waterparks and playgrounds that make it a popular location for families of all different stripes. From toddlers to teenagers, there is plenty to keep children of any age entertained for hours.
Fort Walton Beach has around 24 miles of coastline, all of which is pristine and combed regularly for any unsightly debris.
The more you go into the center of the town that you go to, the more restaurants, nightclubs, and bars you’ll find. If you like plenty of energy during the evenings, follow the crowds into the center!
One of the best things about this town is that it is walkable and bikeable, so you won’t need to bring your car or waste any money on public transport. This is the perfect beach holiday for the active vacationer.
So, what are the premium things that you can engage with in Fort Walton Beach? Well, take a look at our exhaustive list of some of the most exciting, entertaining, and educational journeys that you can make while in Fort Walton Beach.
If you have 3 hours to spare, then why not partake in this once-in-a-lifetime snorkeling experience?
This is an eco-friendly cruise, so you won’t have to worry about polluting the surrounding countryside. You can bring your camera and take some breathtaking underwater shots of the wildlife.
There are soft drinks plenty on this boat, so you won’t go thirsty. You can guarantee that you will see dolphins, especially when you are venturing out into the water during the summer seasons.
This is a great way for you and your family to make some unforgettable memories.
This next journey is great if you prefer to enjoy a private, tailor-made tour. If you have a large party of 10 or under, then you can take a boat to Crab Island, where the waters are warm and the landscape is lush and green.
You can rent this for up to 8 hours, so if you want to take a whole day for a trip, then you should hop aboard one of these boats. You can also rent some jet skis, so why not challenge one of your friends or family to a high-speed water chase?
This is a 3-hour cruise that you can be sure will not let you down, no matter how the weather turns out.
This is a private catamaran tour, so if you have a small party that you want to get away with, then you can opt for this cost-effective and friendly boating service.
This also features a snorkeling component, allowing you to dive down to the bottom of the crystal-clear waters to find shells and rub shoulders with dolphins.
This also features a journey to crab island, where you can swim ashore and lounge around on the beach.
Now this is an experience that you won’t forget in a hurry. For you and your lucky partner, you can ride via boat to an obscure island beach and have your very own private romantic dinner as the sun sets.
This also comes with your own private photographer to capture the memories shared between you and your loved one. This is the ideal place to celebrate your birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary.
The trip lasts around 2 hours and there is a wonderful selection of food available.
If you are an aviation fan, then this is the perfect place for you. It comes with models of all different sizes, from WWII bombers to F-4 Phantom II jets.
This museum has an impressive collection of planes, helicopters, and missiles, more than enough to see in a day.
This is a great place to take the kids. Watch as their faces fall seeing this impressive range of craft. There are currently plans to build a life-size wooden replica of the Eglin Air Force Base that was operational during the Second World War.
This is an island that is just off the coast of Fort Walton Beach and is a great place to get away from the crowds that can sometimes gather in the main city center.
But that’s not to say that it is remote, it has its own storefronts and restaurants, as well as a marine adventure park, which is a great place to take the kids.
If you go during the late spring season, then you can enjoy the warm weather without the main crush of crowds that tend to flock to this beach around summer.
However, if you are going to go during the busy summer, then make sure that you book your travel and hotel early.
Now this is the marine park that is housed on Okaloosa Island. If you want a location where you can take the whole family and watch some amazing water shows featuring dolphins, stingrays, and sharks, then Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is fantastic.
This has a dolphin exhibition where you can see these intelligent sea creatures cavorting with their trainers and each other.
If you don’t fancy that, there is a reptile exhibition with animals as diverse as lizards and crocodiles. You can also go snorkeling and mingle with turtles and dolphins.
Don’t worry, we haven’t left out the history buffs. This museum seeks to preserve the unique history of Fort Waldon Beach and the many different cultures and communities that have dwelt there for thousands of years.
This is a large heritage park that houses many buildings, such as the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, Fort Walton Temple Mound, and the Civil War Exhibit Building.
This place is accessible to seniors, adults and children. You can pay for one ticket and access all the museums!
Now if you like amusements and non-stop fun, then take a trip to Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone.
This has so many great things to do: golf Courses, go karting, laser tag, a 4D movie theater, 60-foot ropes course, over 70 state-of-the-art arcade games, a laser maze, Ptero Jump, and a frozen yogurt shop.
You can spend your whole day at this place and still not have time to try all of the rides. Wild Willy’s hosts parties for large groups of children.
There are also plenty of food stalls that serve a wide variety of food from burgers to pizza and fries.
This is another amazing historical site that you can bring a group of schoolchildren along to. This is a reconstruction of the original Camp Walton Schoolhouse, which was built during the early part of the 20th Century.
This building is accessible for people with mobility issues and is included in the larger price of the general museum admission fee.
Just because you are in Florida, doesn’t mean that you can’t get in touch with your spiritual side. This is a center that is dedicated to Buddhist philosophy and meditation. They run yoga classes all through the year which are available to anyone for no fee at all.
They also have a market that is open on Sunday that features a wide range of traditional Thai cuisine, including pork noodle soup, beef noodle soup, pad thai and crab Rangoon. The temple is also completely accessible to wheelchair users.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide to great things to do in Fort Walton Beach has given you some inspiration as to what to do while you are there (see also “Amazing Things To Do In Vero Beach“).
Some of these venues do book up quickly, especially during the summer, so make sure that you check the website or call ahead for availability.
Hello, it’s great to have you here. My name is Julia and I am a travel blogger! I have been writing all of my life, and previously worked for a travel agency where I would recommend the best places to visit in the states.
If you are ready to take on the world, explore the sights, and see some of the most incredible places on offer, then take a look at some of my articles!
