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Fort Walton Beach is a small city on Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast that is renowned for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. It’s a relatively quiet beach vacation destination compared to many of Northwest Florida’s other Gulf Coast cities, but its popular sights and beaches can still pull a crowd during high season.
Highlights in Fort Walton Beach include the Indian Temple Mound Museum, Okaloosa Boardwalk and Island Pier, the Air Force Armament Museum, and Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone. If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds and seek out hidden gems when you go on vacation, check out these 20 lesser-known attractions and fun things to do.
1. Ross Marler Park
- Address: 1275 Santa Rosa Blvd, Okaloosa Island, FL
- Website: myokaloosa.com/pw/parks/ross-marler
- Opening Hours: Dawn until dusk
The likes of John Beasley Park and Fort Walton Beach Landing Park tend to draw big crowds, but Ross Marler Park is a slightly quieter alternative. It offers public access to the waterfront with a roped-off swimming area, giving you peace of mind that you’ll be safe from boaters. There’s a playground for the kids, restrooms, pavilions, grills, and picnic tables, so you can spend a full day here.
2. Gulf Scenic Drive
The Florida Panhandle coastline offers impressive views out across the Gulf of Mexico, so why not hop into the car and make the most of it? The stretch of road between Destin and the city of Pensacola is known as the Gulf Scenic Drive, and it’s dotted with impressive viewpoints if you want to stop and take it all in.
In Pensacola, take Highway 399 to the beautiful Navarre Beach. Alternatively, take Highway 98 east out of Fort Walton Beach through Okaloosa Island, Destin, Point Washington State Forest, and into the vibrant seaside town of Panama City Beach.
3. Kayak Tour
There are lots of watersports to try in Fort Walton Beach, but kayaking is one of the best ways to appreciate the emerald waters of this region. When you join a kayak tour, you can learn from a local guide about the marine life in these waters and the wildlife that can be spotted on northwest Florida beaches. If you love socializing, consider a kayak tour to Crab Island, a sandbank known for its fun boat parties.
4. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Breweries
Destin and Fort Walton Beach are renowned for their cool craft breweries. Check out these local favorites.
Props Brewery & Taproom
- Address: Address: 255 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE #19, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: propsbrewery.com
- Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 3 – 9 pm / Saturday 12 – 9 pm / Sunday 12 – 6 pm
A veteran-owned brewery with an aviation theme and a tasty food menu.
Destin Brewery
- Address: 505 Mountain Dr, Destin, FL
- Website: destinbrewery.com
- Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 2 – 7 pm
A beloved family-friendly and dog-friendly brewery that packages its beers in distinctively beautiful cans.
World of Beer
- Address: 4287 Legendary Dr, Destin, FL
- Website: worldofbeer.com/locations/destin
- Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 11 am – 10 pm / Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
A popular bar with a selection of local, regional, and national craft beers on offer.
The Boardroom Pub & Grub
- Address: 158 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
- Website: boardroompub.com
- Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 11 am – 10 pm / Friday & Saturday 8 am – 12 am / Sunday 8 am – 9 pm
A popular brunch spot that serves regional craft beer and hosts fun game nights and live music nights.
5. Beach Sand Sculpture Lessons
If you and the kids love building sandcastles, consider leveling up your skills with a sand sculpture lesson. Instructors meet you at a beach of your choice to show you how to create a work of art from mere sand and water.
6. Ferry Park
- Address: 240 Hughes St NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: fwb.org/parksrec/page/ferry-park
- Opening hours: 24/7
If you love to be active on vacation, you’ll love Ferry Park. It boasts tennis courts, running tracks, soccer fields, and basketball courts. There’s also an excellent children’s playground that has a fun zip line. The park is surrounded by nature and it has picnic pavilions for you to rest up in between games.
7. Mermaiding Lessons
Mermaiding is the process of swimming underwater with a monofin — an activity that’s much harder than it looks. Mermaiding lessons are perfect for kids or grownups who have always dreamed of being a mermaid. Lessons take place in shallow waters with an experienced instructor, allowing you to practice your mermaid kicks in complete safety.
8. Snorkeling with Stingrays at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
- Address: 1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: gulfarium.com/stingray-bay-snorkel
Snorkeling is always a fun way to witness marine life, but snorkeling with stingrays is an especially awesome experience. When you take the Gulfarium’s Stingray Bay experience, you can get up close and personal with these wonderful creatures. You’ll also swim alongside a series of other vibrant fish, and you could even meet some small sharks.
9. Brooks Bridge
Brooks Bridge connects Fort Walton Beach with Okaloosa Island. It is named after John Thomas Brooks, the founding father of Fort Walton Beach, who purchased the land, which is now considered the city’s Downtown area. Brooks Bridge rises 50 feet above the water of Choctawhatchee Bay and offers fabulous panoramic views.
You can drive or walk across — walking is our preferred way to cross because it offers a great opportunity to take in the impressive murals on the Fort Walton Beach side of the bridge. Plus, you can watch people jet-skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing in the bay below.
10. Destin History & Fishing Museum
- Address: 108 Stahlman Ave, Destin, FL
- Website: destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org
- Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Destin started life as a small fishing village in the 1830s, and despite rapidly expanding it is still considered one of the world’s best locations for fishing. The Destin History and Fishing Museum is a great way to learn about the town’s fishing industry, see examples of antique fishing rods and century-old fishing boats, and learn more about the Gulf of Mexico fish species that can be caught locally.
11. Fort Walton Beach Horseback Riding
A unique way to enjoy Fort Walton Beach’s natural spaces is to take a horseback ride. No matter whether you’re an experienced rider or a total beginner, you can find guided tours, lessons, and trail rides to suit you.
12. Oak Tree Nature Park
The small town of Mary Esther lies east of Fort Walton Beach, home to the peaceful Oak Tree Nature Park. Tall oak trees create soothing shade and provide the perfect environment for moss, lichens, and mushrooms to grow. The trails through the park are well-kept and easy to follow. If you want a taste of Florida’s natural beauty away from the beach, this is a great destination.
13. Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill
- Address: 20001 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL 32541
- Website: fudpucker.com
- Opening Hours: 11 am – 9 pm daily
Destin and Fort Walton Beach are home to plenty of fantastic restaurants, bars, and grills, but Fudpacker’s is a particularly fun one for families. Visitors can meet live alligators, play games, write their names on the walls, and be entertained by live magic shows and comedy performances.
14. Escape Zone 60
- Address: 1318 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: escapezone60.com/locations/fort-walton-beach
- Opening Hours: 1 – 10 pm daily
Escape rooms are a fantastic way for families to work on their teamwork skills as they solve a series of riddles and make their way to freedom. Escape Zone 60 has two rooms to try in Fort Walton Beach — the Mystic Mansion and the Mummy’s Tomb. With a successful completion rate of 30%, they’re truly challenging, but even if you don’t succeed, you’re bound to have lots of fun.
15. The Block Comedy Night
- Address: 113 Eglin Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: https://theblockclub.com/comedy-night-at-the-block
- Opening Hours: Saturday from 6 pm
The Comedy Zone at the popular club The Block is a great opportunity to see local and national comedians live. The Comedy Zone always blends well-known acts with up-and-comers. The venue has a friendly, intimate atmosphere and is popular with locals and visitors alike.
16. Visit Locally-Loved Restaurants
There’s a diverse range of cuisine available in Fort Walton Beach, but to find the best food in the area, you should dine like a local and visit the eateries that locals flock to.
- Magnolia Grill is a popular spot thanks to its classic American-Italian menu and Southern hospitality.
- Stewby’s Seafood Shanty is a family-run joint renowned for its delicious fish tacos.
- Al’s Beach Club is a beachfront diner with a relaxed atmosphere and irresistible burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes.
- Asiago’s Skillet is the go-to place for breakfast food, and their trademark gravy-smothered ’shipwreck’ potatoes are a firm favorite.
- The Shack has been serving up award-winning seafood dishes since 1999, so don’t miss out on dinner and sunset views on their back deck.
17. Ratchet Hatchet
- Address: Ratchet Hatchet, 304 Perry Ave SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Website: theratchethatchet.com
- Opening Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 2 pm – 10 pm / Thursday 2 pm – 12 am / Friday & Saturday 2 pm – 2 am / Sunday 12 – 10 pm
If you fancy taking up a new sport that’s a little out of the ordinary, give axe-throwing a try. At Ratchet Hatchet, you’ll be taught how to safely throw various axes, including the tomahawk, the rifleman axe, and the Viking axe.
18. Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Center
- Address: 1540 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Fort Walton Beach, Florida, FL
Website: destinfwb.com/convention-center
The Emerald Coast Convention Center is not open on a regular basis, but it is hired out by businesses and individuals for conventions, trade shows, and special events. Look out for events here during your visit, or drop into the visitors center for advice about the local area.
19. Mattie Kelly Arts Center
- Address: 100 E College Blvd, Niceville, FL
- Website: mattiekellyartscenter.org
Mattie Kelly Arts Center can be found on the Northwest Florida State College campus in Northville. Local rising stars and national professional performers regularly take to the stage here. Performances range from Broadway musicals to kids’ theater shows and symphony orchestras to live rock bands.
20. Parks, Trails, and Recreation Areas
The region surrounding Fort Walton Beach is overflowing with beautiful parks, recreation areas, trails, and nature reservations. There are lots of opportunities for hiking, biking, and spotting wildlife when you want to take a day trip out of the city. Popular destinations include:
- Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
- Turkey Creek Park
- Blackwater River State Forest: Karick Lake Recreation Area
- Timberlake Trail
- Henderson Beach State Park
- Florida National Scenic Trail
- Grayton Beach State Park
Where Will Your Visit to Fort Walton Beach Take You?
Now you’ve learned about Fort Walton Beach’s lesser-known attractions, and you can be sure to head off the beaten path and explore the city’s more authentic side. Where will you end up on your getaway to the Emerald Coast?
