Fort Walton Beach is in the western panhandle of Florida, located on the Choctawhatchee Bay and the Santa Rosa Sound. The first settlement by Europeans in the area was Camp Walton, the base of the Confederate 1st Florida Regiment in 1861. Colonel George Walton, whose father signed the Declaration of Independence, was the man that the base, and later, Walton County was named after. The Camp was located next to an Indian temple mound, which today is the Heritage Park and Cultural Center.
Accommodations
Fort Walton Beach offers a great fishing getaway near magnificent beaches with a variety of vacation homes, condos, hotels, and resorts. Choose a vacation near any of Fort Walton Beach's local attactions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful beaches at affordably priced rates.
View our Fort Walton Beach Vacation Rentals or Fort Walton Beach Resorts
Activities
In addition to fishing charters, the local charter fleet can take you sightseeing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, spotting dolphins and more. Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park will grab your attention, and it’s perfect for day and night play with its shipwreck themed water park, miniature golf, go-karts, and food concessions. America’s second oldest marine park, Gulfarium, features Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Peruvian penguins, Ridley turtles and more in 14 fascinating Gulf side exhibits. The U.S. Air Force Armament Museum
is the only U.S. museum dedicated to the display of Air Force armaments, featuring 25 reconnaissance, fighter and bomber planes such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane. The Indian Temple Mound Museum exhibits artifacts from the prehistoric Indian cultures of Northwest Florida, the European explorers, the American Civil War and Fort Walton Beach's settlement.
Events
Fort Walton Beach's Emerald Coast Poker Run
is the largest boat poker run in North America. Participants enjoy a day of boating to different locations to collect poker hands for a chance to win prizes. A week-long buccaneer bash in June celebrates a local pirate, "Billy Bowlegs," and features a large fireworks display, a Moonlit Ironman Triathlon, a Sundown Kiddie Triathlon, coastal treasure hunts, torchlight parades and more. During October, the Destin Rodeo is a month long fishing tournament, offering more than 450 awards and giant dock parties with thrills for first-time fishermen as well as seasoned veterans. The Destin World Cup Powerboat Races take place around the beginning of November with wet pits and boat launch at Legendary Marina, and Race Village at the Destin Commons.
Water Sports
The beautiful beaches of Fort Walton Beach and the Emerald Coast are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or catching up on your tan. Charter one of over 140 boats from the local fleet for deep sea fishing or sightseeing.
Golfing
Great weather and the emerald waters of the Gulf combine to make the incredible 1,080 holes in the Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Okaloosa Island area among the most challenging in the country. Set in the beautiful woods and wetlands, these links provide spectacular scenery and that extra incentive to play better.
History
In early English and French maps, the area of was noted as "Baya Santa Rosa" or "Bay St. Rose," but there were no European settlements in the area until after Florida became a State. The Confederate 1st Florida Regiment, commanded by Colonel George Walton, established Camp Walton on the site of an earlier American fort from the French and Indian Wars. The Regiment's mission was to protect the Florida "Narrows", but they did not see any combat during the war. The men were kept busy digging artifacts from the nearby Temple Mound, and these artifacts were put on display in the Camp.
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