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  Things To Do Index

Things to Do – Fort Walton Beach

Page Index

Movies Parks/Beaches Nightlife
Attractions   Fine Arts   Festivals
Sports   Restaurants   Museums
Bingo   Shopping   Libraries

 

Movies

Splurge on that large tub of butter popcorn and a large soft drink. Enjoy the comfortable stadium seating at the local theater while escaping into a good movie. Fort Walton Beach offers more than 20 cinema screens. There is a flick showing somewhere just for you.
  • Regal Sun Plaza
    427 Mary Esther Cutoff NW
    (850) 244-4252
  • United Artist Santa Rosa Mall
    300 Mary Esther Blvd
    (850) 243-2135
  • Cinema Plus – second-run movies; serving pizza, subs, beer and wine
    174 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy
    Downtown Fort Walton
    (850) 302-0129

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Attractions

Take a day away from the beach to enjoy all the other fun activities available in Fort Walton Beach. Take a spin around an ice skating rink or stop by the Gulfarium to watch the seals and sea lions perform. You might even get a chance to swim with a dolphin.

  • Gulfarium – marine life park, animal exhibits and live shows
    1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy
    Okaloosa Island
    (850) 244-5169
  • Fasttrack – indoor go-kart racetrack located behind Santa Rosa Mall
    300 Mary Esther Blvd.
    Mary Esther
    (850) 862-7223
  • Island Raceway – slot car racing on four different tracks; rental equipment available
    874 E Highway 98
    Shoreline Shopping Center Fort Walton
    (850) 837-5659
  • Goofy Golf
    401 Eglin Pkwy
    (850) 862-4922
  • Island Golf Center and Lost Lagoon – public par-3, nine hole course, pitch and putt, lighted for night play, and miniature golf
    1306 Miracle Strip Pkwy
    (850) 244-1612
  • Okaloosa on Ice – seasonal ice skating rink presented by Fort Walton Beach MainStreet and open mid-November through early January
    The Landing on Brooks Street
    (850) 664-6246
  • Emerald Coast Convention and Welcome Center – special events and visitor information center
    1540 Miracle Strip Pkwy
    Okaloosa Island
    (850) 322-3319

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Sports

Whether the sport involves a golf club, fishing pole, basketball, skateboard or bowling ball, there is a place for you in Fort Walton Beach.
  • Fort Walton Family YMCA – indoor/outdoor pool, gym, exercise equipment and weight room, dance studio, ball field, sauna/steam room, drop-in babysitting
    1127 Hospital Road
    (850) 863-4536
  • White Sands Bowling Center
    653 N Beal Pkwy
    (850) 863-2193
  • Fort Walton Beach Bowling
    745 N Beal Pkwy
    (850) 863-5603
  • Fort Walton Skating Center
    202 NW Racetrack Road
    (850) 863-1223

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Bingo

Who knew that a small piece of cardboard marked with 25 little squares, filled with numbers, could mean so much to so many people? Bingo is alive and doing very well in Fort Walton Beach. Take in a game, or two, or more, at these Bingo venues:

  • Bingo Castle
    116 SE Perry Avenue
    (850) 244-3493

  • Fantasy Bingo
    85 NE Eglin Pkwy
    (850) 302-0302

  • Racetrack Bingo
    106 NE Racetrack Road
    (850) 864-4141

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Parks

With water access Sound side, Bayside and Gulf side, there are many parks located throughout Fort Walton Beach where a family can go for a picnic, for children to play in a safe environment, or to just take a leisurely walk away from the beach crowds.

  • The Landing – family movie nights, special events, Sound side boat ramp, boardwalk, fishing pier, pavilions and gazebo, restrooms, playground
    139 Brooks Street SE
  • Liza Jackson Park – Sound side boat ramp, pavilions, restrooms, playground, fishing pier
    318 Miracle Strip Pkwy
  • John C. Beasley Wayside Park – Gulf access public park, pavilions, restrooms, showers
    1550 Miracle Strip Pkwy
    Okaloosa Island
  • Garniers Beach Park – bayside beach area, swimming, boat ramp, restrooms, playground, picnic tables
    257 Beachview Drive
  • Ferry Park – tennis courts and practice wall, ball fields, playground, one-mile lighted walking trail, restrooms, in-line hockey court, picnic tables and park benches
    54 Ferry Road/Hughes Street NE
    Near the Theo Docie Bass Recreation center

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Fine Arts

Performing arts, fine arts, and musical arts abound in Fort Walton Beach with two community orchestras, several art galleries, and regional dance and theater productions.

  • Awe Struck Gallery
    201 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy
    (850) 243-3727
  • Philharmonic of Northwest Florida – performances at Emerald Coast Conference Center in Fort Walton Beach and St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach
    Box office: (850) 581-4243
  • Sinfonia Gulf Coast – performances at Emerald Coast Conference Center and Marina Civic Center in Panama City, and various other locations
    Box office: (850) 267-1478
  • Northwest Florida Ballet – performances at the Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville and Saenger Theatre in Pensacola
    Box office: (850) 664-7787

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Restaurants

Dining out in Fort Walton Beach can be either a welcome repast at a familiar favorite or a culinary adventure at a new eatery. Whether it’s home cooking that you’re hankerin’, or an international experience like no other, you’ll find it at one of Fort Walton Beach’s local restaurants.
  • Mulhollow’s Bistro 215
    215 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy
    (850) 796-3663
  • Buffalo’s Reef
    116 NE Eglin Pkwy
    (850) 243-9464
  • Okinawa Japanese
    180 NE Eglin Pkwy
    (850) 244-0055

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Shopping

No vacation is complete until the souvenir shopping is done. These shopping venues offer national chains, local boutiques and unique shops filled with beachwear and other resort clothing, books and music, trinkets and handcrafted artwork, as well as other vacation necessities.

  • Santa Rosa Mall
    300 Mary Esther Blvd
    (850) 244-2172

  • Uptown Station
    99 Eglin Pkwy
    (850) 243-0401

  • Sun Plaza Shopping Center
    417 Mary Esther Cutoff

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Nightlife

Music, dancing, fun and food – find this and more in all the local clubs, bars and pubs.

Festivals

Sometimes there doesn’t have to be a reason for a party, but in Fort Walton Beach, with its international flare, there are celebrations throughout the year for many of the cultures present here. There is also a playful nod to its swashbuckler heritage with the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival and Parade every summer.
  • Mardi Gras – early February

  • Musical Echoes, Native American musical festival – late April

  • Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival – early June

  • Festival Latino – late August

  • Italia Festa – June

  • Greek Festival – Labor Day Weekend

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Museums

Fort Walton Beach has come a long way since its beginnings as a sleepy fishing camp. As the city grows, it still maintains its historic significance as an early Native American settlement, evidenced by the newly renovated Indian Temple Mound Museum. Home also to the world’s largest military installation, the Air Force Museum pays homage to the military men and women who have served their country throughout history.

  • Heritage Park and Cultural Center – Indian Temple Mound Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, and Garnier Post Office Museum139 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy
    (850) 833-9595

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Libraries

For travelers who just have to stay connected, local libraries are equipped with computer banks that can keep anyone linked to the Internet. Along with a plethora of novels, magazine, newspapers, and audio books, visitors can enjoy a little down time and still keep up with the outside world.

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  Things to Do Index  
  Apalachicola  
  Crestview
 
  Destin
 
  Fort Walton Beach
 
  Navarre
  
  Niceville  
  Panama City  
  Port St. Joe  
  South Walton