Things to Do Beyond the Beach in Okaloosa County, FL
The soft sand is great, but Okaloosa County has plenty of other outdoor attractions.
It’s obvious how important the beach is to Okaloosa County, FL. After all, it’s part of Fort Walton Beach’s name. But you can’t have a beach without water, and increasingly, the sea and bay are rivaling the sand when it comes to outdoor recreation in Okaloosa County.
“We’ve been known for our beaches for a very long time,” says Alex Fogg, Okaloosa County coastal resource manager. “Recently, we’ve really put a lot of emphasis on getting people on the water and exploring a little more around here than just the beaches.”
Not that the beaches aren’t great. Far from it. The powdery white sand along the Emerald Coast is not found in many other places. That’s why officials have been working to expand public beach access, to ensure that both tourists and locals have plenty of options for enjoying this natural attraction.
But officials also are encouraging people to look for things to do beyond the beach in Okaloosa County, FL. In some cases, way beyond. Since 2019, more than a dozen artificial reefs have been placed off the county coast, ranging from 60 to almost 300 feet deep. These reefs create a habitat that attracts fish (trout and flounder are plentiful) and other sea dwellers, making the area an ideal location for fishing, snorkeling and diving.
“The waters here are very clear. They rival the Florida Keys and other places around the United States that maybe are more known for diving,” Fogg says. “So, while these artificial reefs benefit the fishing industry, we’re employing them in locations that are also accessible to snorkelers and divers.”
Many more reefs are on the way, thanks to a $1.26 million federal grant using funds designated for the Gulf Coast recovery effort following the BP oil spill. Fogg says that amount is approximately 20 times greater than average funding for a typical reef project. As a result, nearly 150 new reef sites will be created, some as far as 30 miles offshore.
“Most reef projects focus on just one area, but this one is large enough that we can try to make everyone happy,” Fogg says. “We even created four snorkel reef sites that are only about 800 feet from shore. So, you can easily paddle out and see a structure about 10 to 15 feet below the surface that has a ton of fish around it and probably some turtles.”
Adventure Awaits in Okaloosa County, FL
While lounging on the beach for hours at a time has major appeal for many people, others prefer to engage in more adrenaline-pumping activities. There are plenty of those available in Okaloosa County as well. In addition to scuba diving and snorkeling, you can enjoy sailing, parasailing, ATV off-roading and zip lining (the one at HarborWalk Adventures in Destin spans 500 feet each way).
Children can dip their toes into outdoor recreation through the Little Adventures program, which offers free, one-hour instructional classes for such activities as fishing, paddleboarding and snorkeling.
“We have a stationary outpost in Destin and three mobile outposts,” says Kerry Sutsko, destination stewardship manager for Destin- Fort Walton Beach. “We go onto the beach and introduce kids to these activities. That way if they like it, their parents are then more likely to charter a boat or rent the equipment.
“Those classes are available for locals as well. We work with school groups and military families to make sure that their kids are learning about the things we have available here.”
Outdoor recreation is not confined to the Gulf-side beaches and water. Fort Walton Beach is located between Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, and both can provide a calm respite from the wave action along the coast.
“So, if it’s too choppy for fishing or paddleboarding on the Gulf waters, you can always come to the bay,” Sutsko says. “We have a lot of bay access points around the county. And it’s all clear water. It’s a great point of entry to water adventure for kids because of the clarity and calmness of the water. Yes, people should absolutely hit the beaches when they come here and enjoy those. But also go beyond that. Try something new while you’re here, and you’ll love this area even more.”
Entertainment & Education in Okaloosa County, FL
Speaking of trying something new, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is the perfect place for people to explore. It is celebrating 70 years in 2024 of welcoming guests to learn about the park’s marine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Much of the focus at the Fort Walton Beach tourist destination is also on entertainment, with visitors able to view exhibits and shows that involve marine creatures including dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, sharks, penguins, alligators and otters. The adventure attraction is always a hit with children and operates daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch can be purchased at the park’s Dive-In Eatery adjacent to Seal Harbor.
Besides entertainment, Gulfarium focuses on scientific research and conservation projects that are important to the preservation of marine wildlife, especially animals on the Florida Gulf Coast. One of the key parts of the Gulfarium complex is its C.A.R.E. Center (for Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate, Educate.) The C.A.R.E. Center opened in 2015 and is involved today with the rehabilitation and release of various species of sea turtles.
When an injured or sick sea turtle arrives at the center, it is evaluated and nurtured by a veterinary staff that uses medical guidelines set by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Whenever a sea turtle is well again and ready to be released, C.A.R.E. Center staff and volunteers take the animal to an FWC-approved location and celebrate its return to the Gulf of Mexico.
The C.A.R.E. Center treats and releases a total of about 150 Loggerheads, Kemp’s ridleys and Green sea turtles each year.
Get to Know Okaloosa County, FL
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