Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Learn about Fort Walton Beach

For the family that looks for the right mix of fun and cultural education, Fort Walton is a great place to visit.



The white beaches and emerald water are any beachgoer’s dream. Shop paddle boards, kayaks, and more at BOTE to experience the water up close. Easily transport them home on your street legal golf cart at the end of the day.

Ecotourists visiting between June and October will enjoy the Nighttime Education Beach walk. It is complimentary to those who sign up ahead by emailing ECTurtleWatch@gmail.com or filling out the form at destinfwb.com. Visitors will learn about the different types of turtles, their nesting habits, and what we can do to help protect them.

Beach culture is everywhere in Fort Walton’s walkable downtown area. Find art, antiques, fashion, and delicious eats all within walking distance of the water. On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, visitors and locals alike take their street-legal golf carts to the year-round farmers market to see what the local farmers, bakers, and artisans have in store. Remember, your golf cart has plenty of room, so shop away!

It never hurts to remember our past as we enjoy the present. The Indian Temple Mound Museum is part of the Heritage Park and Cultural Center in Downtown Fort Walton Beach. It houses an eye-catching collection of Native American art and pottery as well as artifacts from Spanish explorers, European settlers, and even pirates. Over 1400 items call this museum home, giving us a peek at what life was like on these beaches in ages past. All the museums in the Heritage Park and Cultural Center surround a platform mound circa 850 CE built by the local Pensacola culture. Other museums in the Heritage Park include the 1912 Camp Walton School and the 1918 Granier Post Office Museum.