Fort Walton Beach Attractions to See on Vacation

The Emerald Coast Science Center's goal is to inspire a life-long interest in science, and does so by enabling children to have fun with scientific developments. The science center houses many interactive exhibits and high-quality educational programs in the fields of robotics, color and light, and physics. Kids are invited to fly and land a model plane in a wind tunnel, to guide robotic arms, and to interact with animals such as snakes and parakeets in the critter exhibit. Weekly features of the science center include hands-on experiments and story-time. There are monthly workshops for home schooled children, and class field trips are always welcome.

31 SW Memorial Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-664-1261

The Air Force Armament Museum presents a history of aircraft, bombs, guns, missiles, and rockets that were used by the United States Airforce in WWII, and in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Inside the museum are four vintage aircraft, a large collection of weaponry, and interactive cockpit simulators. Outside, visitors can view 29 aircraft dating from WWI to present, including the fastest plane ever built, the SR-71 Blackbird. A 32-minute film about the Eglin Air Force Base and its role in developing armaments is presented every day at regular intervals. The museum's gift shop sells high-quality commemorative souvenirs.

100 Museum Drive, Eglin AFB, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32542, Phone: 850-882-4062

The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is an aquarium with a difference. It focuses its attention on educating visitors about marine life through personal encounters with wildlife. Visitors to Gulfarium may dip their hands into a pool filled with gentle stingrays, touch juvenile alligators, feed snacks to loggerhead turtles, snorkel with stingrays and sharks, feed and touch African penguins, stand on a submerged platform for up-close time with friendly bottle-nosed dolphins, and meet and touch approachable seals and sea lions. Arrangements can be made for visitors to shadow a marine animal trainer, or to have a delicious breakfast in the dolphin enclosure. Kids will get a thrill out of a child-oriented reptile safari that will permit them to learn about and touch turtles, lizards, snakes and alligators.

1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-243-9046

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

The Indian Temple and Mound Museum pays homage to the 12,000 years of Native American occupation that occurred before European explorers and settlers came to the Emerald Coast. The Native Americans in the area were intensely agricultural, and built mounds for burial and sacred purposes. Most of the museum's 1,000 artifacts are from the period 1100-1550 AD, although it does have a fine collection of much-earlier prehistoric ceramics. In 1528, Spanish explorer ÁlvarNúñezCabeza de Vaca came to these shores, and the museum has some items from this exploratory period, and from the early settlers of north western Florida. Visitors may climb steps level with the top of the prehistoric mound, although climbing on the mound itself is strictly forbidden.

139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-833-9595

The Cattywampus Catamaran is a low-riding, double-hulled boat upon which up to 43 people can journey into the Gulf of Mexico for eco-cruises. The daytime dolphin cruises start by anchoring on a sandbar in the bay to give passengers a chance to snorkel in shallow waters to view marine life, and to search for shells and sand dollars. From there, the catamaran heads into the Gulf of Mexico, which teems with friendly bottle nose dolphins. These beautiful marine creatures surface to breathe several times a minute. On sunset cruises, visitors can enjoy the sight of dolphins while leaning back and savoring the ocean breeze, the sunset and the natural surroundings. Thursday night sunset cruises give guests aboard the Cattywampus the best view of the fireworks displays set off at Fort Walton Beach and in nearby Destin. Clean, high-quality snorkeling equipment is provided for all sailors.

1318 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-586-0450

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Wild Willy's Adventure Zone welcomes kids of all ages for dinosaur-themed fun. Indoors, in air-conditioned comfort, kids can explore the 17,000 square foot arcade, a 3D movie theater where the seats move along with the action, and a laser maze which challenges participants to climb over and slither under laser obstacles. Outside there are two mini-golf courses, one with scary animatronics designed for older children, and a little kid's course with cartoonish baby dinosaurs. There is a rope climbing course, a unique roller coaster with spinning seats, a reverse bungee trampoline, and remote control boats with a military theme. Hungry adventurers will enjoy the pizza joint and the ice cream parlor at the park.

1306 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-400-3300

Goofy Golf has been operating in Fort Walton Beach, Florida since 1958, and has always been an inexpensive way of spending quality times outdoors with family and friends. Goofy Golf has two 17-hole courses, and share the 18^th hole, which is called “The Snake's Mouth.” Goofy Golf offers tournaments, day passes and t-shirts. The course has a mascot, a 23' tall model T-Rex named Hammy. The mini-golf courses are favorites of visitors and locals, some who have been coming to play the two courses since its inception in the 50s.

401 Eglin Parkway NE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547, Phone: 850-862-4922

Unique Museums:

The Garnier Post Office Museum is part of the Fort Walton Beach Heritage and Cultural Center in downtown Fort Walton, and can be found behind the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum. From 1906-1917, the area's post office was located in the mercantile store of Mr. Euphrates M. Mooney, the first county postmaster. In 1918, the first formal post office was built at the junction of Mooney and Garnier Post Roads, with Mr. Mooney remaining in the role of postmaster. The small museum has a number of items from the early postal era of the county. It is open to the public and offers educational programs.

127 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-833-9595

Before the area was known as Fort Walton Beach, it bore the name Camp Walton, after the Confederate Army encampment that existed there in the 1860s. In 1911, a native pine and oak school house was built for area children, which opened in 1912 with fifteen students and one teacher. Grades 1-8 were taught in the one-room schoolhouse. In 1927, an extra room was added, and one more teacher hired to instruct students from grades 9-12. The school was closed in 1936 when the all-brick Fort Walton School was erected nearby. Visitors to the schoolhouse can see how early classrooms were set up, view actual artifacts of the school, and see under what primitive conditions students and teachers existed in the early days of Florida education.

127 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548, Phone: 850-833-9595