By Kathy Kindred
Information on Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton
beach, Florida, is located on the white
beaches of the Gulf Coast. It is six miles from Destin, a short drive from Pensacola, Panama City and an hour's drive to Mobile, Alabama. As of September 2009, Fort Walton Beach had 22,000 residents.
History
According to the city of Fort Walton, the city was created and charted in 1937. The city's history goes back thousands of years. Artifacts dating back to 10,000 B.C. have been found, as well as archaeological evidence of five Indian periods dating back between 600 to 1650 A.D.
Weather
The Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce declares states that the area offers 343 days of sunshine per year. Temperatures in the summer average 70 to 92 degrees F. The area's winters are mild with January and February averaging in the mid-60s.
Lodging
As of September 2009, 34 unique hotels and lodging options were available. These range from budget-friendly motels to expensive resorts. Most of the area's resorts offer gulf views, but there are no all-inclusive resorts.
Attractions
Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding area is home to many attractions, including Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park, the historic Camp Walton Schoolhouse, the Emerald Coast Science Center, the popular Gulfarium and the Heritage Park and Cultural Center.
Activities
Because Fort Walton is located on the shores of the Gulf Coast, water activities are plentiful. Visitors enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, motorized and non-motorized watercraft, fishing and chartered boat tours.
Resources
About the Author:
Kathy Kindred began her professional editing career in 1995 at the "Kansas City Kansan." Other publications for which she has worked include "The Independence (Mo.) Examiner" and the "Kansas City Star." Kindred has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Kansas.
Photo Credits:
Photo courtesy of the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau
