Highlights of the Emerald Coast - Fort Walton Beach

Unfolding along Florida's panhandle is a beautiful region called the Emerald Coast. Its name comes from the sparkling green waters of the Gulf of Mexico that abut its sandy shores. The Emerald Coast begins in Pensacola to the west, and stretches 100 miles east to Panama City. Midway between them lies the real heart of the Emerald Coast: the sister cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Flanking the outlet where the wide, beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay flows into the Gulf, these cities provide a prime vacation destination. Although Destin is fast becoming quite popular and upscale, if you enjoy a more down-to-earth atmosphere, you should check out Fort Walton Beach. If you're looking for a remarkable beach vacation in a town with a laid-back attitude, you'll enjoy your time here, and you'll never run out of things to do. Start your planning with the fine Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals.

The main attraction near Fort Walton Beach hotels is the spectacular shoreline. The beaches here are clean, soft, and white. They've been named the "safest in the country," as well as making "most beautiful beaches" lists. They're so addicting that you may find yourself simply unwinding each day with the sun on your face and your toes in sand, enjoying a light breeze and the sound of waves rolling in to shore. Maybe you'll rouse yourself to do some shelling or build a sand castle. The length of the shoreline near your Fort Walton Beach vacation rental is lined with coastal dunes. Ranging up to 50 feet high, these the dunes are particularly susceptible to human encroachment. Thus, more than 60 percent of them are protected by law, so you can stroll along them in their pristine, natural state right in front of your cozy inn.

The warm emerald waters of the Gulf may invite you in. With so much water all around your hotel, you'll find plenty of water recreation to enjoy. Although this area of the Gulf of Mexico is too far north for coral reefs, there are numerous artificial reefs and shipwrecks, even airplanes, to explore, so scuba diving or snorkeling in the clear water is a delight. You may be joined by manta rays, dolphins, or large loggerhead sea turtles. If you prefer to remain on top of the water, you can still view the sea life in a glass-bottom boat tour. Perhaps you'll spend a day away from your Fort Walton Beach lodging on a deep sea fishing cruise.

Freshwater fishing is abundant here, as well, with some bayous and various area rivers providing many choices. The Blackwater River is popular for canoeing, tubing or kayaking. You'll find beautiful areas on land as well. You might visit nearby Eden State Gardens, a hundred-year-old estate overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay. The moss-draped oak trees and picturesque gardens of azaleas and camellias transport to an earlier time. There's even sightseeing underground. You can head to Marianna from your Fort Walton Beach vacation rental to tour the Florida Caverns, the only limestone caverns in the state.

Article Source: Ezine Articles