OKALOOSA ISLAND: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE’S BEST KEPT SECRET

Every time I enter the Sunshine State, I find myself wondering why I don't already live here: I'm a fan of sun-kissed shoulders, wind-tossed hair and living in my bikini. Yes -- one day, I will live by the water. Until then, I'm encouraging you to add Okaloosa Island to your bucket list. Located just outside of Fort Walton Beach and the busy town of Destin, Okaloosa Island is the quieter beach town with emerald, sea-glass waves and dolphins just outside your balcony.

Welcome, curious travelers to the Florida Panhandle's best kept secret: a fifth (and counting!) return visit to the quaint beach town of Okaloosa Island. Grab those blue light glasses, your travel notebook and keep reading for a conversational, diary-style city guide from this wildly solo wanderer. I'm so glad you've joined me.

Why I Went and What I Expected:

I didn’t come to Okaloosa Island with a checklist. I came with a travel book bag stuffed with 4 bathing suits, a good book and my favorite pair of sunglasses. Okaloosa Island was the second location I traveled solo to-- and there's a reason for that. This town felt like a safe spot for me to walk the beach to unwind post-pandemic but also offered quick escapes for adventures to neighboring towns when the mood for excitement hit. I have loved my time here so much, I've already been back five times and counting.

Why yes: a ninety minute direct flight from Cincinnati that plants me in white sand and crystal clear water is enough to give this town a spot in my top-ten.

If you’re visiting the Florida Panhandle for the first time, here’s what it felt like to experience the beachy vibe of Okalossa--one unexpected, sun-filled moment at a time.

First Impressions: The Vibe Check

The first time I stepped my polished pedicure into the green waters, I stood there transfixed: the water was as calm as a bath. I had just picked up my rental car and found my tropical condo. I ran from the car to the beach, desperate to see the view and wanting confirmation that I did indeed make the right decision to embark on another solo adventure that summer -- and as I stood at the edge of the water not even in my bathing suit yet, a dolphin skirted the waves. The colors felt like something out of a 9os Lisa Frank binder, and I instantly dialed my mother. I've been her for 5 minutes, and I've already seen a dolphin! I squealed with glee.

I mean, can it get any better? I'm so glad I came! After I took in the color of the water and the local water tower branded with the phrase 'Welcome to the Emerald Coast', I caught myself paying attention to the locals. I could tell they celebrated living here. In fact, I struck up a conversation with the local gal who rented me my SUV on my last return trip. Welcome to paradise. She greeted me with this bright smile, so I decided to probe her choice of words. Do you really think this is paradise? I had to know a local's perspective. She grinned: I booked a plane ticket after retiring 15 years ago and have never looked back.

I'd have to agree: Okaloosa is the kind of place where you look up potential rental properties. Whether you are interested in a slow vibe, a stretch out morning walk on the beach with the sunrisers or need a refresh on your tan, I'm confident this could be the spot to recharge. With an army base just on the outskirts of town, the pace is slow and the locals are kind.

The Outdoor Moment I Can’t Stop Thinking About

Every place has that spot—the one that makes me pause and always want to come back for more: the moment that I breathe a bit deeper, and think: okay, this is why I came.

Here, it's the Okaloosa Fishing Pier. Here me out: it may not seem like much, but it it feels like something out of a beach novel: littered with locals, the finest of fisherman and just tourists trying to catch their dinner, I found myself mesmerized by this spot. I'd walk the beach to this pier twice a day. Why? Because the view above these emerald waters allowed you to see every fish, shark or sea turtle basking in the water beneath you.

THE BEST $2:00 I SPENT THE ENTIRE TRIP:

• Want to see a shark from a distance but be close enough to actually see those stripes on it's fin?

• Interested in striking up a conversation with the locals while watching them bag fish of all sizes and shapes?

• Want to feel what it's like to be more than 1,200 feet out in the ocean? This the place.

There was a moment when I was walking across this wooden pier with my shoes in my hands that I looked out across the waves and no joke: I counted EIGHT sharks swimming below me. WHAT?! Stick around long enough and you'll see tiger sharks and hammerheads literally below your toes -- at a safe distance. The water is so crystal clear that the depth perception is unreal: I found myself bouncing between my beach chair and this pier, content to watch all of the ocean creatures come to life. These moments reminded me of why I love traveling this way—alone, un-rushed, and open to whatever the day offers.

//If you go: prepare to pay $2.00. You can pick up a beverage or sunscreen at the pier shop before heading across the wooden pier. You can even try your hand at fishing if you want to do more than just spectate. Don’t rush it: the best (and biggest!) fish show up when you least expect it. If you only have time for one local experience, make it this.

If you're going, start here:

• Day One: walk the beach all the way to Eglin Air Force Base: the closer you get to the base, the less of a crowd.

• Don’t skip the sunset --watch it from the pier or your condo balcony: the sun just lights up the sky and reflects across the water in a spectacular way

• Give yourself time to watch the wildlife come alive from atop the Okaloosa Fishing Pier or from the beach

• Eat at Beachview: grab a Coca-Cola + a hamburger and fries and sit outside near the waves

• Venture past the pier walking on the beach toward Destin: if it's windy enough, you may see some wind surfers catching the waves

• Rent the beach chair for $10 and sit and watch the planes from the base perform their practice runs: they fly very low!
  

This isn’t a place you rush through—it’s one you let unfold.

What I'd tell you if you were going tomorrow

• Rent the car to explore surrounding cities: Navarre Beach is a hidden gem! It's a short drive from Okaloosa, and the vibes are similar. [Navarre has the longest pier in the state of Florida, and the waves seem to draw more local surfers: worth the drive!]. Pensacola and Panama City are not too far away and make great day trips.

• Consider snorkeling the reef: on my last trip to Okaloosa, I ran across a sign to a reef just off the beach. You can find the pillars and directions at Beach Access 2, not far from the Beachview restaurant. It’s not extremely far out into the ocean, but far enough that you’d want to take a buddy and not go alone: I'm adding it to my list!

• Go in town to McGuires Irish Pub: they have the best shepherd's pie, and the ambiance of the restaurant is completely touristy but worth it.

• Looking for an excursion? Check out the Destin Harbor. You can catch a sunset tour or just walk around this area and watch the boats come in. If you go around dusk, you’ll probably see lots of dolphins.

• Coolest hidden gem? Explore the jetties east: it's a spot that locals go to catch the sunset. Sometimes sharks will come up right to the rocks on the coast—I’d view this area from outside the water, not in: super cool, but be aware of your surroundings.
  

Okaloosa Island feels like the kind of place that reveals more of itself each time you visit—and I love destinations that don’t give everything away at once.