First time to the area....

[Havi2000]

Hi everyone! I'm so happy to have found this forum, as I'm sure you will all be a wealth of knowledge for us newbies. My DH, 18 year old son & I will be visiting the area March 24-31, 2007 & wondered if you could help with accomodation information. We currently have reservations at the Holiday Inn Sunspree at FWB, but are wondering if ther might be something better suited. We would like to be beachfront, clean condo or resort with kitchen facilities, balcony or patio beachfront, lounge chairs, close fishing, restaurants and shopping, prefer 2 bd/2ba.

We have read good things about El Matador condos at the end of FWB, but not being at all familiar with the layout of FWB, Destin, So Walton area. I'm confused.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

[Miss Kitty]

Here's the best I can do...

:eek: :wub: :shock:
Destin SoWal PCB

I am a bit biased though.

[SGB]

I guess it depends what you want to do, but vacationing in FWB definitely wouldn't be my first choice. I know nothing about the condos there, but I don't visualize them as being on the beach. I would much prefer Destin over FWB. But absolutely the best is the SoWal area. Yes, I'm also biased, but you can't beat the environment. Very few high rise condos and lots more beach for everyone. There are ocean front condos such as Adagio or lots of single family homes for rent.

[30A Skunkape]

In 1988 we did spring break at the Islander on the west end of FWB. Lots of my peers in their teens drinking like fish, smoking stuff and looking for wet t-shirts. Did the Sandman in 1989 on the west end of FWB. Lots of my peers in their teens drinking like fish, smoking stuff and looking for wet t-shirts. If that is what you are looking for, FWB will be AWESOME! Keep an eye on your 18 year old:cool:

[goodwitch58]

Havi,

go to www.beachesofsouthwalton.com and take a look at our area. It is much nicer than FWB beach area. This web site will give you an idea of the accommodations as well.

[beachmouse]

Lots of disinformation here.

We lived on Okaloosa Island from 1998-2001. They were doing a huge renovation project on the Sunspree when we lived there when it was going to be converted from a Days Inn to a Holiday Inn. It's definitely direct beach front, as is anything on the South side of Santa Rosa Blvd. I'd say about 98% of the daily/weekly rentals on the Okaloosa Island area of Ft. Walton Beach are direct beach front.

If you're looking at other properties on the Island, many of them have been renovated since 2004, courtesy of insurance settlements from Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis.

Everything on the beach side of the Island is midrise. There's a county agreement with Eglin Air Force Base that restricts developers from going any higher than 6-7 floors.

The number of college spring breakers directly on the beach there is far, far lower than it used to be because most of the condos there have the same age 25 minumum you get in Destin and South Walton. I'd guess that most of the college kids stay at inland hotels/motels.

Main spring beach park and meat market is at the Boardwalk beach area where the Swamp night club is. Rowdy at times, but nothing like what you get in PCB.

If you want quiet, go to Beasley Park, and then hike east into the land the Air Force controls along U.S. 98. That area is maintained for recreation purposes. (Unlike the area west of El Matador, where the Air Force still occasionally launches missles from the beach, and where the MPs will stop you from doing anything more than walking the shore, if they even let you do that)

[SGB]

I guess I don't think of Okaloosa Island as part of FWB. My apologies. In either case, IMHO, SoWal has them all beat. However, I'm not sure which a teenager would prefer.

[30A Skunkape]

I guess I don't think of Okaloosa Island as part of FWB. My apologies. In either case, IMHO, SoWal has them all beat. However, I'm not sure which a teenager would prefer.

When I was a teenager, I prefered Fort Walton. Nowadays, SOWAL is a better fit. Not disinformation, simply stating the truth.:roll:

[kurt]

Havi,

go to www.beachesofsouthwalton.com (http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com) and take a look at our area. It is much nicer than FWB beach area. This web site will give you an idea of the accommodations as well.

What do I need to add to SoWal.com to get you to recommend people go to www.SoWal.com (http://www.SoWal.com)?