Places to visit on the Emerald Coast

Whether you’ve come to the Emerald Coast to enjoy the surf and sand, shop, explore coastal communities, see musicals or visit art exhibits, the Destin/South Walton area provides activities for all ages.

The arts flourish in the Destin/South Walton area, where artists have studios, fine arts shows take place, theaters host both professional and amateur productions and a ballet company performs in Fort Walton Beach.

Several local organizations are dedicated to promoting and preserving the arts.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation sponsors a variety of plays, concerts and artists’ showings during the year, as well as the Destin Fine Arts Festival, a juried fine arts show.

Two histories of the area have been published and the area’s history is performed on stage each fall by Grit and Grace, a folk-theater company featuring local players reciting tales from yesteryear to preserve the history of Walton County.

South Walton’s Cultural Arts Association promotes several visual arts events each year, including ArtsQuest, a Fine Arts Festival in May, and the Flutterby Festival in the fall.

The Seaside Institute and Ruskin Place art galleries in Seaside promote free events for the public throughout the year.

In 2000 the Seaside Repertory Theatre was established.

The Emerald Coast Concert Association presents a variety of shows during winter months. Productions are usually staged in Fort Walton Beach.

Stagecrafters Community Theater, founded in 1972, performs several shows each year in the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium.

The Northwest Florida Ballet is a professional company founded in 1969. Several performances are scheduled each year in the company’s home in Fort Walton Beach.

The area is fortunate to have the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola and the Arts Center of Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville. Both theaters sponsor Broadway-based dramas, musicals and other theater and musical events each year.

In addition, several symphony orchestras and bands present a variety of musical events during the year. The Northwest Florida symphony Orchestra and Symphony Chorus performs at OWC.

There are many art galleries in the area, including several where visitors can meet the artist.

The Destin Log and The Walton Sun publish updated lists of events in each edition.

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Air Force Armament Museum

The museum is on the largest air base in the free world, Eglin Air Force Base. There is no admission fee. On Hwy. 85 north of Shalimar. Call 882-4062.

Arts & Design Society

Demonstrations and displays of art every Sunday. The society was founded 30 years ago to promote art on the Emerald Coast. At 17 First St., Fort Walton Beach. Call 244-1271.

The Arts Center

This 120,000-square-foot fine and performing arts facility on the OWC campus has a 1,600-seat main theater that accommodates Broadway and other shows, an art wing with two galleries, a music wing and a 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheater. Call 729-6000.

Big Kahuna’s Lost Paradise

This theme park on U.S. 98 in Destin has a water park, snack bars and more. Call 837-4061.

Camp Walton School House

Built in 1912 and in use until 1936, this building is open to groups for tours by reservation. The facility is at 107 First St., Fort Walton Beach. Call 243-6521 or 244-3433.

Chautauqua Winery

Visitors are welcome to tour and see the winemaking process at the winery in DeFuniak Springs. Call 892-5887.

County Road 30A

Turn south a few miles east of Sandestin on County Road 30A for a beautiful drive through South Walton county. The road winds through the beach communities of Dune Allen Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Sunrise Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove Beach, Seacrest Beach, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach before rejoining U.S. 98 just a few miles west of Panama City Beach.

There are small, brackish lakes along the road as well as some county parks with beach accesses and the beachfront Grayton Beach State Recreation Area. Grayton Beach, one of the older beach towns in the area, is home to several artists and quaint shopping centers. Several of the area’s finest restaurants also will be found on 30A.

DeFuniak Springs

Circle Drive in historic DeFuniak Springs encircles beautiful Lake DeFuniak and provides views of historic homes. Use the walking tour brochure available at the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.

Destin History and Fishing Museum

Fishing exhibits, antique rods and reels display, vintage photos of early Destin settlers and much more. Open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 108 Stahlman Ave. Admission Costs: Adult $5; Seniors and Military $4; Children $3; Children under 4 are free. For information, call 837-6611.

Eden Gardens State Park

Resplendent in its continuing restoration is the key attraction of this state park, a two-story mansion built in 1897 by lumber baron William Wesley. The beautiful grounds include rose gardens, a reflecting pool and a sweeping green lawn shaded by ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss. Situated at the headwaters of Choctawhatchee Bay, the grounds of the mansion are often used for weddings, art festivals and family picnics. The Friends of Eden, a volunteer group, has taken on the work of restoration and preservation of the home and its gardens and offers tours. The gardens are on State Road 395 in Point Washington. Call 231-4214.

Emerald Coast Science Museum

This hands-on science museum for all ages is on Brooks Street adjacent to Fort Walton Landing. Group tours by appointment. Call 664-1261.

Fort Walton Beach Art Museum

The museum houses the Mimi Bass collection, American paintings, sculptures and Asian relics and is at 38 Robinwood Drive SW. Call 244-1893.

Gulfarium

In 1955 Florida’s oldest marine life aquarium opened on Okaloosa Island. Since then, a multimillion-dollar facility has been built that includes covered seating for the four different shows that begin at 10 a.m. No more tickets are sold after 4 p.m. Huge underwater panels bring visitors face to face with sharks, eels and other sea life. Exhibits include seal and sea lion rookery, dolphins, Penguin Port, exotic bird aviary, otter camp, Fort Gator and more.

The facility opens at 9 a.m. every day, rain or shine. Admission price includes all four shows. Refreshments are available. Call 244-5169.

Gulf World Marine Park

Dolphin, scuba, sea lion and tropical bird shows are among the features at this marine park in Panama City Beach. Other features are indoor tropical gardens and a sting ray petting pool and exhibits of otters, iguana, alligators, penguin and sea lions. Visitors may swim with a dolphin. A “Splash Magic” laser show is presented nights. The park opens at 9 a.m. daily. Call 234-5271.

Henderson Beach State Recreation Area

Fishing, swimming and picnicking are available at this park just east of Destin that is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. More than 6,000 feet of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico comprises part of the park, and there are well-kept nature trails for hiking. There is a fee for entry/parking. Call 837-7550.

Heritage Museum

There is no admission fee to this museum that focuses on the pioneer period of the area with furnishings from pioneer cabins and kitchen equipment and farm tools. A wall of fame features inductees in the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame.

The museum in Valparaiso is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 678-2615.

Indian Temple Mound Museum

The museum, which sits next to a temple mound built for political and religious ceremonies, houses more than 4,000 American Indian objects found within the downtown Fort Walton Beach area. It is located on U.S. 98 in Fort Walton Beach. Call 833-9595.

Junior Museum of Bay County

The free, hands-on museum designed for kids is in Panama City and is the perfect place for rainy days. Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 769-6128.

Martin Theater

This historic theater in Panama City was built in 1936 and named “The Ritz.” The building has been returned to its original art deco glory. The theater offers a wide variety of music and theater events. Call 763-8080.

Museum of Man in the Sea

This museum is devoted solely to the history of diving and historical displays date back to 1500. The museum houses relics from the first days of scuba diving and underwater exploration as well as treasures recovered from shipwrecks. Open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 235-4101.

National Museum of Naval Aviation

The museum is on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola and offers exhibits relating to the Navy’s role in the nation’s defense. There are 130 restored aircraft displayed in the museum’s 291,000 square feet of exhibit space.

There is no admission cost for the museum, which is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day). Admission is charged for the IMAX theater. Call 800-327-5002 or 800-453-2389.

Pensacola

This modern city reveres its past, which includes being under the rule of five different flags in its history. The city celebrated its 300th birthday in 1999.

Among the areas beautifully restored are Historic Pensacola Village, which includes a cottage built in 1805 (595-5985), and the Seville and North Hill historic districts. In addition, there are the Civil War Soldiers Museum; The Wall South, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.; and tours of Fort Pickens, where Union troops were housed during the Civil War and where Geronimo was held prisoner.

Saenger Theatre

The opening performance at Pensacola’s historic theater was April 2, 1925, and included the Star Spangled Banner, a dance troupe and the movie “The Ten Commandments.” After vaudeville died, the theater became a movie palace, no longer housing live performances. Built of bricks and other materials rescued from the Pensacola Opera House, demolished by a 1912 hurricane, the Saenger had become an adult movie theater by the 1960s. In 1975 the facility, in total disrepair, was closed. In 1981 the totally renovated Saenger was reopened and maintains its l920s ambience in its present glory as it again houses live performances. Call 444-7686 for a schedule of entertainment.

Shipwreck Island

Shipwreck Island is a water park in Panama City Beach. 850-234-3333.

St. Andrews State Recreation Area

This area, at the east end of Panama City Beach, is popular for nature-based recreation such as hiking, biking, bird watching and water sports. The park opened in 1951 and now consists of more than 1,260 acres. Shell Island is a pristine barrier island across the ship’s channel from the park. Shuttles run to the island in spring and summer. Call 233-5140.

The Track

Go-karts, bumper boats, kiddie rides, bumper cars, mini golf, arcade and bungee jumping are at The Track Recreation Center in Destin on U.S. 98. Call 654-4668.

West Indies Market

The 2007 West Indies Market featuring artists and vendors in the media of sculpting, photography, painting, jewelry making, collectibles, antiques, pottery, soap and candle making, ceramics, stained glass, handmade furniture and ornamental designs will be held weekends throughout the summer on the lawns of Rosemary Beach. Call 951-2148 for more information.

Zoo World Zoological and Botanical Park

Big cats, reptiles, orangutans and other primates are part of the experience at this zoo in Panama City Beach. Open year-round. Call 230-1243.