I visited an island on Florida's panhandle that made me feel like I was vacationing in the Caribbean
My family and I took a trip to Okaloosa Island, located on Florida's Emerald Coast.
The breathtaking white sand beaches made me feel like I was in the Caribbean.
I also loved how family-friendly the area is and how many good local restaurants there are.
Instead, I booked a trip to Okaloosa Island, which is located on Florida's panhandle in an area nicknamed the Emerald Coast.
Okaloosa, which is a section of the larger Santa Rosa island, is only a short drive from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, making for an easy getaway from my home in New York.
Whether for a quick weekend trip or a relaxing family vacation, this under-the-radar destination is the perfect, wallet-friendly alternative to the Caribbean.
In my opinion, Okaloosa Island's beaches rival those in the Caribbean. Although I knew I was in Florida, the beaches on Okaloosa Island reminded me of Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos.The gleaming white sand, which feels almost as soft as flour, is made from fine quartz crystals eroded from the Appalachian Mountains.The water's vivid blue-green color is another aspect that sets these beaches apart from others I've been to.
Okaloosa Island is situated near other lively towns like Fort Walton Beach and Destin, giving us tons of options for activities and dining.We spent a fun-filled afternoon in Destin Harbor Boardwalk, making the most of the attractions like the bungee trampoline and the many ice cream spots. However, the best part was that we could escape to our quieter beach town at the end of the day.
We found plenty of things to do in the area. Although I love relaxing on the beach, I also enjoy getting out and about. During our trip, we found a variety of activities on Okaloosa Island and beyond.One day, we went on a pontoon snorkeling trip to Spectre Island and saw manatees near the boat. We also rented paddleboards and paddled around Choctawhatchee Bay.
Okaloosa Island is family-friendly. Another thing I love about Okaloosa Island is how much there is to keep the little ones entertained.One highlight of our trip was the Little Adventurers program, which offers free classes for kids of all ages. The classes are meant to introduce them to activities like surfing, snorkeling, and pinfishing.There were outposts on the beach where we signed up for daily activities. My younger daughter tried pinfishing and was very proud of herself for catching one.

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I visited an island on Florida's panhandle that made me feel like I was vacationing in the Caribbean
My family and I took a trip to Okaloosa Island, located on Florida's Emerald Coast. The breathtaking white sand beaches made me feel like I was in the Caribbean. I also loved how family-friendly the area is and how many good local restaurants there are. Instead, I booked a trip to Okaloosa Island, which is located on Florida's panhandle in an area nicknamed the Emerald Coast. Okaloosa, which is a section of the larger Santa Rosa island, is only a short drive from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, making for an easy getaway from my home in New York. Whether for a quick weekend trip or a relaxing family vacation, this under-the-radar destination is the perfect, wallet-friendly alternative to the Caribbean. In my opinion, Okaloosa Island's beaches rival those in the Caribbean. Although I knew I was in Florida, the beaches on Okaloosa Island reminded me of Grace Bay in Turks and gleaming white sand, which feels almost as soft as flour, is made from fine quartz crystals eroded from the Appalachian water's vivid blue-green color is another aspect that sets these beaches apart from others I've been to. Okaloosa Island is situated near other lively towns like Fort Walton Beach and Destin, giving us tons of options for activities and spent a fun-filled afternoon in Destin Harbor Boardwalk, making the most of the attractions like the bungee trampoline and the many ice cream spots. However, the best part was that we could escape to our quieter beach town at the end of the day. We found plenty of things to do in the area. Although I love relaxing on the beach, I also enjoy getting out and about. During our trip, we found a variety of activities on Okaloosa Island and day, we went on a pontoon snorkeling trip to Spectre Island and saw manatees near the boat. We also rented paddleboards and paddled around Choctawhatchee Bay. Okaloosa Island is family-friendly. Another thing I love about Okaloosa Island is how much there is to keep the little ones highlight of our trip was the Little Adventurers program, which offers free classes for kids of all ages. The classes are meant to introduce them to activities like surfing, snorkeling, and were outposts on the beach where we signed up for daily activities. My younger daughter tried pinfishing and was very proud of herself for catching one.