Our family has visited the Emerald Coast for over 10 years! And while we have loved hanging out in the Destin area, recently we discovered Downtown Fort Walton and fell in love! The trendy vibe of downtown is a must stop while visiting the area! Restaurants, bars, cafes, retail shops and antique shopping provide an opportunity to spend a few hours downtown! And what would a beach town be without some serious souvenir shopping? Traditional souvenirs are always available, but buyers can take advantage of locally created unique finds as well!
Let's start out in the morning. If you are a doughnut person (and I am) you have to try the layered flaky pastries at Parlor Doughnuts! With flavors like Bourbon Caramel, Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Hill everyone will find their own doughnut delight! There are also some great breakfast sandwiches, if you are not a doughnut fan (I envy your willpower)! Check them out on Instagram
If you are not a breakfast person BUT coffee or tea is a must, visit Maas Coffee Roasters. This cafe has all kind of coffee concoctions and some non-coffee offerings! I LOVE the back area of this cafe. The storefront is not large BUT their garden outdoor dining area is so very nice! And when you are in Florida, you need to be outside! Check them out on Instagram: Maas Coffee Roasters (@maascoffee)
At this point you need to do a little shopping! There are all kinds of shops and retail options! You are able to see a listing of all businesses on a website designed to promote everything downtown! If you are planning a trip to the area, or you are frequent visitor to the area, sign up for the newsletter to stay in the loop!
The website offers information on the Saturday Market schedule. Downtown FWB Saturday Market is a rain or shine event on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, year-round, from 8am-1pm. The market is located at the beautiful waterfront park downtown, Fort Walton Beach Landing Park 139 Brooks St SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
You can also view the schedule for all events. Lots of FREE concerts, gatherings and live music! Check out the events page prior to your trip so you can plan how to get the very most from your visit!
One of our favorite shops has to be 3 Dogs and A Chick! If you are a PET LOVER, this is a definite stop. They are baking fresh pet treats daily (and the smell is amazing). They also have supplies, all types of organic remedies and of course some cute pet and human apparel! Our dogs love their treats, and we love the natural ingredients they are using for our fur family members.
There is shopping options for clothing, candles, jewelry and antiques! There are all kinds of parks and sitting areas for the family too! And of course there is a play area for kids!
I have to mention one of the local spots that we LOVE! After all that shopping, its likely you are ready for lunch or at least a snack! Check out Burrito del Sol! This a local restaurant setup in a similar manner as Chipotle with fresh ingredients that allow diners to select their own protein, nachos, bowl, salad, taco or burrito! My favorite is the BBQ chicken nachos with the pineapple salsa. They also have outdoor seating that allows for a little people watching while enjoying your meal.
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See short video of Downtown Fort Walton on TikTok
When visiting Fort Walton, of course the beach is where we spend most of our time. But sometimes rain or sunburns can lead to your family or group needing some beach downtime. I absolutely recommend you spend some time checking out our charming downtown area. You will not be disappointed! Let me know your favorite downtown spots! I have not visited everything and would love to hear some of your favorites!
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