When you come to the Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach, you never have to leave. My husband and I laugh because the car truly never left the parking spot! We had the best family vacation here. This was our first time visiting Fort Walton and now it’s one of our favorite vacation spots! The Island Resort sits beachfront, and within minutes guests can stroll down the beach to the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier.  Built-in 1966 – renovated in 2018, it is one of the first resorts built in the area, but it has been recently upgraded with modern amenities and finishes. We loved the renovations they made in the resort and waking up to the ocean view was so dreamy!

Dining Options

There are several dining options at the resort, whether you want to enjoy food from your balcony, dine poolside, or enjoy a sit-down dinner at Fish House. They have a food truck near the beach that serves on-the-go breakfast and lunch as well as drinks! The Island Grille by the pool was one of our favorites because they served pizza, caesar salad, nachos, chili-cheese fries, drinks, and more. This was a great spot for lunch because we could chill and eat lunch by the pool! The Fish House is great for a sit-down breakfast or dinner. We loved the tacos and the kids enjoyed chicken tenders and fries. The setting is so nice and just a walk away from your room! You can also grab a special cocktail or frozen drink at the Tripp Tide Beach Bar. The Tripp Tide Beach Bar is located right on the beach and is such a nice spot to sit and chill in the afternoon.

Entertainment Schedule

The Entertainment schedule was great! Every day the resort plans several on-site activities for guests of all ages! These activities include yoga, Zumba, dive-in movie, mermaid encounters, balloon animals, crafts for the kids, DJ pool parties, and live music. My kids really loved the balloons animals and crafts! If you want to leave the resort one night just to change things up, there is putt putt right across the street at Dino World!

The Grotto Pool was one of our favorite spots on the Island Resort. It has these really cool waterfalls and a bar you can swim up to so you never have to leave the pool to grab a drink! We loved the Dj parties there and meeting Misty the Mermaid!

Abraidedblonde Family Travel Tip! Make a trip itinerary and hold a family meeting before vacation. I really wanted to do beach yoga and the kids really wanted to spend most of their time at the Grotto Pool. Chris loves the beach! We hit the beach every morning and then chilled at the pool in the afternoon. Communication is key when traveling to make sure everyone is on the same page!

The Beach is Walking Distance

The best part about this resort is the fact that you can walk to the beach and rent chairs and umbrellas there. I hate lugging a ton of chairs to the beach! When you have 2 kids, it can be a hassle. We love how the beach was also exclusive to resort guests. My kids could run around and play and we didn’t have to deal with it being crowded which was the best part.

Did you know there was a Resort in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? I didn’t either but I am so glad I found it! I loved how this resort was within walking distance of Rockin Tacos, Crab Trap, and a lot of great dining and entertainment options next to The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. You and your family will make memories for a lifetime here!

Click here to book your next stay at The Island. Please make sure and tag me on your next vacation to this amazing resort! Do you plan on visiting Pigeon Forge anytime soon? If so, check out this blog post here.