Why We Love The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach, Florida!

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In my last post, I shared 12 family-friendly ways to spend a day in Destin – Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and I told you that I would need an entire post to share why we love The Island Hotel so much, so here we are!

Today, I am excited to tell you about this fantastic beachfront hotel in Ft. Walton Beach.  We have actually stayed there twice.  We fell in love on our first visit and were invited back for a second visit recently.

The Island Hotel Fort Walton Beach

We were hosted by The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach for the second stay, but all opinions are my own, and this post includes photos from only the second visit, which was just before Christmas, hence the holiday decor. 

While I didn’t even have my camera with me on our first stay,  I did post a lot of videos on Instagram Stories, and you can see both trips in this story highlight.

And why do we love it there?

Well, it’s the kind of place where you can park and not have to get into your car for the entire trip.  And here are some reasons

• several choices for food and beverage
• multiple pools
• beachfront with a tiki bar
• onsite activities & walkable options
• budget-friendly

And while we are equal opportunity travelers who enjoy everything from camping in Alabama to luxury travel in Paris, sometimes for a 1-2 night stay, I just want to show up at a hotel, relax, and just have fun. 

This is the place for that!  It’s laid back and one of the most affordable ways to visit this area for a quick getaway.

The Island Hotel Ft. Walton Beach Location

First of all, let’s talk about the location!

The Island Hotel is located directly on the beach at the center of Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  It is just a few miles west of Destin, so it’s easy to go over there for a day. 

It is about a 20-minute drive to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach airport, code VPS, which offers a lot of nonstop flights to the Midwest and East Coast. 

I really like Okaloosa Island!  There is something to be said about being right there on the water, and a majority of the 3-mile island is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and home to all gorgeous white sand dunes and plenty of wildlife!

Booking.com

Rooms at The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach

The Island offers a few different options for accommodations to fit your needs, including swim-up poolside rooms!

On our most recent stay, we were in a Gulf Front room in the main tower with wonderful ocean views.  I actually took that photo that you see above the map here from our room! These rooms are the ones you see here, with the bottom ones being the Gulf Front Terrace rooms.

The rooms on the opposite side of the tower overlook the Grotto Pool and are called Pool View rooms, and the ones on the first floor are the Pool Deck rooms.  

And while those don’t have a gulf view, I want to love on them for a minute.   I recently saw one of my friends travel down to the Caribbean with her 1-year-old. She mentioned that they booked a poolside room so that they could sit on the patio with their toes in the water while their son napped. I thought that was genius!  So, If you have little nappers but don’t want to be stuck inside, this may be a really good option for you even though it’s not a Gulf view room.

They also have Courtyard Patio rooms that have open-air entrances.  So, if you are looking for an option that avoids shared elevators and hallways, this may be perfect for you, providing the best way to social distance.   

We stayed in one of these rooms on our first visit, and it was great.  There was no gulf view, but it was literally steps away from one of the pools, and it was easy to get in and out!

The Island Hotel Suites

The Island also offers some suites (both poolside and Gulfside), and we were lucky enough to stay in one for our last visit.  Complete with two patios, two queen beds, a queen sleeper sofa, and a wet bar area, these are great for guests who desire just a little more space!

And if you want a LOT more space, they have something perfect for you!  The Island Suite sleeps 14 in 4 bedrooms.  It’s the comfort of a vacation rental but in a resort setting! 

This recent addition provides 1 king bedroom, 2 queen bedrooms, 1 double bunk room, and a sleeper sofa, as well as full bathrooms.  It has a full-sized washer and dryer, a mini-kitchen area with a full-size refrigerator and microwave, and the best part is the 2000 sq ft covered deck. 

So, if you are considering traveling with another family or two, keep this in your back pocket! 

The Island Hotel: Dining & Drinks

Guests at The Island have several different opportunities when it comes to food and drink, which means that you never have to leave the property in search of food, which gets two thumbs up in my book!

Fish House

The main restaurant, Fish House, is located just off the lobby and serves breakfast and dinner with a happy hour from 4pm – 6pm daily, and you have got to try Captain Jay’s Bang Bang Shrimp.  In addition to a full menu, they offer a variety of pizzas, and we took advantage of this on both visits. 

The Island Grill

Looking for lunch?  Outside and adjacent to the pools,  you will find The Island Grille.    Open from 11am – 7pm and serving burgers, hot dogs, pizza, tacos, wings, and more, it’s the perfect place to grab a quick bite while not having to pause the fun.

Tripp Tide

My favorite place to grab a good drink is Tripp Tide, their beachfront tiki bar!  This is THE place to be at sunset!  Most weekends, they have live music, too, so it’s basically my happy place. 

They have a wide selection of ice-cold beer as well as a large cocktail menu and are located literally steps from the white sand beaches. This is what vacationing in Florida is all about!

Ok, and now for Matt’s favorite place!

The Grotto Bar

Nestled under the waterfall at the pain pool is The Grotto Bar, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a grotto bar!  Now, this bar is seasonal, but when up and running, it’s open all day and even offers some late-night (for us old people) happy hours from 9pm until close on weekends.

The Island Market

And I also want to mention that The Island Market, located near the lobby, also has snacks and drinks!  They also have pool toys, towels, apparel, and all kinds of souvenirs.  Also, how cute is their holiday decor? 

We have visited in both summer and winter. While it’s a totally different vibe, each stay was wonderful, and there really isn’t a bad time to visit.

The Pool & Beach at The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach

Not only does The Island have 600 feet of white sand beach with beach chair & umbrella rentals available, but it is home to the large Grotto Pool and a second heated outdoor pool as well as a hot tub. 

So if you are staying for a few days, you can easily mix it up! 

And keep an eye out for Misty the Mermaid!  She likes to hang out at the Grotto Pool sometimes!  She reads books to the kids, and you can even book a birthday package.

The Island Hotel: Amenities & Activities

Oftentimes, especially in high season, there are activities throughout the property each day.  You can view the entertainment schedule here. 

On our first visit, we saw the pirate Captain Davy having all kinds of fun out in the courtyard! Other entertainment includes everything from musical bingo to animal encounters and from yoga on the green to live music.

And they also have a small putt putt green, bean bags, and a variety of games for guests to use.  So, between the pool, beach, and all of the activities, you can see why this is my kind of place!

There is something for everyone at The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach, and that always makes this mom happy!

What To Do Near the Island Hotel on Okaloosa Island

But, if you do want to venture out, you will find a wide variety of things to do within 5 minutes.

Across the street, right next to our favorite restaurant, Ricks on the Island is a small marina and Island Watersports.  You can rent pontoon boats there, and they also have options to rent kayaks, jet skis, and more right nearby.

The Island Pier is just west of the hotel and is a great place to fish in the clear gulf water.  They even have equipment for rent, so it’s great for first-timers! If you are not into fishing, there is still plenty to see.  The area is brimming with dolphins, sea turtles, and even manta rays, and all are usually visible from the pier.

The Okaloosa Island boardwalk has restaurants and shops.  And then, just west of that is Gulfarium and Wild Willy’s, a 17,000 square-foot dinosaur-themed adventure park just across the street.  There is so much to do!

If you have ever traveled to this area, you may find yourself thinking, “Wait, have I been there before?”  That is what one of my friends said after seeing our first trip to The Island on Instagram.  She actually remembered coming as a kid! 

This property has been a gem on Okaloosa Island since 1966 and was formerly a Ramada.  It’s been a staple of family memories for a half-century and is poised to be where many more are made in the next several decades.

Cheers, and happy travels!

PIN: The Island Hotel in Fort Walton Beach, FL