I visited an island on Florida’s panhandle that made me feel like I was vacationing in the Caribbean

When planning a family vacation last summer, I knew I wanted to travel somewhere with white sand beaches, warm, clear blue water, and sunny weather. However, I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a Caribbean vacation.

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 close to other major Florida beach destinations.

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 some great local spots for food.

I love trying local restaurants when on vacation, and I found some surprisingly cool spots to grab coffee or food in the area.

Some of our favorites included The Gulf, an open-air restaurant built from old shipping containers on the bayfront, and the food trucks in nearby downtown Fort Walton Beach.

Another fun spot is Lulus in Destin, which is owned by the sister of legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett.

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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