We like to park at this park and walk around the downtown area. The park is on the water and it's…read morealways nice to walk around the area. There's a kids play park a historical site, a free library. Free parking.

When visiting the Destin/Fort Walton Beach (FWB) area as a tourist, especially with kids or dogs in…read moretow, it's good to know about wholesome, outdoor-but-non-beach destinations where you will have access to shade, entertainment, restrooms, and provisions. Even better if entrance and parking (2 hours) are free. Fort Walton Landing Park in the "FWB Downtown Marketplace" zone (aka "East Miracle Strip") fits all of those checkboxes. There are grassy knolls, tall trees, cheeky squirrels, many shaded seating areas, and a large playscape structure, plus bay views and a peek of homes and hotels on Okaloosa Island across the water. There is NOT a beach here (the white sandy beaches are on the island; this is the bay/channel side - other reviewers posting gulf beach pics are confused). The two piers / docks and associated boardwalk are unfortunately still out of commission after storms in 2020, but will hopefully be rebuilt soon. Note that dogs must be on leash at all times. The shops across the street include a mixture of apparel, gifts, art, and sports, so you're sure to find a souvenir or three to take home while you explore the area on foot. We especially liked Buccaneer Shop (local flavor), Run with It! (running and pickleball gear), and Coral Reef Shop (tacky t-shirts with Destin & FWB logos). The FWB Farmers Market is held here 8a - 1p on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, year-round. Holiday concerts and fireworks are often held here, as well. Check out social media and the individual vendor websites for current information on other park events. For a map of all FWB municipal parks, see https://www.fwb.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works_amp_utility_services/page/7171/parksrecmap.pdf (zoom in on the green spaces). For a list of all FWB municipal parks, see https://www.fwb.org/parksrec/page/city-parks

Great spot with usually a decently amount of parking if you time it right! I love that there are…read morebathrooms as well. Beautiful beaches as you'd expect in the area!

Very clean! Life guard on duty, bathrooms, rinse off station, down the way from the island is less…read morebusy. Great for kids

Beautiful white beach. Life guards. Free parking!!…read moreJust bring your self and relax. Sunscreen is a must. Bags for shelling. Towels and water a must!! Who wants to buy anything while chilling out? Not me!! Snorkeling?!? Why not bring all of it!

Every year we visit Ft Walton Beach, we make it point to visit Ross Marler Lark! We spend the day…read morebar-b-queuing and enjoying the shallows. This year, the new Beach Preservation rocks were added. I rather enjoyed the calmer water and the scenery. It was so relaxing! We definitely will be coming back again every year!

VERY awesome spot to bring your pup! I am new to the area and thought there would be more pet…read morefriendly places to go but this one saved the day.

A nice little park on the water with pavilions and picnic tables.It has playgrounds,walkways,boat…read moredocks,boat ramps,etc.You can boat,fish,walk,play,pic nic,etc..The only takeaway is the bathrooms.I would suggest a total renovation and cameras added to keep them in good shape and locking it down at night.This was done back home and made a world of a difference.Still a nice park on the water.Check out the next The Working Man Review.

Another top 5 beach for us while visiting the Emerald Coast…read more Parking is more hectic here than the other beaches as a lot of timeshare and hotels sit on their beachside. After finding parking though, we enjoyed a few hours playing in the sand and enjoying the crystal clear water. This beach had a bit of seaweed but no jellyfish like Pensacola so we enjoyed some splashes and met a few new friends . You can't go wrong with the beaches on the emerald coast , make sure you visit each one !

Really pretty park with a dock nearby. A great place to collect your thoughts or enjoy the…read moreserenity. There weren't a lot of people so it was really quiet. It's also romantic if you bring a date here.

One of the local parks we checked out while visiting down here. It is definitely perfect for…read morefishing and going for a jog. There is no playground here for children so this is actually a perfect place for adults. You could bring your kids but, bring their own toys because again no playground here. It is also a perfect place for sightseeing and watching fighter jets practice their flying from Eglin AFB. This is a park I would definitely visit regularly if I lived here. Very clean and well maintained. Will be back next visit.

Beautiful, quiet with access to approximately 3 grills. Frogs go crazy at 8pm lol......read more

Little more than a patch of grass between two neighborhoods, do I will give it that it does have a…read morenice playground for kids. There is a little pavilion with three tables that you can enjoy lunch.

I like this set up on Eglin AFB, best hours are around 5pm, when the sun is blaring down on you and…read moreits not too cold. The water is FREEZING, so its perfect for running around and going nuts in. The only downside is the ants by the benches were the parents usually chill out at. Upside is that it's right across from the Unity Park playground so the kids can go nuts between the two locations in the summer. It's a fun cool down spot. I love coming here when we get a chance.

Great place to take the kids in the warmer months. Not too crowded, no litter, just a nice peaceful…read morepark to hang out

Hosted my daughter's 4th birthday here over the weekend, and it was everything I hoped for! Renting…read morePavilion 1 (the larger of the two and closer to the entrance) was easy, affordable, and offered the perfect amount of shade and clean space for our party. We were also given two reserved parking spots, which was a huge perk -- no scrambling for parking meant one less thing to worry about on party day! Lisa, the community director, was incredibly friendly and helpful when I called to ask about the splash pad. I was relying on it being operational, and although it occasionally has circuit breaker issues, we had no problems that day. The weather was beautiful, the park was clean, and guests also enjoyed the beach -- with stunning views of Crab Island and that signature aqua water. We had such a great experience and would absolutely recommend this spot to others looking for a fun, low-stress location for a kid's party!

Perfect small park to getaway from the crowds. I was looking for somewhere to take pics at sunset…read moreand this park was recommended. It's a beautiful spot on the water with lots of trees and a dock area. It's also a nesting site for gray herons. There are multiple nests and the herons are very active. There is a children's play area plus a splash pad so something for everyone. Definitely check it out!

Admission and parking is free. This park used to be really wonderful, but it needs some upkeep to…read morerestore it back to its former glory. It's located in a small neighborhood area so it closes at sundown. They have a small beach access here. The water is roped off so younger swimmers do not go out too far. On major problem is that no one seems to clean up the trash on the beach so it's usually pretty dirty. The sand is not the usually crystal white, it's a lot darker. There is a boat ramp here and public parking. There is a rock climbing wall, a swing set, and a couple small jungle gyms here for the children. They do have restrooms, but no showers so you cannot rinse off after you visit the beach.