Ramada Plaza Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island

Friends from out of town frequently ask where they should stay when they come to the area, and I really have not been able to do more than provide them with a list of hotels on the island. I recently decided to tour all the hotels and provide a summary of each one in order to help people choose the best place for their vacation.

I started with the Ramada Beach Plaza Resort located on 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Fort Walton Beach, Florida. As you see these photos please keep in mind that they day I stopped by was dreary and overcast.

If you like to stay in a place that is rooted in tradition yet has updated rooms, the beach-front Ramada is for you. This family-oriented resort has been welcoming generations of guests since the sixties. 

Parts of the hotel still resemble something you would expect to see in the 60s or 70s, and that remark is offered as a sincere compliment. The hotel has been updated where it needs to be but some areas have been left unchanged so that you can enjoy the nostalgia.

I started my tour at the Garden Cafe with General Manager Joe Guidry (the Zookeeper) and Jackie Blue, Director of Sales (Head Cheerleader). I normally get the caesar salad when I eat at the Garden Cafe, but on this day I just sat back and enjoyed talking to Joe and Jackie while they had lunch.

The Garden Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have huge salads, and some of the restaurant's most popular dishes are the club sandwich and the reuben. Their breakfast buffet is also very popular.

Joe had the chowder which you can see below looks absolutely delicious.

Jackie had a salad that looks so fresh and crisp.

There are other dining options as well. There is a BBQ Hut (below) tucked away by the pool with hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, and pulled pork.

There is also a new Beach Bar with an incredible view of the sunset. The Beach Bar (below) has items like wings and nachos. I can't wait to check it out soon now that we have some warm weather.I promise the beautiful gulf is in the background although it is obscured by fog in this photo.

 The resort also has a cozy and inviting lounge in the lobby.

The lobby is spacious with a large area off to the right that you can't see in the photo below.

This is one of the pools at the resort, and it is heated. The building you see behind the pool is the fitness center. 

This nice kiddie pool is right beside the pool you see above. There are little fountains that are normally shooting water around the pool. And if you have children, you will appreciate the kids activities they have in the summer.

If you don't have children or if you are a snowbird - they have activities for you too that include BINGO, potlucks, wine tastings, walking, and more.

I was so surprised to see a mini Alvin's Island tucked away by the pool This is an incredibly convenient feature.

Below is a quick shot of the fitness center that was sparkly clean inside.

The resort is full of winding trails with beautiful gardens. The tables you see below are by the BBQ Hut.

Next you can see the other pool. And now for the drum roll...the Grotto Pool Bar. This is the only swim-up bar that you will find in Okaloosa County, and you can only enjoy it if you are a guest at the resort.

Who wouldn't want to come here and enjoy a tropical drink served in a coconut?

The rooms are nice, modern, and super clean.

I promise the next part is reason enough to choose this resort over any other. In some of the rooms...(one more drum roll)...you can walk directly off your balcony into the pool!

This is one of the coolest features I have ever seen, and again, it is a feature that is only offered at the Ramada. I think I am going to have to book a room here for a staycation just so my son can enjoy this. Seriously.

Another shot from the balcony...

The Ramada is the perfect place for a conference. They have two ballrooms with incredible views of the gulf AND the sound. The Ramada has 335 rooms in case you need to know.

Below you will see a view of the beach from one of the ballrooms.

And on the other side of the ballroom is a view of the Ramada Resort with the sound in the background.

View of the resort from the beach...

The splash area for kids looks like tons of fun even though the photo below does it no justice. The water was turned off when I snapped this.

One more shot of one of the pool with the grotto. To the left of the pool you can see the rooms that have the balconies on the bottom floor that provide direct entrance into the pool.

Below are a few more of the walking paths that you can enjoy all around the resort.

I definitely give the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island a big thumbs up.

I love that this place is rooted in tradition and has unique features that no other resort has in the county.

Even better - the folks who work here are so friendly. That certainly means a lot to me. I know they will welcome you and treat you like family when you stay here.


Ramada Plaza Beach Resort
1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE 
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548 
Phone: 850.243.9161  
Toll Free: 800.874.8962  
Fax: 850.243.2391 
Email: info@ramadafwb.com

Beach Accesses on Okaloosa Island

If you are looking for something to do on Okaloosa Island the most obvious thing is to go to the beach. And the good news is that it's easy to enjoy the beach here. We are so fortunate to have access to multiple, public parks. There are seven access points with parking on Santa Rosa Boulevard and one on Miracle Strip Parkway.

Below this map you will find a description of each access point. Although this information is as accurate as possible, please call Okaloosa County Parks and Recreation if you need to verify or be certain of any information.

Access #1 at 372 Santa Rosa Boulevard is also known as Blue Dolphin Beachwalk. It has 25 regular parking places, two handicapped parking spaces, and restrooms.

 

There are two pavilions there with a picnic table at each. There is also a small, elevated deck that offers a great view of the Gulf of Mexico. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible. 

Access #2 at 399 Santa Rosa Boulevard is also known as Emerald View Beachwalk. It has 25 regular parking places, two handicapped parking space, and restrooms.

There is one pavilion there with two picnic tables. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible.

This dune walkover has a bench as you start out towards the beach.

Access #3 at 530 Santa Rosa Boulevard is also known as Seashore Beachwalk. It has 24 regular parking places, two handicapped parking space, and restrooms.

There are two pavilions there with a picnic table at each. There is also a small, elevated deck that offers a great view of the Gulf of Mexico. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible.
 

*** On a side note, you can also gain access to the sound on Okaloosa Island across the road from most of the beach access points. Simply park in the beach access parking lot, and cross the road. You will have to trudge through the sand, but it does offer a pathway to the water or close to it depending on vegetation growth. Below you will see what the sound access looks like across from beach access #3.

Access #4 at 600 Santa Rosa Boulevard does not have a name as far as I know. It has a gravel parking lot and a porta-potty.

There are no facilities here other than the porta-potty. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible.

If you enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding you might take note that all of the access points have a sand path that runs next to the dune walkover. (It's pretty much impossible to get boards and kayaks down the walkovers since they have sharp turns.)  The one is exception is that access #1 does not have a sand path. Below you can see the sand path at access #4.

 

Access #5 at 700 Santa Rosa Boulevard does not have a name as far as I know. It has a gravel parking lot and a porta-potty..
 
There are no facilities here other than the porta-potty. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible.

 

Access #6 at 820 Santa Rosa Boulevard is also known as Doris Jordan Freeway, but there is no sign to indicate that name. It has a gravel parking lot and a porta-potty..

 There are no facilities here other than the porta-potty. The dune walkover is handicapped accessible.

 
Access #7 at 900 Santa Rosa Boulevard is also known as Emerald Promenade Beachwalk. It has 37 regular parking places, two handicapped parking space, and restrooms.

 
There are two pavilions there with a picnic table at each. The dune walkover is not handicapped accessible.

Below you will see what the restroom facilities look like.

 Beasley Park at 1550 Miracle Strip Parkway (HWY 98) has 208 parking spaces.

There are two large pavilions there with multiple picnic tables at each. There are restrooms with changing rooms. Their are two dune walkovers, and the one on the left is handicapped accessible.

Below you will see one of the pavilions.

Below you will see the octagonal viewing platform.

 If you  have more questions contact Okaloosa County Parks and Recreation or view their full parks list here.

 Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier also has access to the beach right beside it. There is even a small playground beneath Anglers Restaurant.


TAGS: things to do with kids on Okaloosa Island, activities for children in Fort Walton Beach