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Welcome
to the Emerald Coast, right
smack in the middle of the 100-mile long "Miracle Strip"
of Northwest Florida is the Emerald Coast, the Playground of the
Gulf Coast. Fishing, boating, swimming, sunning, sailing, sports,
scuba diving, riding wave runners, or just relaxing, you can have it all. No longer a
well-kept secret, our natural, sugar-white beaches are the most
beautiful in the world. Blue-green waters lap the white sands of
the Gulf of Mexico, thus the name Emerald Coast. Bayous, lazy
rivers, and green forests complement the shoreline, making this
region truly a place of peacefulness and beauty.
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| Education |
Okaloosa County
School District is committed to providing safe, challenging
educational opportunities to enable all students to acquire the
knowledge, skills and values required for responsible citizenship,
personal development, and life-long learning.
The Okaloosa County School District serves over 30,000
students from pre-kindergarten to adult education. Each of
our 38 schools is fully accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools. Okaloosa County students consistently
score above the state and national averages on standardized tests
including the SAT and ACT.
For more information on the Okaloosa County School District, visit
their web site.
The local post-graduate schools include Northwest
Florida State College, University
of West Florida, the
Graduate Engineering & Research Center, and Troy
State University.
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| Recreation and
Activities |
| For recreation, top
quality golf, beaches, boating and fishing are some of the most
popular of the year round outdoor leisure activities in Florida's
Great Northwest. Golf is popular 12 months a year -- Golf Magazine
has honored several courses with gold and silver medals.
Northwest has something for every sports fanatic. Whether by yacht
or by paddleboat, the pristine waterways of Northwest Florida
invite you to enjoy a variety of aquatic activities including
sailing, diving, fishing, kayaking, skiing, riding wave runners, and more.
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| Cultural Arts |
The Arts
Center at the Northwest Florida State, Niceville
Campus, is the cultural artistic center for all of Northwest
Florida. The 120,000 square foot fine and performing arts
complex features a 1,650-seat theater, which hosts an annual
series of Broadway shows. In addition, other theaters are
available along with a dance studio, music wing, and an art wing
featuring the college's multi-million dollar permanent art
collection as well as traveling exhibits.
Northwest Florida is home to a wide array organizations committed
to the cultural development of the area. Some are the Mattie
Kelly Arts Foundations, First Arts, The Arts and Design Society,
Northwest Florida Ballet, Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus,
Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Emerald Coast Community
Band, Emerald Coast Barbershop Chorus, and others.
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| Quality of Life |
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In
1997, Money Magazine ranked Fort Walton Beach the 10th best place
to live in the United States. The ranking was based on the
quality of jobs, crime rate, and easy living.
Expansion Management Magazine, one of the world’s
leading business site location and facility magazines for
executives, recently published its 3rd annual
“Quality of Life Quotient” ratings of the 329 metropolitan
statistical areas (MSA) throughout the United States.
The magazine rates metro areas as a way of providing its
readers—45,000 corporate and business subscribers—with a basis
for comparing the type of living and working
environment—livability, affordability, peace of mind, educated
force, etc.—they are likely to encounter in various communities
around the country.
The
Fort Walton Beach metropolitan
statistical area, Okaloosa County, earned The Five Star
rating which represents the top 15 percent in the nation!
“If
your idea of a great place to live and work is based upon a
reasonable cost of living, affordable housing, low crime,
excellent transportation access, good public schools, proximity to
community colleges and universities, an educated work force, and
low taxes then our Quality of Life Quotient is worth a look.”
said Bill King, editor in chief of Expansion
Management Magazine. (Okaloosa County EDC
Press Release)
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| Beautiful
Beaches |
Attractions are
splendid shopping, the beautiful sugar white beaches and
bountiful fishing, there are many other recreational activities to
enjoy in Okaloosa County and along the beautiful Emerald Coast.
The Emerald Coast beaches have been named in the "Top 10 Best
Beaches in the United States" year after year. They have been
voted Best Beach in the South and Top Family Destination five
years in a row by Southern Living Magazine. USA Today, Parent
Magazine and Florida Living Magazine have also selected Okaloosa
County beaches as the “Best Beaches” for vacationing.
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| Bluewater
Bay |
Bluewater Bay is a fantastic community with Bay access. Over 3,000 families reside in Bluewater Bay. There are different types of real estate properties in the community of Bluewater Bay, including golf course properties and villas. Come relax at one of the fine local restaurants and enjoy the atmosphere after a day of golfing! The golf course has some beautiful Bay views and incredible landscaping. Another great "selling feature" of this community is when you have family or friends come to visit, there are rentals available for them to stay and take advantage of all the amenities that you enjoy on a daily basis!
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| Emerald
Bay |
Emerald Bay lies on the county line of Okaloosa County and Walton County, just north of Emerald Coast Parkway. Homes here are generally stucco with tile roofs in varying sizes from 1600 square feet to 3600 square feet with a good mix of single level and 2 story homes. Many of the properties here are on the banks of Choctawhatchee Bay or on one of the lakes surrounding the community's beautiful golf course.
Emerald Bay is a choice for many couples who are retiring because of the relaxed atmosphere and exceptional hospitality. Here, it's not uncommon to find a group of homeowners gathering in the afternoons after a round of golf or just for the fun of it. You can also find the ladies golfing together or 2 couples linking up on the links.
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| Regatta
Bay |
Regatta Bay is an upscale community located in Destin near Choctawhatchee Bay. This well planned golf resort has been voted #1 in the area for several years in a row and offers a variety of homes such as single family homes, townhomes and condos- many that overlook the golf course. You're a proud owner whether you own a $300,000 townhome on the links or a million dollar estate on the bay or bayou.
On the southwest boundary of Regatta Bay is the awesome new "Destin Commons" shopping area starring a Bass Prop Shop, Belks and Starbucks plus many other unique
shoppes. If you wanted to go to walk on the beach or swim in the surf, you could be there in less than 10 minutes. The community also offers playground & pool areas for children; a restaurant overlooking the course and a gated, guarded entry. |
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