Travelodge Ft. Walton Beach

# 8 Salvation Army Church - 1936

by grandmaR

Unfortunately I missed getting a picture of this church at 201 Beal Parkway S. It was originally called Grace Community Chapel and was a non-demonimational. It was purchased by the Salvation Army in 1968 after an expansion program had substantially changed the structure in 1953.

What is pictured is the walking tour map, which shows that #8 is just south of #9. But somehow I didn't see #8.

Air Force Armament

by grandmaR

Eglin AFB (Air Force Base) is quite close to Fort Walton Beach. There is a museum on the base (but accessible -located outside the main gates of Eglin Air Force Base on Hwy 85 and and State Road 189-7 miles North of Fort Walton Beach, Florida) which is called the United States Air Force Armament Museum. .Since it is outside the gates, you don't have to go through security, and it is FREE.

There were four planes inside the building
* P-51 Mustang and P-47 - World War II
* F-80 Shooting Star - Korean War
* F-105 - Vietnam War
and over 25 more outside - SR-71 Blackbird, A-10, B-17, C-47, B-25, T-33, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-84, F-86, F-89, F-100, F-101, F-104, F-111, RB-47, RF-4, O-2, C-131, B-52, B-57.

The 32 minute movie "Arming the Air Force," a history of Eglin Air Force Base and its role in the development of armament, is shown continuously.

This wasn't just an airplane museum though - it was a weapons museum. They had a whole display of guns (a Browning automatic training rifle was way bigger than I would have thought - third photo), and a replica of the Fat Man (first photo) - the second nuclear bomb used in WWII in Japan. They had a model of the Pratt Whitney R4360 engine which you could turn on and see it running, a cockpit of a Warthog trainer, and a model aircraft exhibit.

My big moment was asking them why the ABCCC (Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center) Exhibit Entrance was labeled "Door Closed" and "Do Not Enter", so that people were forced to go in the exit door, which was open. (It was because no-one had opened the door - if the door was open, the signs on the door wouldn't be very visible). This was a mock-up of the inside of a plane with a whole bunch of desks for people to sit and do navigation etc.

After Bob walked out and looked at the big black plane (which was so big it was hard to get it all in one picture) called the Blackbird (fourth photo) in the front of the museum.

Museum open is 9 am to 4:30 pm, daily.
Closed on all federal holidays

Everyone's favorite BBQ

by spartan about Sonny's Real Pit Bar B-Q

The beef, pork, chicken, and ribs are all slow smoked and served up hot with garlic bread, coleslaw, bar-b-q beans, french fries or baked potato. The BBQ Ribs Platter and BBQ Chicken Platter (both served with french fries or baked potato, coleslaw, and garlic bread) are great choices.

Emerald Coast Science Center

by grandmaR

Although we often drove past here, there just didn't seem to be a convenient time to go. It is supposed to be full of hands on interactive exhibits which I always enjoy with what I suppose might charitably be called childlike enthusiasm.

According to the website there are seven galleries which include:

* Color and Light- discover the fascinating world of light and color with 18 illuminating exhibits. Try out our new LASER HARP!
* Fly and Land a model airplane in our mini-air tunnel
* Explore Energy with exhibits such as the Laser Spirograph, Jacob's Ladder and Van de Graff Generator
* Explore Nature and meet creatures such as a tarantula and Giant Millipedes in our Nature Discovery Room
* Discover the systems of the human body in the Hall of Life including the skeletal system, digestive system and the senses

They have a variety of programs including Homeschool Days on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, where you and you family can explore the science center, participate in activities and workshops and watch a Bill Nye the Science Guy video (we have then ALL!). Each Homeschool parent receives a curriculum guide with vocabulary and additional activities to further you child's science education at home!

There is also a store. Some of the items at the store are pictured.


Hours:
Weekdays 9am to 4pm
Weekends 11am to 4pm

The Emerald Coast Science Center is open year-round, but is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, Fourth of July and Easter Day.

Prices:

Adults $5.00
Children (4-17) $3.50
Seniors (55 and older) $4.00
Children 3 and under Free
Admission fees and hours are subject to change.

Keeweechic's Fort Walton Beach

by keeweechic

The City of Fort Walton Beach was first chartered as a municipality in 1937 and is now named after Camp Walton, a Confederate military site built in 1861 to guard East Pass during the Civil War. Originally the town was known as Brooks Landing, so called after the Brooks family who settled there in 1868. It was only after a Civil War cannon was discovered in 1932 from an Indian mount in the present downtown area on Santa Rosa Sound that the city was renamed.

Although a young city, the history of the area goes back thousands of years. There has been evidence of artifacts dating back to 10,000 B.C. and archaeological information of five distinct Indian periods between 600 and 1650 A.D. There were also pirates between 1500 and 1800.

There were pirates, the most notorious being Billy Bowlegs between 1500 - 1800, and there was a Civil War encampment. Between 1950-1970, Fort Walton Beach grew 700% and was recognised nationally as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Fort Walton Beach is the largest municipality in Okaloosa and Walton County. The tourist industry has been a part of Fort Walton Beach since its early days when tourists came from the North, Midwest and Southeast to spend months at a time to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle which Fort Walton was famous for.

Okaloosa Island is the main beach strip of Fort Walton Beach. It is one in a series of barrier islands which protects Florida's coastline from the Gulf. In 1997, Fort Walton Beach was honoured to be named by Money magazine as #10 Best Place to Live among the 300 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.A.

Photos which are taken by myself and all headings are copyright and digitally marked. Please do not use them without permission. Thanks.© keeweechic 2001-2006 (copyright)