Moving to Fort Walton Beach

U.S.A. Florida

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Hi! My husband and I have decided to move to Florida. I am a Florida native that was actually born in FWB at Eglin, but I grew up near Ocala. My husband is retired USAF and we loved that area of Florida.

Any suggestions on good areas to live in? We have decided we want to buy an inexpensive mobile home to put a large amount of money in the bank. We do have three children in school. Any school information? We have researched all the statistics but are hoping for some local insight.

What about good places to eat when we go down to visit?

Thanks for all your help!

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Hi! I live on the AF base next to Fort Walton (Eglin AFB).. The housing costs here are crazy! If you look in Crestview Florida (about 25 miles north of Ft. Walton) you can get a nice piece of property... Here's a good website to search for homes in the area. http://www.emeraldcoasthomesonline.com If you are set on a mobile home, the best place to live would be Crestview. Anything south of Interstate 10 and you'll lose your home every summer! The county website is http://www.okaloosaschools.com/ I don't know the age of your children, but I know that the middle school outside the base, Addie R. Lewis Middle School (in Valparaiso), is really great! The middle school in Niceville (Ruckel Middle School) is crowded and understaffed.. Not a very good school at all.. I'm not sure about any of the schools in Ft. Walton but I'm familiar with the ones in Crestview and Niceville. Valparaiso Elementary is a good school along with Edge Elementary in Niceville. Niceville High School is awful. I've heard much better things about Crestview High School. (I grew up here and went to a lot of the schools) I'm not sure about the middle schools in Crestview but I've heard great things about Northwood Elementary and Antioch Elementary. Stay away from Southside Elementary in Crestview.

Now about food, there are TONS of great restaurants.. In Destin, the best (in my opinion) is AJ's (seafood), Lousiana Langiappe (sp?) Harbor Docks (seafood, sushi, and hibachi), Osaka (Japanese).. On the Island there is Anglers (AWESOME steaks), and the Crab Trap.. There's a great Chinese restaurant on HWY 98 in Fort Walton called Panda China Buffet and they have the biggest buffet and a hibachi bar and it's only about $10 for the dinner buffet and I believe the lunch buffet is $7.. The Olive Garden in Ft. Walton is good along with Red Lobster. in Niceville there's a place called Boathouse Landing which is really good and not expensive at all..

Any other info you need let me know!

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

A mobile home is not the safest housing in that part of Florida, given the last few hurricane seasons.

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