Okaloosa Island is an interesting name since there is no formal island of that name. Instead, the term “Okaloosa Island” generally refers to a portion of Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island situated in Okaloosa County in the state of Florida. Because Okaloosa Island features a great many residential homes and condominiums in high-rises, many of them unoccupied by permanent residents, there are plenty of places to stay in the form of Okaloosa Island vacation homes.
Okaloosa Island is considered part of Florida’s “Emerald Coast” which puts it far north in the state, along the relatively thin strip of land known as the “panhandle of Florida”. Beaches on Okaloosa Island are characterized by fine white grains of sand known as “sugar sand.” When set off against the brilliantly-hued waters of the Gulf of Mexico, these beaches look spectacular, particularly to tourists who have never seen the ocean before or who are more used to the typical “tan sand” beaches of California.
Santa Rosa Island contains some land that is not in Okaloosa County, but all of the Okaloosa County land that is on the island is generally considered to belong to Okaloosa Island. This portion features a full three miles of coastal frontage along the Gulf of Mexico and provides visitors and locals alike with many opportunities to go boating, fishing, swimming, and surfing. Other water sports such as jet skiing are also popular in the area, which is known for being a veritable paradise of sun and surf.