Bays and bayous offer a quiet, clear-water lifestyle in Shalimar
Shalimar means “by the beautiful water,” an apt description of the coastal Okaloosa County town. The Choctawhatchee Bay and Poquito Bayou touch the community, and residents love the lifestyle this provides. “The bayous and bays are just as swimmable as the Gulf,” says Fort Walton-based real estate agent Pat Williams of ERA Realty of NW Florida. “The water is beautiful and clear, with white bottoms.” Eglin Air Force Base borders Shalimar, too, attracting military personnel and their families. While there’s little commercial development in town, it’s a short drive to Ocean City, Fort Walton Beach and Destin. “Fort Walton Beach is next to Shalimar, and to residents, all these itty-bitty towns run together,” Williams says. Overall, Shalimar offers a quieter lifestyle and fewer crowds than nearby vacation destinations while maintaining proximity to the Emerald Coast’s scenic beaches.
Housing ranges from inland cottages to million-dollar bayfronts
Most homes in Shalimar sit inland. Long-leaf pines, live oaks and cypress trees line these flat, gridded streets. Ranch-style homes and small cottages can range from $200,000 to $430,000, while single-story New Traditional houses typically cost $440,000 to $580,000. Closer to the water, curving roads lead through manicured subdivisions, where palm trees grow in the front yards of homes with scenic views. Near the bay, but not directly on it, Mediterranean-style properties, Colonial Revivals and new construction can run from $600,000 to $800,000. Luxury waterfront houses can cost $1 million to $1.5 million. Condos and townhouses are also available and can go for $130,000 to $780,000, with three- to four-bedroom waterfront townhouses topping that range.
Shalimar is flood-prone. Though mandatory restrictions, like waterfront properties maintaining an 11-foot or higher elevation, mean flood insurance is not required, Williams says having it is a good idea. “It’s more expensive to pay for flood damage than to get flood insurance,” she says. Residents can enroll in the National Flood Insurance Program, which offers affordable plans to those in high-risk areas.
Shalimar mixes Emerald Coast beaches with classic recreation offerings
Shalimar is a short drive from Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Okaloosa Island. These family-friendly beaches are known for their blue-green, clear waters and soft, white sand. “This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived, and I’ve lived a lot of places,” Williams says. Plus, residents boat, swim and fish in the bay and bayou close to home. Got The Hook Up Fishing Charters offers nearshore and offshore deep-sea fishing. Nearby Meigs Park has a short, sandy beach and a slipway that gives boaters access to Choctawhatchee Bay. Off the water, Combs Park features basketball and volleyball courts, play spaces, picnic areas, paved paths and fitness equipment under the shade of live oaks. The Shalimar Little League organization plays under the lighted diamonds along 4th Avenue, where there’s also a playground, basketball courts and picnic areas. As the name suggests, the nearby Shalimar Elementary Park sits behind Shalimar Elementary. There are also baseball diamonds here, with bleachers and a concession stand. Shalimar Pointe Golf Club offers 18-holes open to the public.
Students attend Okaloosa County schools
The Okaloosa County School District serves the community. Shalimar Elementary and Meigs Middle get B’s from Niche. Choctawhatchee High School earns an A-minus and offers career and technical education courses including carpentry, engineering and culinary arts.
Limited shopping and dining in town, more in Ocean City and Destin
Shalimar has a Dollar General and a few restaurants, like Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, Thai Me Up Restaurant and Aegean Restaurant, which serves Greek cuisine. A drive across state Road 85’s bridge leads to Ocean City, with a Publix, Walmart Supercenter and Aldi. This area offers more dining options, like AJ’s on the Bayou, a waterfront spot that serves a little bit of everything, from seafood and salads to burgers and breakfast. Destin Commons, an open-air shopping mall with retailers like Bass Pro Shops, lululemon, Build-A-Bear and Sephora, is about 15 miles away.
Easy access to military bases and beaches
The Emerald Coast Rider bus system runs throughout the county, with Route 14 passing through Shalimar. Eglin Air Force Base’s west gate is about half a mile from Shalimar, and Hurlburt Field is about 10 miles away. Fort Walton Beach is about 3 miles away, Okaloosa Island about 5 and Destin about 12. U.S. Route 98, the main thoroughfare from Fort Walton Beach to Okaloosa Island, which residents drive through on the way to Destin, leads over the Brooks Bridge, currently under construction. The project will create two parallel bridges, increasing capacity to six lanes and adding pedestrian and bike lanes. With an estimated completion date in the summer of 2027, it may cause temporary lane closures and increased traffic. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is about 5 miles north. In case of emergency, there’s a military hospital on Eglin Air Force Base, and, for the public, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is about 4 miles west.
![Adreanna DeMarino]()
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Adreanna DeMarino
