Nautilus Condominiums

Nautilus Condominiums is a seven-story Gulf-front building on Nautilus Court, just off Santa Rosa Boulevard in the middle of Okaloosa Island. Built in the mid-1980s, it has 68 units and an angled footprint that gives many condos sunrise views to the east along with views of the Gulf. The association runs its own rental program with on-site staff, and the property describes itself as classic, low-density Okaloosa Island.

Unit types include one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom Gulf-front condos, two-bedroom Gulf-view units and two-bedroom penthouses. One-bedroom units are about 855 to 900 square feet, and two-bedroom units run from about 1,060 to 1,530 square feet. All have full kitchens and in-unit laundry, and many have been updated with hurricane windows and new finishes.

Shared amenities include a seasonally heated pool, a community grill and picnic area, outdoor showers, a car wash area and free parking. A private boardwalk leads to the beach. Guests booking through the association’s rental office receive beach service with two chairs and an umbrella from March 1 through October 31 on stays of 14 nights or fewer; other managers set their own terms. A small market is next door.

The beach at the Nautilus is the fine white sand of central Okaloosa Island, with neighbors including Sea Dunes, Aqua Villa and Island Echos. The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and the restaurants on the Boardwalk are a few minutes east. Destin’s harbor and shopping are across the East Pass bridge, and downtown Fort Walton Beach is a short drive across the Brooks Bridge. Nautilus Court is a short side street off Santa Rosa Boulevard, so traffic is light, and the calm water of Santa Rosa Sound is just a few blocks north for kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing.

The Nautilus suits families and couples who like the convenience of an on-site rental office and a home-like condo with a full kitchen and laundry. Its mix of unit sizes works for everything from a weekend for two to a family week at the beach. Booking directly with the association’s rental office keeps check-in and questions on site, while other units are listed by outside companies and owners with their own policies. The Nautilus is steps from the sand, and the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is roughly a half-hour drive away.