Blu

Blu is one of the newest condominium buildings on Okaloosa Island, completed in 2019 at the corner of Santa Rosa Boulevard and Scallop Court. The gated six-story building has 47 residences on a lot with about 313 feet of Gulf frontage, and a private walkway leads from the pool courtyard to the beach.

Units are three-bedroom and four-bedroom residences of roughly 1,800 to 2,200 square feet. Finishes reflect the building’s recent construction, with quartz countertops, gas ranges with vented hoods, stainless appliances, porcelain tile floors and full-size washers and dryers. Gulf-facing balconies are deep, up to about ten feet, which leaves room for a real outdoor dining table. Corner units on the west end have wide views down the coast.

The shared amenities are built around a spacious pool courtyard with two zero-edge pools, one of them heated, plus a jetted hot tub. There is a fitness center, a grilling area with a fire pit sundeck, and covered garage parking, all behind a gated entrance. Rental companies commonly add beach chair setups and other extras to their bookings.

The beach in front of Blu is part of the calm middle stretch of Okaloosa Island, with fine white sand and emerald water. The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier and the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park are a short drive east, along with the Boardwalk’s restaurants. Destin’s harbor, charter fleet and shopping are across the East Pass bridge, while downtown Fort Walton Beach is a short drive across the Brooks Bridge. Neighbors along this part of the boulevard include Pelican Isle and Islander Beach Resort, and the calm water of Santa Rosa Sound is only a few blocks north for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Blu suits families and groups who want a modern building with larger bedrooms and newer kitchens, and travelers who value a gated property with a pair of pools. Its four-bedroom units are a good fit for two families traveling together. Garage parking keeps cars out of the sun and salt air, and the gated entry adds privacy for groups spreading out across a large unit. When booking, compare which floor and side of the building a condo is on, since corner and top-floor units have wider views. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is roughly a half-hour drive.