Emerald Isle Okaloosa Island

Emerald Isle is a Gulf-front condominium complex on Sundial Court, just off Santa Rosa Boulevard in the middle of Okaloosa Island. Built in 1974, it has about 70 units in two seven-story buildings with air-conditioned elevator lobbies. Not to be confused with the North Carolina beach town of the same name, this Emerald Isle sits in the middle of Okaloosa Island, with a private boardwalk leading over the dunes to the beach.

The unit mix is broader than at many island buildings, running from studios through four-bedroom condos. Listings show one-bedroom units of about 710 square feet, two-bedroom units of roughly 1,070 to 1,200 square feet, and three-bedroom and four-bedroom units up to about 1,680 square feet. Units have full kitchens, living rooms and private balconies, and upper floors look over both the Gulf and the island.

Shared amenities include a heated Gulf-front pool with lounge chairs, tennis and pickleball courts, shuffleboard, a fitness center, a community room and charcoal grills with seating. The beach boardwalk has outdoor showers, there are restrooms near the pool, and parking is uncovered. Some rental companies include beach service and wireless internet with their units, and the association allows pets for owners.

Emerald Isle’s beach is the fine white sand of central Okaloosa Island, with neighbors Summerlin and Emerald Towers West on either side. The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and the Boardwalk’s restaurants are a few minutes east. The Destin Fort Walton Beach Convention Center is close by, and HarborWalk Village, Silver Sands outlets and Destin Commons are a short drive across the East Pass bridge. Sundial Court is a short side street off Santa Rosa Boulevard, so the complex feels tucked away from Santa Rosa Boulevard traffic even though the island’s main attractions are close.

Emerald Isle suits a wide range of travelers, from couples in a studio or one-bedroom unit to large families in a four-bedroom condo. Its courts and heated pool make it an easy fit for active families and for winter visitors. When booking, confirm which of the two buildings a unit is in and whether it faces the Gulf directly or looks back over the island. Parking is open and uncovered, so a sunshade for the windshield is handy in summer.