Niceville, FL

Bluewater Bay Marina

I am going to be at Bluewater Bay Marina, in Niceville, FL, for a few weeks, while I have some work done on the boat. The stitching on the UV cover of head sail is coming loose, so I have to get it re-stitched.  The main sail also needs a little attention. And I am going to get the mast shortened so I can get Lesson Plan back to KY lake without having to take the mast down. The added benefit of being in Niceville is that my sister (Carol) and her husband (Steve) live about 4 miles from the marina. And their two sons live in Crestview, just 30 minutes away. 

Niceville, now that sounds like a utopian town. When mail service began on July 21, 1868, the city was known as Boggy, perhaps because it is located near the Boggy Bayou.  In 1910, the name was officially changed to Niceville. The name Niceville was selected by the postmaster's daughter. Although some believe that is was named after Nice, France.

In 1915, parts of Walton and Santa Rosa Counties were carved out to create Okaloosa County. Niceville was in the newly formed County. Niceville is located near Eglin Air Force Base (remember the first missile test range I had to go around). The Destin - Fort Walton Beach Airport (Northwest Florida Regional Airport) uses the same runway as the Air Force Base. Both Carol and Steve work on the Airforce Base.

Bluewater Bay Marina and the Niceville area has a lot to offer.  The Choctawhatchee Bay is a great sailing area. There is great dolphin watching, even right here in the marina. I spotted five in the marina swimming around under the boats. There were some kids on the sunset dock that were thrilled watching the dolphins. The guy that was fishing from the dock was not happy about the dolphins. He said the dolphins make the other fish nervous and they won’t bite.

Right across the mid-bay bridge from Niceville is Destin, Miramar Beach, Ft. Walton Beach. At the south base of the bridge is Lulu Buffett’s Restaurant and Destin Commons (a shopping area with a Bass Pro Shop and some other stores with non-boating stuff). Down the strip toward Ft. Walton Beach there is a Margaritaville Restaurant and the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. I recommend McGuire’s Irish Pub for lunch or dinner. But, if you go to the restroom, read the sign on the door very carefully.

Unfortunately, it is a bit early in the season to head to Crab Island, a sandbar near Destin Harbor. The Crab Island Rendezvous is a weekly event where hundreds of boats gather around the sandbar and

Picture of Crab Island "borrowed" from the internet

spend the day. The water is shallow enough that you can wad from boat to boat. But Eric Stone isn't the only one to sing about spending the day on the sandbar, Howard Livingston sings about Sand Key. No matter the area, boaters usually find a place to gather and enjoy a day on the water. 

 

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