Mary Esther, FL....????? (Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Valparaiso: rental, houses, safe area)

emeraldgirl · 10-11-2007, 01:36 PM

Does anyone know anything about this area of Florida? Is it a safe area? Is there anything to do there? Just curious! Thanks~

sunrico90 · 10-11-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMERALDGIRL

Does anyone know anything about this area of Florida? Is it a safe area? Is there anything to do there? Just curious! Thanks~

Mary Esther is next door to Fort Walton and Navarre. This is a small city that is mostly housing. You have access to the beach from FWB and Navarre. The area is safe, many military families in the area. You can do almost anything in Fort Walton and Destin, so is located in a central area that can satisfy most individuals needs.

City of Mary Esther

deckardc · 10-12-2007, 09:15 AM

Mary Esther is only technically a town. It is really more of a subdivision that is attached to Fort Walton Beach. The people who live there say they live in FWB rather than Mary Esther. Most people don't think of it as a separate place, just a FWB neighborhood. As far as recreation that is specific to the town, there is a small nature trail and a Target. Mary Esther is just blocks away from the main shopping area of FWB which is on a street known as the Mary Esther Cut-Off. That is where you will find the mall and most of the chain restaurants like TGI Fridays and Chili's. It is a safe, mostly middle class area. A lot of the people who live there are Air Force retirees or are active duty stationed at Hurlburt Field.

It is about 15 minutes to the beach on Okaloosa Island and it will take at least 20-25 minutes or so to get to the main gate on Eglin. Maybe longer depending on traffic. Once on base, it will be another 10 minutes or so to the main base area where most of the buildings are. The main part of the base is actually in Valparaiso. Mary Esther is on the far opposite corner of FWB from the base. It is closer to Hurlburt than Eglin. It is about 15 miles to Navarre and Navarre Beach and about 12 miles to Destin from Mary Esther.

kaykay07 · 10-17-2007, 10:42 AM

I lived in Mary Esther briefly and while my neighborhood was quiet, I found that it was mostly much older homes--not the fun kind...like 70's era and that was it. Neighborhoods weren't as nicely kept as most in Navarre and even Fort Walton Beach--the nicer ones, that is. It's ok, and a good place to start while you figure out where you want to live. Previous posters are right, it's just a town with houses and a Target that is so far towards FWB--what, the next stoplight is FWB??
you can rent a house fairly cheap there while you shop elsewhere. Just my opinion.

emeraldgirl · 10-17-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaykay07

I lived in Mary Esther briefly and while my neighborhood was quiet, I found that it was mostly much older homes--not the fun kind...like 70's era and that was it. Neighborhoods weren't as nicely kept as most in Navarre and even Fort Walton Beach--the nicer ones, that is. It's ok, and a good place to start while you figure out where you want to live. Previous posters are right, it's just a town with houses and a Target that is so far towards FWB--what, the next stoplight is FWB??
you can rent a house fairly cheap there while you shop elsewhere. Just my opinion.

We actually found a rental in Mary Esther where we can have a short term lease so we can kind of get a feel for the FWB area. I am sure that I will have to do all my shopping in FWB/Destin area and that is fine with me. I hear that there is not much around there but it is seems to be a pretty safe area for now. Thanks for your honest opinion though regarding the area!