A favorite site for newcomers and residents is Destin.  Destin is known as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village", the largest and most elaborately equipped fishing fleet in the state of Florida docks at the Destin Harbor.  The growth of Destin has brought great shopping and great fun for all ages.  Fort Walton Beach has been revered as a Camp Walton the Civil War encampment were pirates, the most notorious being Billy Bowlegs, would attack.  This reenactment takes place annually.  Niceville and its famous Mullet festival remains a small, close-knit community with ever increasing public services. The Niceville and Valparaiso population is served by one high school, a middle school, two elementary schools, and a private center of education and a community college.  Crestview’s name was chosen because it is located on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers, which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the city.

For more than sixty-five years and spanning six wars, Eglin Air Force Base has played a prominent role in airpower history, as Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, and Niceville surround it.  Duke Field is named for 1st Lt. Robert L. Duke, who died in an aircraft crash Dec. 29, 1943.  Duke Field, which is about 12 miles north of Eglin AFB, and just 5 mile south of Crestview.  Hurlburt Field, just west of Ft. Walton Beach, and Mary Esther is the home of the 16 SOW operators, maintainers, and support personnel are involved in special missions around the world