Seniors Enjoy Nicest Little City In The South

Seniors, this sentence is a mouthful: Niceville is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida located near Eglin Air Force Base on Boggy Bayou that opens into Choctawhatchee Bay. The population runs just over 12,500 inhabitants.

The city is called “The NICEST Little City in the South,”… Where folks are friendly and the fish is fresh. Senior travelers will discover the Friendly City in the western Florida panhandle, between Pensacola and Panama City.

Niceville is the most centrally located city in Okaloosa County and a city motto reads…“The City Where You Are Important.” The name Niceville was selected by the postmaster’s daughter.

 Seniors Enjoy The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival

The history of Niceville traces back  10,000 years when the Native Americans inhabited this region. Niceville was a small fishing village called Boggy located along the shores of the Boggy Bayou bay. In 1842 cattleman Jessie Rogers from Louisiana settled in this area. However, permanent settlement began only after the Civil War.

During the third weekend of October, the city of Niceville organizes the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. The Mullet Festival is recognized as one of the South’s top fall festivals, featuring three days of exciting fun, delicious food, fine arts and crafts, local and commercial vendors, and live entertainment showcasing both local Niceville talent and some of the nation’s best known and loved performers.

TripAdvisor wants senior hikers to know about Turkey Creek Park where you will find The Boardwalk with its places to stop and enjoy viewing wildlife.

Seniors Relax at Bayou State Park

Senior visitors can enjoy the Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park that was named after U.S. Air Force Colonel Fred Gannon who was instrumental in preserving this site with beautiful old-growth longleaf pine trees, several more than 300 years old.

Rocky Bayou, the main feature of the park, is the trailing arm of Choctawhatchee Bay and is popular for boating and fishing.

I know that my wife and I would enjoy the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, a modern performing-arts complex at Northwest Florida State College with Broadway shows, opera, dance events and more.

So set your GPS for Niceville and experience for yourself just how nice this city really is. -jeb