Television personality Mark Consuelos shared fond memories of visiting Fort Walton Beach during his childhood on Thursday’s episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark.”
- During a segment about the travel trend of returning to childhood vacation destinations, Consuelos reminisced about family trips to the area.
“I would then go to Fort Walton Beach, Florida,” Consuelos said on the April 24 broadcast. “There was an Air Force base there, Eglin Air Force Base.”
Consuelos explained that his father would schedule meetings at the base to coincide with spring break, allowing the family to travel from Illinois to Florida for vacation.
- He recalled details of staying at the old Ramada Inn, now known as The Island Resort, located on Okaloosa Island.
Consuelos shared nostalgic memories of the amenities at these hotels, including coin-operated vibrating beds, swimming pools, and the distinct smell of cigarette smoke that was common in hotel rooms during that era.
His co-host and wife Kelly Ripa added context about how attitudes toward indoor smoking have changed, noting that “smoking indoors with children was not a concern” at that time.
