2024 Perfect in Walton County Award Winners Announced

SoWal Guide

Feb 7, '24 · 11:51 AM1,206

2024 Perfect in Walton County Award Winners Announced

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Jan. 30 – The Walton County Tourism Department announced the winners of the 2024 Perfect Awards during a celebration held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Now in its 10th year, the annual awards are nominated and voted upon by residents and visitors alike who choose their favorites in tourism-related businesses, services and organizations.

"The Perfect Awards are one of my favorite programs since we get to highlight our local businesses and the impact they have on Walton County," says Matt Algarin, Walton County tourism director. "To be able to share the accomplishments of these hardworking men and women with our residents and visitors is incredibly rewarding."

More than 5,000 votes were cast across 30 categories to determine the best dining, entertainment, shopping and more in Walton County; the 91 winners, first through third place, are featured in our Perfect in Walton County 2024 guide, and may be viewed, along with listing by category, on our website perfectinwaltoncounty.com.

Also during the event, the Walton County Tourism Department honored Stacey Brady, director of marketing and communications with Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, as the winner of its annual Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award.

2024 Perfect in Walton County Award Winners:

ACCOMMODATIONS

Best Boutique Vacation Rental Company <50 Units
DIAMOND: Stay at 30A Vacation Rentals
PLATINUM: Grayt 30A Vacations, Inc.
GOLD: Your Friend at the Beach

Best Hotel/Resort
DIAMOND: The Pearl
PLATINUM: WaterColor Inn & Resort
GOLD: Hotel Effie Sandestin

Best Rental Management Company 50+ Units
DIAMOND: Oversee
PLATINUM: 30A Beach Girls
GOLD: 360 Blue

ACTIVITIES/SHOPPING

Best Art Gallery/Studio
DIAMOND: The Blue Giraffe
PLATINUM: Justin Gaffrey Gallery
GOLD: Estelle Studio & Gallery
GOLD: Modus Art Gallery/Chandler Williams

Best Event
DIAMOND: 30A Songwriters Festival
PLATINUM: South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
GOLD: Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin

Best Golf Course
DIAMOND: Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club
PLATINUM: Camp Creek Golf Course
GOLD: Raven Golf Club

Best Kids Attraction
DIAMOND: The Village of Baytowne Wharf
PLATINUM: The Big Chill 30A
GOLD: Wild Sea Turtle Wednesday/South Walton Turtle Watch

Best Nature Locale
DIAMOND: Grayton Beach State Park
PLATINUM: Eden Gardens State Park
GOLD: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Best Retailer
DIAMOND: Shop on 30A
PLATINUM: Indigo WaterColor
GOLD: Willow

Best Shopping Area
DIAMOND: Grand Boulevard
PLATINUM: Seaside
GOLD: Silver Sands Premium Outlets

Best Tennis Facility
DIAMOND: Rosemary Beach Racquet Club
PLATINUM: Sandestin Tennis Center
GOLD: WaterColor Tennis by MatchPoint Resorts

FOOD/DRINKS

Best Breakfast
DIAMOND: Donut Hole
PLATINUM: Black Bear Bread Co.
GOLD: Crackings

Best Casual Dining
DIAMOND: Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar
PLATINUM: The Bay
GOLD: North Beach Social

Best Coffee House
DIAMOND: Black Bear Bread Co.
PLATINUM: Bad Ass Coffee
GOLD: Amavida Coffee Roasters

Best Craft Beer/Spirits Selection
DIAMOND: Growler Garage 30A
PLATINUM: Idyll Hounds Brewing Company
GOLD: The Craft Bar

Best Fine Dining
DIAMOND: Café Thirty-A
PLATINUM: The Vue on 30A
GOLD: Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood

Best Happy Hour
DIAMOND: Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill
PLATINUM: Great Southern Café
GOLD: Blue Mabel

Best Lunch
DIAMOND: Chanticleer Eatery
PLATINUM: Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar
GOLD: South of Philly 30A

Best Personal Chef/Catering Service
DIAMOND: Grayton Beach Catering & Events
PLATINUM: Swiftly Catered/Chef Kyle Swift
GOLD: Blue Magnolia Catering

Best Sweet Treats
DIAMOND: Blue Mountain Bakery
PLATINUM: Pecan Jack’s Ice Creamery & Candy Kitchen
GOLD: Sweet Henrietta’s

Best Wine Selection
DIAMOND: Wine Bar/Wine World
PLATINUM: Vin’tij Food & Wine
GOLD: Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood

SERVICES

Best Beach/Event Services Provider
DIAMOND: La Dolce Vita
PLATINUM: 30A Blaze Beach Bonfires
GOLD: 30A Beach Boyz

Best Fishing Charter
DIAMOND: Reel 30A
PLATINUM: Florida Boy Adventures
GOLD: Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Charters

Best Local Musician/Band
DIAMOND: Jared Herzog
PLATINUM: Forrest Williams Band
GOLD: Dread Clampitt

Best Outdoor Activity Company
DIAMOND: YOLO Board + Bike
PLATINUM: 30A Blaze Beach Bonfires
GOLD: 30A Beach Boyz

Best Photographer
DIAMOND: Modus Photography/Chandler Williams
PLATINUM: Moon Creek Studios/Kurt Lischka
GOLD: Sarah Lynn Photography

Best Spa/Salon
DIAMOND: Serenity by the sea Spa
PLATINUM: Spa Pearl
GOLD: Love Salon 30A

VENUES

Best Live Music Venue
DIAMOND: The Red Bar
PLATINUM: North Beach Social
GOLD: AJ’s Grayton Beach

Best Meeting/Conference Space
DIAMOND: Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
PLATINUM: Hotel Effie Sandestin
GOLD: Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort

Best Wedding Venue
DIAMOND: The Chapel at Seaside
PLATINUM: The Vue on 30A
GOLD: WaterColor Inn & Resort

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SoWal GuideAuthor

Feb 7, '24 · 11:56 AM#21

STACEY BRADY WINS ANNUAL VAN NESS BUTLER JR. HOSPITALITY AWARD

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Jan. 30 - The Walton County Tourism Department announced Stacey Brady as the winner of its annual Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award. This hospitality award was established in 2003 to recognize excellence in hospitality service, travel/tourism marketing, advertising, promotion and contributions to the local community. It was presented at the Perfect in Walton County Awards ceremony held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa.

"It's always an honor to celebrate the hard-working men and women in our community who strive to make a difference and make Walton County an incredible place to live, work and visit," Walton County Tourism Director Matt Algarin said. "Stacey Brady is incredibly well-deserving of this honor and she truly embodies the spirit of what this award is about."

As the director of marketing and communications for Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Brady has helped create charitable events like South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and Festival of Trees. Also, she has assisted in obtaining financial support for non-profit organizations including 30A Songwriters Festival, ArtsQuest for Cultural Arts Alliance and Children’s Volunteer Health Network Sounds of Soul event, as well as Best of the Emerald Coast, which benefits the Emerald Coast Autism Center, and the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits 17 area charities.

“We put the work in and the strong return back into our community is what really matters. Over the past decade, Grand Boulevard events have directly or indirectly contributed millions of dollars to non-profit organizations in our community,” Brady said.

Brady started work for Seaside Community Development Corporation in 1999 right after the development gained fame from the success of the movie “The Truman Show.” Brady entered a submission to the national Urban Land Institute organization, which recognizes the very best in development and building in the world; resulting in Seaside being honored with the prestigious Urban Land Institute's 2003 Award for Excellence.

"While I am very grateful for this award, I’m accepting on behalf of each of you. Because together, WE ARE perfect in Walton County," Brady said at the Perfect in Walton County Awards.