SoWal Tourist Info for 30A and South Walton Beaches

What makes South Walton County in the Florida panhandle special? What is there to do at 30A Beaches? Here is Some of what you’ll read in the magazines and travel guides about SoWal Beaches

The sand on Destin & South Walton's beaches is extremely fine. This is due to the enormous amount of travel the sand went through to reach its destination. The sand along Beaches of Destin & SoWal was once part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Over millions of years, as the mountains weathered, particles of quartz were washed into riverbeds and transported by the river to the ocean. The flow and ebb of the water over this long distance broke down the particles and buffed the edges making them as fine as sugar when they finally rested along the shore in the area.

The Gulf of Mexico along the beaches of Destin & SoWal is so clear because no large, sediment-heavy rivers directly influence the waters. The water coming out of the Apalachicola River, the primary source of our Gulf water, is filtered through the estuary of Apalachicola Bay. While passing through this bay and out past the barrier islands in that area, the Gulf water deposits most of the silt and other sediments, that for example, make the Atlantic less translucent. The Gulf water along the beaches of Destin & SoWal appears aqua green because of the purity and hence crystal clarity of the water. The shallowness of the Gulf and the high reflectivity of light off our sugar-white sands also help to create our beautiful translucent water.

About The Area

Fine as sugar, white as snow, green as emerald and blue as aquamarine. These phrases are often used to describe the sand and water along our shoreline. This shoreline consists of pristine dunes, wildlife and vegetation not found in many of today's coastal environments. In addition to the sugar-white sand, aqua waters and unspoiled sand dunes, you will find beautiful nature trails and a safe, crowd free environment. Approximately 40% of the acreage that makes up SoWal is owned by the state and is thus protected from future development.

Topsail Hill State Preserve, one of SoWal's five state parks, is a three-mile span of undeveloped beachfront property that has been identified as the most pristine and environmentally protected piece of coastal property in Florida. Topsail Hill State Preserve has been named in Attaché magazine as one of the "Great Wilderness Beaches." Seaside, also part in SoWal, was named in Attaché magazine as one of the "Greatest Romantic Beaches."

See the South Walton & 30A Parks Guide >

Birmingham magazine recognized ArtsQuest as the "Best Arts Festival" and the magazine also gave Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort the distinction of the "Best Family-Friendly Destination." In 2002, Florida Trend magazine gave the Golden Spoon Award to Criolla's restaurant for the 14th consecutive year. Florida Trend also recognized the Sandestin Hilton's Seagar's restaurant as one of the top 200 new restaurants in the state.
 

Eco-tourism opportunities

State parks and miles of nature trails are perfect for those who prefer hiking and biking over swimming and sunbathing. Dunes, pine flatwoods and salt marshes provide a safe haven for an abundance of plants, birds and other wildlife, including several endangered and threatened species. Nature trails at Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail Hill State Preserve, Point Washington State Forest and Cassine Gardens offer wonderful opportunities to observe flora and fauna. SoWal is home to 17 fresh and saltwater lakes as well as the Choctawhatchee Bay. These waters are a haven for fishermen and kayakers.

Beaches second to none

This is what we're all about and why first-time visitors gasp in amazement and proclaim Beaches of South Walton's stunning sugar-white sand and clear aqua waters some of the finest in the world. South Walton's shoreline consists of Mother Nature's perfectly sculpted sand dunes and native vegetation, some of which is endangered and indigenous only to our shores. South Walton's 13 beach communities are recognized for their natural, unspoiled beauty. In 1994, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of the University of Maryland's Laboratory for Coastal Research, named Grayton Beach the "Best Beach in the Nation." Rated along with 650 other beaches in the U.S., including the Hawaiian Islands, the compelling qualities found in Grayton were crystal clear water, sugar-white sand, sunny climate, towering sand dunes, pristine nature trails, and a safe, clean, crowd free environment.
 

Pristine, unspoiled beauty

Approximately 40% of Beaches of South Walton's 56,000 acres is owned by the State of Florida and thus is protected from future development. That's an amazing 25,000 acres of untouched property where native wildlife such as deer and fox and endangered species like the Gopher Tortoise and the Red Cockaded Woodpecker call home.

A part of this undeveloped land is within Point Washington State Forest, a 15,180-acre tract purchased by the state in 1992 and one of five state-owned properties found along Beaches of SoWal. During the early nineties, the state acquired a total of 18,000 acres in SoWal, including a large portion of what is now Topsail Hill State Preserve. Other popular attractions for eco-tourists are the Eastern Lake Bike Trail, with its three-loop trail for hiking and mountain biking through virgin forest, and the scenic Cassine Garden Nature Trail that winds through native cypress marshlands.
Learn more about area parks.
 

Ecological communities

The natural communities in SoWal include beach dunes, mesic flatwoods, scrub, scrub flatwoods, depression marshes, wet flatwoods, coastal dune lakes and estuarine marshes. Each of these natural communities is home to an abundance of native animal and plant species. As with most things in nature, the health of all wildlife in Beaches of SoWal is dependent on the health of each of these natural communities. Local environmental groups, such as Beach to Bay Connection, are working with state agencies and Walton County to ensure the continued health of these areas.
 

Protected Nature

Beaches of South Walton is home to a number of endangered or threatened animals and plants. In fact, there are five extremely rare plants that are found only in the Panhandle of Florida that can be observed at Topsail Hill State Preserve. They are: the Large-Leafed Jointwood, Godfrey's Golden Aster, Cruise's Golden Aster and Gulf Coast Lupine. Threatened animals found in Beaches of South Walton include the American Alligator, Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Snowy Plover, Piping Plover, Southeastern Kestrel and Least Tern.

Protecting endangered species such as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle, nest along SoWal's beaches from May through August, and are top priority with residents. Volunteers comprise the South Walton Turtle Watch Program, an organization that locates turtle nests, protects them until hatching and, if necessary, helps baby turtles make it safely to the water. Posters, signs and brochures can be found throughout Beaches of South Walton educating residents and visitors on ways to protect our native wildlife and vegetation.
 

Bright Future

The South Walton Conservation and Development Trust, comprised of a 12-member panel, was established by the State Legislature in 1994 and charged with preparing an overall environmental survey of South Walton's 56,000 acres and recommending development plans that will economically and environmentally enhance Beaches of South Walton.

This 18-month process, which included an immense amount of public input, produced a blueprint for thoughtful future development until 2025. Subsequently, Walton County has adopted a Comprehensive Plan for future development. This plan includes striking a balance between on-going growth and development, and careful preservation of the natural resources that make Beaches of SoWal an appealing destination to visitors who enjoy a natural, unspoiled beach environment.

Components of the Comprehensive Plan include stringent building codes, which were put to the test during 1995's Hurricane Opal. Thanks to the fact that most of south Walton's development is new, the codecomplying structures along our shoreline were spared. In addition, sea oat plantings and other restorative measures helped the area bounce back quickly after the storm.
 

Year-round Destination

When you hear the word "beach" you think of summer. And, naturally, summer is the peak season along Destin & SoWal. However, fall and winter are quickly becoming popular due to the many "perks" this time of year offers. Rates drop, sunsets are spectacular, temperatures are mild, crowds are few, and festivals are plentiful.
 

Fun in the Sun

Destin & SoWal offer championship golf concentrated along a 12-mile stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, including Sandestin's Burnt Pine Golf Club, Links, and Baytowne -- all named as Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." Sandestin opened its fourth course, The Raven Golf Course, in 2000 and it has already been voted best new course in the state.

Tennis is also a popular sport with hundreds of courts open to the public. Whether you are a tennis pro or just learning the game, you'll find all levels of play available on hard, clay, and even the only Wimbledon-style grass courts in North Florida.

It wouldn't be the beach without water sports and visitors to Destin & SoWal can find plenty of ways to "get their feet wet." Home to the Gulf of Mexico, 17 fresh and saltwater lakes, and the Choctawhatchee Bay, visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and, of course, sunbathing.
 

Shopping & Dining Paradise

Shopping and dining have become art forms in Destin & SoWal. You will find everything from quaint antique shops along the South Walton Antique Trail to the largest designer factory outlet center in the nation. You won't want to miss Seaside's open-air market and artists colony or the many shops that are part of The Market at Sandestin. Art galleries are also plentiful throughout the area.

After a day of shopping, nothing is better than a great meal. Destin & SoWal are home to over one hundred restaurants offering everything from fresh Gulf seafood to Caribbean Creole cuisine. (And since you're in the south, you can also expect to eat some of the best Southern-style cooking you have ever had.) Seven of Florida Trends' top 200 restaurants in the state are located in SoWal including Bud & Alley's, Café Thirty-A, Seagar's, Elephant Walk, and Sandor's. We are also proud to be the home of Criolla's, voted one of the top 400 restaurants in the world by Wine Spectator.
 

Brand New & Historic Beach Towns

SoWal offers visitors the opportunity to explore turn-of-thecentury Florida Panhandle architecture amidst the beautiful grounds of Eden State Gardens and the Wesley Mansion in Point Washington -- one of the first towns established in the area. Visitors can also tour the 100-year-old community of Grayton Beach characterized by wooden houses made of weathered cypress and bordered by sand streets and an abundance of trees. The natives are friendly so make yourself at home. Read about area history.

Towns like Seaside, Rosemary Beach, WaterColor, WaterSound Beach, and Alys Beach have set world-wide trends in urban design and new urbanism. The are is rich with modern architectural principles while being solidly rooted in the successful practices of the past. See our South Walton Beach Town Guide >