Annual Valentine Tour of Homes Set For February 18

The Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County announces the 2012 Valentine Tour of Homes, Saturday, February 18th, showcasing some of South Walton's most unique residences. The self-guided tour will take place from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, featuring four homes tucked into beach neighborhoods along Scenic Highway 30A.

The Tour provides an exclusive opportunity for the public to explore beautiful homes while supporting the arts in Walton County. All proceeds benefit the CAA's Educational Giving Program, which provides $20,000 annually in grants to Walton County teachers and scholarships to need-based students, outgoing high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in the arts.

"Tour Chair Nina McCaslin-Horn carefully selected the five featured homes this year and each is special in its own way," says CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. "We always aim to find homes that are diverse in age, architectural style and interior design. We are so grateful for the homeowners who open their doors so we may see the interiors of these houses that we'd normally only get to see in the pages of a magazine."

The homes featured on the 2012 tour range from historic to modern. Two homes in Grayton Beach, including The Historic Shepherd Cottage (183 DeFuniak Street) and a renovated cottage on Western Lake (59 Garfield Street), showcase the neighborhood's deep-rooted history and scenic views of Western Lake.

In WaterColor, 33 Sand Hill Court features the neighborhood's signature, low-country style architecture while highlighting creative, coastal interior design. Next door in the town of Seaside, Breathe In & Breathe Out in the Gateway Building offers a bird's eye view of downtown and the Gulf of Mexico. At the far east end of the tour, a Gulf Front Beauty at 18 Atwoods Court in Rosemary Beach showcases innovative design along with sweeping views of the coast.

While in Grayton Beach, tour attendees are invited to visit 30A Studio at the Hibiscus Coffee&Guest house to meet Allison Craft, South Walton's 2012 Artist of the Year. Craft specializes in pearl and leather jewelry and tour participants are encouraged to turn in their ticket stubs to be entered into a drawing to win an Allison Craft original.

Tickets for the Valentine Tour of Homes are $20 in advance and can be purchased online at CulturalArtsAlliance.com where a map can be downloaded. Tickets may also be purchased locally at the following locations: in Rosemary Beach at Amavida Coffee (104 N. Barrett Square, open daily), in Seaside at Sundog Books (89 Central Square, open daily), at the Bayou Arts Center (105 Hogtown Bayou Lane off CR 393, open M-F), and at Fusion Art Glass in Grand Boulevard (open daily). Tickets will increase to $25 the day of the Tour and can be purchased at Home #1 and Home #5 throughout the day.

For more information about the Valentine Tour of Homes and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, please visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com or call 850-622-5970.