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A Local Fourth of July Weekend Tradition Finds Its Sea Legs

“Whenever two sailboats are on the water at the same time,” says Charlie Thornton, “it’s a race.  The captains may not admit it, but each wants to go faster than the other.”

Some things never change.

Last Fourth of July local sailors gathered for the legendary Rags to Riches Regatta, a Hobie Cat Race with a course between Grayton Beach and Seagrove. Seventeen captains showed up with their crew and 16-foot Hobies to negotiate the famously rowdy Gulf.

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA), in partnership with Visit South Walton and Northwest Florida State College, invites you to a great program of outdoor education and adventure this summer in the next round of its new ecotourism initiative.

Men, women and children of all ages are invited to don high heels for Walk Her Way at Rosemary Beach’s Town Center on Friday, June 13, 2014, at 6:30 pm. This event aims to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Will you walk in wedges? Strut in stilettos? Prance in pumps? Whatever your preference, sign up to Walk Her Way at www.walkherway.com.

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast has been recognized for its patient engagement efforts in the first National Patient Engagement Ranking. Patient engagement is the process by which patients take charge of their own health. Ranked 23rd out of 3,077 hospitals nationwide, Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast secured the highest ranking in the state of Florida.

Luxury jewelry designer Erica Courtney has an impressive list of accomplishments - from accessorizing celebrities like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Alba and Ellen DeGeneres to mining for exquisite gems in Africa and Turkey. Named “One of the Top Three Jewelry Designers in the World” by United Brands, Erica will be making an appearance at McCaskill & Company's 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' Weekend June 26-28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Leaders of Sacred Heart Health System announced plans yesterday to launch a $30 million expansion of facilities and services at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. The expansion will increase the capacity of the Emerald Coast hospital for inpatient services, maternity services, emergency services and pediatric services.

The latest real estate report for April 2014 in Walton County reflects a healthy and active market. Pending sales of single family homes increased 24% over the same month last year. Summer season is in full swing and the inventory of new properties on the market is up 29%.

The South Walton Real Estate Report for April 2014 is produced by Florida REALTORS® and provided by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR).

The richest billfish tournament on the Gulf Coast takes place every year at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The 12th annual edition of the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is  June 18-22 in South Walton.

We've been taking and sharing South Walton Photos on SoWal.com for almost ten years - we love the beach and we love to show it off!

Take a look at the best of the beach in the SoWal Photo Galleries!

You can buy SoWal Beach photos by Kurt Lischka of Moon Creek Studios online at www.MoonCreekStudios.com - South Walton photo prints, framed photos, photos on canvas, and photo products like T-shirts. mugs, notecards, and more.

Any SoWal insider will tell you that Eden Gardens State Park is a must see when you're visiting the Beaches of South Walton. It's one of the prettiest places in the country and if you catch it when it's blooming it glows so it's almost surreal. But any time of the year the grounds are a great place to get away from it all and relax - take a load off and rock on the porch.