Adventure

Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of locals, South Walton has added an entire layer of recreation through artificial reef environments. The South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) has installed the first set of near shore reefs off our beaches.

For the captain and crew of Cotton Patch, the 13th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) was anything but unlucky. Lance Hill from Orange Beach, Alabama labored for almost six hours on Friday afternoon before reeling in an event record 899.6-pound blue marlin. The record billfish was measured at 134-inches with a girth of 74-inches to earn Team Cotton Patch first place and a payout of $195,277 for a tournament that doled out more than $1.5 million in winnings. The Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is the host venue for the event which took place June 17-21.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a wonderful place to explore any day of the year. You'll love taking advantage of some of the weekly events at the park this summer. What a great way to get out and explore one of South Walton's most beautiful coastal areas directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park admission fees are waived for Summer 2015.
 

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College announces the summer session of its award winning eco-tourism initiative, Discover Roads Less Traveled: Eco-Adventures of Walton County. Voted Best Outdoor Adventure in the 2015 Perfect in South Walton- Best of the Best list, the summer tour line-up falls nothing short. Don’t miss the chance to get outdoors this summer and explore!

The 19th edition of the annual Rags To Riches Regatta returns to Grayton Beach on July 4, 2015 in celebration of American Independence Day. The small catamaran race is a tradition among SoWal sailors, families, friends, and Grayton Beach lovers.

Read about the history of the race >

Race registration begins at 8 A.M. on the beach at the mani Grayton Beach access behind the Red Bar with a Captains' meeting at 11 A.M. and the race beginning soon after that.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a wonderful place to explore any day of the year. You'll love taking advantage of some of the weekly events at the park this summer. What a great way to get out and explore one of SoWal's most beautiful spots. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park admission fees are waived for Summer 2015.

Stinky’s Bait Shack has a name that belies its great selection of beach and water fare. It is the kind of place you sometimes stumble upon that is completely unexpected. The guys and gals of Stinky’s know how to do it right. Owner and chef, Jim Richard, along with Bait Shack manager, Kelli Younkin, have put a ton of thought, backed by experience, into exactly what their shop should offer.

Let’s face it…there’s lots to do in South Walton. But if a little solitude and a break from the hustle and bustle of the Scenic 30A strip is what you need, a bike ride into the woods is the ticket. You may not even see another person all day. If you prefer boots to wheels, the hiking is just as good.