Business

Do you know the next award winner? Are YOU the next award winner? Tourism in South Walton succeeds through the efforts of dedicated, enthusiastic and innovative people. The Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award, now entering its eleventh year, recognizes an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to tourism in Walton County while working with other community businesses or organizations to enhance South Walton’s standing as an upscale travel destination. Please consider nominating yourself or someone you know.

Salon Twist is one of SoWal's most successful businesses, and for the third year in a row has been named one of the Top 100 salons in the U.S. by Elle Magazine in the August 2013 issue. Salon Twist is joined on the list by only four other salons in Florida, three in Miami and one in Ft. Lauderdale.

The Volunteer Guild at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast recently presented a $67,600 donation to the hospital in support of a variety of patient care initiatives. Each year, the Volunteer Guild invites hospital department managers to apply for one of the Volunteer Guild’s special capital sponsorships to enhance patient care, resulting in new equipment, software upgrades and customer service projects.
 

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, the 2,400-acre resort on Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast, was recently named the No. 1 destination on Huffington Post's top "Travel Destinations with Kids."

Just behind the large commercial buildings in the town of Gulf Place, a group of diverse South Walton artists have created a fun and funky collection of small shops. Dwight Ward started The Artists at Gulf Place in 1999 and it's become a magnet for locals and beach visitors ever since.

The artists in the group are quite diverse, with eclectic creations and products, displaying unique styles, so consider it a guarantee that there is a little something for every shopper.

The latest real estate statistics for South Walton show continued improvement – sales are up, prices are up, inventory is lower – the number of real estate sales in South Walton are up for the 12th straight month.

The South Walton Real Estate Report for June 2013 is produced by Florida REALTORS® and provided by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR).

The Perfect Pig is a delightful café and gourmet market on the curve in Seagrove Beach at the Shops of Grand Isle - excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner not to be missed! The South of France meets Napa Valley meets the Deep South in this adorable café. The hand-sliced bacon and ham, the homemade sauces and biscuits, and cheese smothering it all - create the perfect meal. It’s comfortable, family-friendly, and has outdoor seating. 

Nestled amongst the palm trees in the heart of Alys Beach is the town's inaugural retail building – the Alys Shoppe. The new urban town is known for its unique architecture, clean lines, and sophisticated style, and the Alys Shoppe embodies the town. Every square inch of the elegant boutique boasts carefully chosen designers from around the world – each with a special story. From the flowy, comfy dresses to the beach ready tunics and covers to men’s Italian linen, hats, and swimsuits, Alys Shoppe has taken the concept of a boutique to a high level. 

Visions of Seaside: Foundations / Evolution / Imagination / Built & Unbuilt Architecture, a new 608-page book by Dhiru A. Thadani, is now available in select stores in Seaside, Florida. The hard-bound, coffee table book explores important pieces of Seaside history, insights and ideas and will be sold exclusively in Seaside until September 3 and then available on Amazon and Random House bookstores.

Salon Twist in Seagrove Beach excels at every aspect of hair styling, precision cuts, and brilliant color. Owner Gina Shiflett has worked in the beauty industry for over 25 years. She doesn't let a day go by without feeling grateful for her success and the loyalty of her clients. 

Gina opened the salon in March of 2004 after relocating from Atlanta to South Walton. She grew up in the industry, working in her mother’s beauty shop.