Everyone in our SoWal community wants locals and visitors to enjoy our beaches safely and to respect our wonderful natural areas. Please follow beach safety rules and guidelines.
We are committed to Beach Safety Every Day - For Gulf conditions and flag updates, text "SAFETY" to 31279.
South Walton Beach Safety Flag information
Everyone wants to know where to park at the beach in South Walton. What features do our beach accesses have? Which 30A beach accesses have restrooms. Which beach accesses have lifeguards, ADA accessibility, wheelchairs available for public use, beach chair rentals, etc. We have all the locations and details about public beach accesses in South Walton, Florida.
Almost two-thirds of Walton County's 26 miles of beaches is accessible to the general public. In addition, resorts, hotels and private vacation rentals offer exclusive beach access to guests.
Ever wonder how the town of Seaside, Florida began? It's become an extremely popular place to visit and served as a model that many new small towns have followed. Read on to learn about the history of Seaside.
Time was, families coming to the beach stayed in simple cottages…in beach towns where porch-sitting and strolling were activities at least as important as swimming and sunbathing.
If you’ve ever driven down Scenic 30A through Seaside, then chances are you've seen one or more of the Seaside pavilions on the Gulf.
They are beautiful and enticing. They may be the most photographed architecture in South Walton, and they are also quite significant to SoWal’s history and architectural story. The nine pavilions help make our community stand out from other beach destinations, and each structure is unique in appearance and designed by a different architect.
The Monarch Art Trail (MAT) is an outdoor sculpture project created by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) with support from The St. Joe Community Foundation (StJCF). The art trail honors the magnificent Monarch Butterfly and it's amazing flight ability of up to 2,700 miles and its generational migratory pattern route through SoWal.
In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, South Walton is home to 17 fresh and brackish coastal dune lakes as well as the Choctawhatchee Bay & River, and its many tributaries including Black Creek.
There is great fishing on the Emerald Coast. You can easily outfit yourself, get a guide or charter a boat, or show up at the dock and go with a group. If you’re on a boat with a pro - they’ll have all the gear and licenses for you.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on the western end of Scenic 30A should be at the top of your must do list. No visit to South Walton is complete without seeing our masterpiece of a park, where wild coastal forest and serene dune lakes meet the glorious Gulf.
Introducing The REP Theatre's new Songwriter Workshop with Balder Saunders!
This fall, ignite your creativity and master the art of songwriting with The REP’s Songwriter Workshop hosted by Balder Saunders on Wednesdays, September 4th - October 23rd from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll learn to craft compelling melodies, write evocative lyrics, and build songs that resonate. It’s the perfect way to share your work, receive feedback, and connect with fellow songwriters.
Registration is now open for Sinfonia Gulf Coast 2024-2025 Music Education programs.
As the only program affiliated with a professional orchestra in the Emerald Coast region, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra (SYO) offers student musicians unparalleled opportunities to enhance their musical talents and perform in a variety of ensembles throughout the school year under the mentorship of professional musicians.
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center recently released seven rehabilitated sea turtles back into the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico after having spent time at the CARE Center.
The turtles were returned home to the Gulf at Topsail Hill State Preserve State Park, where several hundred locals and tourists gathered and cheered. Even a group of dolphins joined in the celebration, swimming alongside the turtles as they made their way back into the Gulf.
