Winter in South Walton brings a special kind of magic to the historic grounds of Eden Gardens State Park.
While other gardens may be sleeping, the park’s collection of over 370 camellias is just waking up, splashing shades of pink, red, and white against the deep green landscape of Point Washington. On Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community is invited to celebrate these "winter roses" at the annual Camellia Festival.
True Coastal Dune Lakes occur in only a few places around the world, but 15 are found along the white beaches of SoWal!
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.
See current beach conditions on the live SoWal BeachCams.
South Walton Beach Safety Flag information
Walton County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the ecological importance of the globally rare and imperiled coastal dune lakes and have made a local dedication making October 27-31, 2025, as Coastal Dune Lakes Week!
While in South Walton, be sure to stray a bit off the beach and visit Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington on Tucker Bayou. It's a beautiful slice of old Florida and the historic Wesley Mansion sits on the grounds of the park and is open for tours.
We can trace the Wesley family’s shared history with Tucker Bayou and the surrounding community to the late 1800s when they arrived in Point Washington around 1885.
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.
Educational opportunities continue to improve and expand in South Walton, building brighter futures right here in our own backyard.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast has begun registration for the 2025-2026 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.
Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s (ECTC) 2025 Fall Educational Theatre programs are going to be 'off-the-charts' fun!
These programs provide creative and engaging classes designed especially for young thespians from elementary to high school, as well as adult classes. ECTC offers classes for Mini Players (5yrs.-1st), Little Players (2nd-3rd grade), Big Players (4th-5th grade), teens, and adults.
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.
