South Walton beaches are a go-to destination for summer fun and for sea turtles. On our amazing white sands, several species of sea turtles return each year to build a nest and lay their eggs.
It’s sea turtle nesting season once again and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding beachgoers to take precautions that can help protect these federally threatened and endangered marine reptiles.
It’s an exciting time of year in SoWal - when locals break out of hibernation, prepare for tourist season, and plan for stellar outdoor fun. Fortunately, our community is filled with stunning landscapes and enlightening cultural activities throughout the year to keep us engaged and entertained. Our coastal dune lakes, with their spectacular wildlife and brilliant sunsets, give us year-round canvases to observe, photograph and paint.
Locals interested in expanding their creative horizons will be able to do so shortly with the expansion of the OLLI at FSU, PC30A class curriculum starting up right here in our SoWal community. OLLI (the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) has been in existence for a number of years, all over the country, and the scholarly program, tailored for folks who want to learn in a stress-free environment with no tests, no grades, and no homework, will get underway with registration beginning January 27, 2020.
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) has opened a new Pottery Studio at the Bayou Arts Center in Santa Rosa Beach. Classes will begin in Fall with reservations being on a first-come, first-served basis.
The gift of pottery equipment several years ago by long-time CAA members and artists Tom and Karen McGee was the catalyst for the idea of the Pottery Studio, which came to fruition through a generous donation from Shawn and Richard Tomasello.
Invasive plants are out-competing native varieties in our coastal dune lakes here in South Walton.
In order to make room for the native species - which better support wildlife - the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) and the AmeriCorps team will begin to remove the vegetation this month. The removal will help restore water flow between portions of the lake that are currently bottlenecked.
Sea Turtle Season runs May 1 - October 31 in South Walton. Extra care is needed to help protect and preserve our ancient flippered friends during the season. Sea turtles have been nesting on our shores for millions of years.
When Laurie Reichenbach walks the Beaches of South Walton, she does so with the confidence of a seasoned Volunteer Beach Ambassador (VBA).
The next time you sit down with your favorite cup of joe, as you ponder your next move or plan your day, you might consider just what makes that cup so darn good!
If your cup was brewed at any one of the four local Amavida Coffee and Tea locations, you can be sure that you’re tasting the results of Amavida’s exclusive Roastery, located right here in SoWal. We were fortunate enough to attend one of Amavida’s Roaster Tours (conducted from 10-11 a.m. every 2nd Thursday) to see what’s behind all this excellent coffee.
Learning and having fun go hand-in-hand this summer at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center’s newest program, Camp Longleaf.
The week-long, overnight camp is designed for children ages 9-14, and enrollmet is open for three introductory sessions: June 9-14, June 16-21, June 23-28. Camp Longleaf will incorporate the Biophilia Center’s passion for nature with traditional camp fun and games.
Stats, stats, and more stats - excellent information compiled for South Walton tourism for 2018. The projected total dollar impact of tourism for Walton County is nearly $5 billion from more than 4 million visitors, providing more than 29,000 jobs with over $650 million in wages.
The economic impact of tourism on Walton County is based on data collected from 3,208 visitors to Walton County during 2018. Interviews were conducted
throughout South Walton.
