The Story of Seaside, Florida
August 24, 2020 by SoWal Staff
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.
History
Vintage SoWal - Seagrove 4th of July 1979
July 4, 2020 by Payson Comer Howard
This photo is from July 4th 1979 at the start of the annual parade with ten Jeeps decked out with flags lining up on Hickory Street in Seagrove. The blue Jeep is owned by the woman in the blue bathing suit in the foreground who is Janie Soloman (Marie and Jane’s mom).
Seaside Pavilions are Unique Gateways to Beach Bliss
June 1, 2020 by Ellie Avery
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.
SoWal Style - Old Florida Cottage in Grayton Beach
May 4, 2020 by SoWal Staff
There is a lot of history in Grayton Beach. On every street are historic homes and fantastic memories. "Artless Sprite" is a quaint cottage with a long history full of family memories, and it is available to rent so new memories can be made.
Take a Walk Through Old Florida at Camp Helen State Park
March 27, 2020 by SoWal Staff
Do you love the REAL Florida? Do you love OLD Florida? Then a visit to Camp Helen State Park on the east end of South Walton is a must.
The protected sanctuary is sandwiched between our largest coastal dune lake, Lake Powell, and the gulf. Camp Helen is a true gem not to be missed, with amazing views from high bluffs, rustic foot bridges over still waters, forested trails teeming with wildlife, and a bit of Florida history to boot.
Experience Natural Florida at Eden Gardens State Park
July 4, 2018 by Manny Chavez
Visiting Eden Gardens State Park is tuning out the rest of the world and tuning in the “Real Florida”.
Trade in your worries and turn on to the splendor of SoWal's great outdoors, with some Florida history to boot. Just a bit north of the beach, Eden Gardens State Park is nestled in the woods of Point Washington, along the shores of Tucker Bayou and the Choctawhatchee Bay. It's the ideal spot to relax and have family fun.
Tranquility & Activity at Camp Helen State Park
July 18, 2017 by Manny Chavez
On the east side of South Walton just east of Inlet Beach, turn off Highway 98 and through the gate of Camp Helen State Park and be amazed how fast you go from freeway frenzy to total tranquility.
Pompano Fishing on the Beach 1945
March 16, 2017 by SoWal Staff
This Settles the Pompano Controversy (Letter to the Editor, Florida Sportsman, 1945)
Dear Sir,
I'm no writer in any sense of the word, but have read and heard about my friend the pompano not taking a bait 'till I've just got to squawk. I have been taking them on light tackle for over thirty years and saw it done before that.
Seagrove Village Market Closes After 66 Years [Update: Re-opening Nov 19]
November 5, 2016 by Audrey Johnson
Sundown on October 29, 2015 was the end of an era as a day-long celebration of Seagrove Village Market Café came to an end. Free food, beer, wine, and music was shared with hundreds of people inside the old market, and outside in the parking lot and on the street. George and Ann Hartley went out with a bang and opened the doors of the old market for the last time.
Harboring a Heritage in Destin, Florida
July 9, 2015 by Richard Olivarez
In the grand scheme of things, Destin is a young city - both physically and at heart. In fact, Destin didn’t officially become a municipality until 1984. Just prior to that, the first condominiums began to rise from Destin's sandy shores. Today, it’s hard to imagine the intimate piece of paradise unadorned by its prestigious tourism industry.
For most of its life, our western neighbor Destin was known simply for fabulous fishing and amazing beaches. Before the renown, Destin was a simple place, and traces of its heritage can still be experienced first hand.
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