Parks

Santa Rosa Beach encompasses quite a bit of South Walton. The beautiful name of our beautiful beach town can be a bit confusing because it's outline is not perfectly defined like most of our communities. It stretches from Sandestin along the bay and down to the gulf and along Scenic 30A.

The post office mailing address for much of South Walton is Santa Rosa Beach, so people who live in Point Washington or Blue Mountain Beach are often described as living in Santa Rosa Beach.

The east end of South Walton has some of the best local secrets. Some people never venture  beyond the stunning new urban town of Rosemary Beach on Scenic 30A. They don't know what they're missing. Here are a few Insider tips from the staff.

Everyone should visit Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington at least once in their life. And it's never better than it is in the spring with butterflies, birds, kids, and flowers blooming.

The Friends of Eden Gardens State Park pay tribute to the blooming Camellia Saturday, Feb.25th from 10am to 2 pm at the park, north of US 98 off Scenic Hwy 395.

Learn about SoWal history and enjoy the outdoors on a SoWal Adventure the first Saturday of every month through October, beginning on January 7, 2012. Find out about the early history of the park and local area while wandering on a guided tour around Camp Helen's restored historical buildings. Free with park admission. (850) 233-5059.

Directions: Camp Helen State Park is located west of Panama City Beach on U.S. 98 at the west end of the Phillips Inlet bridge, just east of Inlet Beach. The entrance is South of U.S. Hwy 98 just before Lake Powell.

Of course the truth is that all of SoWal is special in October. Instead of setting our clocks back on November 7th, I wish we could set our calendar back a month. There are just not enough days in October.

Camp Helen is a special place any time of the year, butlower temps and humidity, and a calm gulf bring magic days and amazing sunsets. Buzzing Dragonflies fill the air and Monarch butterflies flutter through on their great migration.

October’s crisp mornings and bright blue skies coupled with the arrival of Monarch butterflies and sprouting wild goldenrod make it an ideal time to get outside and explore one of SoWal’s most treasured and often-overlooked resources - Point Washington State Forest.

The forest preserve covers over 15,000 acres in Walton County and includes various opportunities for outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding and even hunting.

As a frequent visitor to Eden Gardens State Park, I admit driving down the pot-holed old road to the park could be a trying experience. But I miss the grand entrance that allowed me to enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful first glimpse of the white columned Wesley House with its wraparound porch dotted with rocking chairs.