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Guidebook Beaches of South Walton
Location/Region: Northwest Florida
Geographical description:
Beaches of South Walton, located in the heart of the Florida
Panhandle, lies an undisturbed jewel with twenty-six miles of
sugar-white beaches along the emerald-green waters of the Gulf
of Mexico. Thirteen eclectic beach communities, including
Sandestin, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside and Rosemary
Beach, hug the shoreline offering an abundance of world-class
accommodations, five-star dining, unique shopping, and outdoor
explorations for you to discover.
Climate:
Winter - 68 degrees
Spring - 79 - degrees
Summer - 91 degrees
Fall - 80 degrees
Population: 15,000
Area History:
Northwest Florida’s earliest inhabitants had no way of
foreseeing how culturally rich the area would one day become. The
settlements of the first Native Americans, followed by the arrival of
the Spanish, French and English in the 16th Century, and later by people
from elsewhere in Europe and around the world created the cultural
mosaic reflected in the look and feel of the region today. Eden State
Gardens in Point Washington also offers a glimpse of the region’s
history. Overlooking Choctawatchee Bay, the landscaped grounds host
Wesley Mansion, a lumber baron’s antebellum residence surrounded by
camellias, azaleas, butterfly gardens and other incredible blooms.
Preserving remnants of the Old South, the stately white-columned mansion
offers the second largest collection of Louis XVI furniture in the
United States. This year Eden will become the permanent home of the
Governor’s Stone, the nation’s oldest and only surviving two-mast Gulf
Coast schooner. Originally built in 1877, the Governor’s Stone once
supported the area’s thriving lumber and turpentine industry.
DeFuniak Springs is also brimming with historically
and culturally significant structures all set around a naturally formed
near perfect circular lake, including the folk-Victorian home of artist
Mary Vinson and St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, which features colorful
stained-glass windows. The Walton DeFuniak Library was built in 1887 and
remains the state's oldest public library still in its original
building. At DeFuniak Springs Post Office, visitors see one of the 14
New Deal Treasury Department murals painted in Florida in the 1930's.
The historic Hotel DeFuniak includes an old-fashioned ice cream parlor,
and the Murray Theatre, renovated to its original splendor, takes
visitors back in time with it’s historic decor.
Cultural info:
This easygoing region celebrates a richly diverse palette of arts and
culture.
A tour through the area unleashes an array of art and homegrown talent.
Each town is home to eclectic galleries that showcase colorful
paintings, unique sculpture and one-of-a-kind furniture.
Autumn Tides - An Unforgettable Season of Fall Events (September – December 2004)
Jazz up the fall season with a visit to Beaches of
South Walton during our Annual Autumn Tides celebration. All 26 miles of
our Florida Panhandle county come to life with the sights and sounds of
oceanfront events and autumn revelry.
Weekends are the focal point of the festivities,
complete with outdoor concerts, fresh seafood feasts and local art
shows. With thirteen unique beach communities offering a wide array of
activities and events, there is something to tempt every taste and
interest. And for our younger guests, we have a special line-up of
kid-friendly activities.
Highlights of Autumn Tides include tasting wines from
around the world at the Seafood and Mini Wine Festival, making cinematic
discoveries at the Mountain Film Festival and spending time with family
while enjoying the work of local artists at the Flutterby Children’s Art
Festival.
Come immerse yourself in Beaches of South Walton’s
festive charm as our pristine landscape transforms into a breezy stage
for four months of fall events. To learn more about our Autumn Tides
celebration, keep reading our event listing and visit us online at
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.
What to see and do:
Sandcastles of All Sizes
Cozy beachside cottages, first class resorts and inns,
charming bed and breakfasts -- each community offers a unique variety of
accommodations and a charm uniquely its own.
Some visitors are drawn to the weathered cypress homes
and sandy neighborhood streets of historic Grayton Beach, while others
are enamored with Rosemary Beach’s Caribbean architecture and modern
homes.
The warm tree-lined streets and grand beach pavilions
of Seaside are the allure for many, while others are attracted to the
southern coastal style and elegant homes of WaterColor.
Dune Allen Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Inlet Beach and
Seagrove catch the attention of many visitors with their diverse array
of rental properties nestled among untouched landscapes and natural
dunes, while others are captivated by the area’s quaint bed &
breakfasts.
Miramar Beach is appealing for its varied lodging
options, and Seascape is known for its affordable casual villas nestled
among oak and pine trees. For those who seek the amenities of resort
life, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort offers a wide array of options,
ranging from condos in the new Village of Baytowne Wharf with sweeping
views of the Choctawhatchee Bay to individual villas to The Grand
Sandestin, the resort’s signature luxury hotel.
No matter where you stay, the hustle and bustle of
city living is a distant memory.
Area Trivia and Interesting or Little Known Facts:
Top rated beaches and Blue Wave certified by the
Clean Beaches Council
26 miles of dazzling sugar white sand and emerald
Gulf waters
Beach towns renowned for their quiet charm and
acclaimed architecture
Thousands of acres of pristine parks and nature
trails
Award winning dining for culinary adventures
Exceptional shopping from art galleries to the
Southeast's largest designer outlet center
Information and photos submitted
by:
Beaches of South Walton Tourist
Development Council
P.O. Box 1248
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32550
800-822-6877 |
Website |
Email
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