Located along a 26-mile stretch of the Northwest Florida coast, South Walton encompasses an unparalleled strand of 16 charming beach towns and beach neighborhoods. Each has its own traditions, charm and visual style — these towns include Miramar Beach, Dune Allen, Gulf Place, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove, WaterSound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach. South Walton is renowned for natural scenic beauty, turquoise waters and sugar sand beaches, and was ranked as one of Travel + Leisure‘s “Best Beaches on Earth” for families in 2013. An upscale yet casual place to unwind, South Walton is the place to rejuvenate and build lasting memories.
Seagrove
Found along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida, Seagrove is a mile-and-a-half beach that encircles a small cove and lures visitors with its beauty and serenity. Seagrove was named for the thick grove of windswept trees that surround it, and it still maintains the same green canopy of oaks, magnolias, hickories and sand pines that defined it a half a century ago. Today, Seagrove has an eclectic mix of old beach homesteads and newer cottages, as well as a well-balanced menu of off-beach activities. These include exploring Point Washington State Forest to browsing beach shops and restaurants along Scenic Highway 30A.
Seaside
Play in the clean, gentle surf of Seaside and run along the shores of this Northwest Florida beach community. This town is best known as the location for the film The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey. You also can’t miss Seaside’s main beach access under a tall gray structure that looks like a pyramid. Enjoy a day in the Emerald Coast’s sun and surf, stop in one of the quaint shops of Seaside along the beach or in the town center, or take a bike ride along the beach road. Seaside is a picture-book town that provides the perfect place to people-watch.
Watercolor
Grayton
This active, upbeat beach neighborhood boasts a beautiful landscape and stunning architecture shaped to complement the area’s natural features. Accommodations range from intimate private rental homes to the award-winning WaterColor Inn & Resort.
Spend time relaxing on WaterColor’s sugar-white sand. Afterwards, treat yourself to some time in the boutique shops and luxurious spas of this beach neighborhood. Then get out and explore WaterColor’s outdoors with a trip to Western Lake. Finally, treat yourself to a delicious meal at one of this beach neighborhood’s many restaurants.
The first community establishes in South Walton was Grayton Beach. It is an eclectic, small, undisturbed village. Grayton Beach is home to a designated Blue Wave Beach and world renowned Grayton Beach State Park. The park is a 400-acre sliver of paradise featuring pristine sugar-sand beaches, a rare coastal dune lake and a wealth of nature. Its nature trail winds through a salt marsh, steep dunes and a coastal forest with twisted scrub oaks and magnolias.
Alys Beach
You’ll know when you enter Alys Beach – from its signature palm trees to its stunning white stucco architecture. Experience the high-end yet low-key feel of this beach neighborhood.
Take a seat on a bench at one of Alys Beach’s many community green spaces; or, seek out some quiet time with a stroll along its stunning nature walk. This beach neighborhood includes a 20-acre nature preserve and celebrates its surroundings with winding trails, outdoor sculptures, and elegant landscapes. Alys Beach will always offer a beautiful view, whether you’re sitting on sugar-white sand or strolling along quiet sidewalks.
Rosemary Beach
Here, neighbors share small talk from wide balconies and open patios. Or, groups of young ones gather for games of tag on sprawling green lawns. Nearby restaurants are full of foodies trying out the chef’s latest seasonal dish; down the street, families sip hand-made sodas and milkshakes.
Rosemary Beach is full of charm that draws visitors back again and again — which is one reason why this beach neighborhood was named by CNN as one of America’s most romantic small towns. Come visit Rosemary Beach and let this destination sweep you off your feet.