Beaches of South Walton

The Beaches of South Walton area in Walton County is an anomaly along northwest Florida's Highway 98, located between the exciting amusements of Panama City Beach and Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Home to posh and progressive housing and resort developments set along natural wilderness, much of the area remains state-owned and preserved in its natural state of sand pine forest, freshwater lakes, emerald-green Gulf waters and snow-white sand dune beaches. The easygoing region, made up of 15 beach communities, celebrates a richly diverse palette of art and culture. Heading westward, a continuum of beach communities ranges from the "New Urbanism" style of Seaside, made famous in the movie The Truman Show, to the state's oldest beach town, Grayton Beach, to the modern, full-service golf and marina resort of Sandestin and more. Laced through the 26-mile stretch, parks and preserves provide opportunities for recreation on land and sea, excellent restaurants sharpen the edge on local cuisine and shopping is unexpectedly varied - from quaint garden shops and antique boutiques to the hautest of couture. This delightful series of hamlets offers events from indulgent wine tastings to festivals surrounding the annual fall migration of Monarch butterflies. Getting Here & Around: U.S. Highway 98 passes by each community, in order from east to west are: Seascape, Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, Seagrove, Watersound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach.