June 2017   |   XX  

story by

Courtney Murray  |  

photos provided by

VisitSouthWalton.com

S

OUTH

 W

ALTON

 S

HORES

N

estled along the stunning Emerald Coast of Northwest 
Florida is a special place known to the world as South 
Walton, but known to a lucky few as home. This little 
slice of heaven stretches along the ocean with 26 

miles of glistening white sand beaches. 16 acclaimed beachside 
neighborhoods are speckled with colorful bungalows with picture 
perfect views of the turquoise waters. South Walton is a premier 
beach vacation destination where tourists and locals can spend 
hours upon hours relaxing under the sun with a cool breeze 
blowing off the water. When your skin is bronzed and it’s time 
to get out of the sun, there are countless activities to partake in. 
The freshest seafood can be found at every corner, from a local 
beach shack to an award-winning restaurant. If seafood isn’t your 
fancy, there is every category of decadent cuisine 
to choose from. When it is time to work off the 
calories, you can explore the beautiful four state 
parks, hike trails in a state forest or kayak around 
15 rare coastal dune lakes. Then of course there is 
the greatest adventure of all, swimming, paddle 
boarding, snorkeling and scuba diving your way 
through the Gulf of Mexico. 

As you drive along the coast you will go through 

16 distinctly different but equally as stunning beach 
towns. There’s nothing quite as rejuvenating as 
driving with the top down in a convertible with 
the sound of the ocean in your ears and the salty 
wind blowing through your hair. As you begin your 
journey, start your day off with a beachside mimosa 
and brunch beneath the colorful umbrellas in 
Miramar Beach and then move on to some paddle 

boarding alongside dolphins on the beach in Seascape. Next up 
is some shopping along the cobblestoned pathways of Sandestin. 
Coastal dune lakes are extremely rare bodies of water found in 
only a handful of special places around the world, and Dune Allen 
is home to three! Slow down and connect with nature and do 
some bird watching along the trails in Topsail Hill Preserve State 
Park. Cruise a little further down and stop in one of the adorable 
coffee shops and sun yourself on the welcoming green lawns of 
Gulf Place. Santa Rosa Beach was recently named one of Travel 
& Lesisure’s Top 5 Favorite Towns in America and it is easy to 
see why. This beach town was founded in 1910 and is a favorite 
location for dining, shopping, outdoor activities and golfi ng. 
Don’t forget to stop for some famous ice cream in Blue Mountain 

ADVENTURE

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1/29/18   8:25 AM