Locals have vacationed here for decades, but the paradisal charms of the Florida Panhandle remain largely undiscovered by most of the country.
Along Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, South Walton’s 16 beach neighborhoods stand out for small-town feel, artistic expression and coastal beauty. The region encompasses 26 miles of sugar-white beaches, shimmering turquoise waters and three pioneering master-planned communities — Seaside, Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach — based upon the 1980s New Urbanism movement that prized walkability and environmental preservation.
Now that JetBlue has launched direct service from New York (JFK)and Boston (BOS), visiting is easier than ever. Here are six reasons South Walton, Florida, is the perfect family-friendly spring break destination:
White-Sand Beaches
The Emerald Coast’s biggest draw is its beaches, boasting calm, clear Gulf waters that sparkle like jewels, and white sand so fine it appears to be spun like sugar. The otherworldly sand is composed almost entirely of quartz, eroded from the Appalachian Mountains over millions of years and carried south by rivers during the last Ice Age. Glaciers and meltwater ground the quartz into fine, talc-like grains and transported it to the Gulf of Mexico. Fun fact: The sand is less likely to burn your feet because its rounded grains reflect the sun’s rays.
© Hotel Effie Sandestin
Hotel Effie
Within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 250-room Hotel Effie boasts impeccable design, daily cookie service and the only rooftop pool on the Emerald Coast. Guests have access to the resort’s beaches; four golf courses; 15 tennis courts; miles of nature trails; and fleet of kayaks, wave runners and bicycles.
© Walton County Tourism
Walton-DeFuniak Library
Born in 1887 within a one-room clapboard building, Walton-DeFuniak Library serves as Florida’s oldest continuously operated library. But the library is best known for keeping a signed, first-edition of To Kill a Mockingbird in circulation for more than a decade. Harper Lee herself slipped the book through the library’s mail slot one night following a long-term correspondence with its long-serving librarian. The precious tome was taken out of circulation in 2001, but visitors can request to see both the book and Lee’s accompanying letter.
Iron & Grape © Walton County Tourism
Lunch at Iron & Grape
After browsing the library’s artifacts and trawling the antique shops and well-preserved Victorian homes of Historic DeFuniak Springs, lunch at Iron & Grape, an edgy new restaurant by Chef Todd Misener enlivening Main Street.
Seaside Beach © Walton County Tourism
Seaside Beach
Seaside Beach promises sunny mornings, white-sand beaches and rejuvenation. Grab breakfast at Amavida Coffee Roasters and enjoy the New Urbanism architecture on your way to the beach.
Roux 30A © Walton County Tourism
Dinner at Roux 30A
Make a reservation for a community table at Chef Nikhil Abuvala’s Roux 30A in Santa Rosa Beach for a special occasion. Enjoy bites of the inventive dishes served by the James Beard Award semifinalist.
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