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About Our Area |
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 Fine as sugar, white as snow, green as emerald, and blue as aquamarine. These phrases are often used to describe the sand and water along Destin and South Walton’s shoreline. In addition to the sugar-white sand, aqua waters and unspoiled sand dunes, you will find beautiful nature trails and a safe, crowd-free environment. Approximately 40% of the acreage that makes up South Walton is owned by the state and is thus protected from future development.
Topsail Hill State Preserve, one of SoWal's five state parks, is a three-mile span of undeveloped beachfront property that has been identified as the most pristine and environmentally protected piece of coastal property in Florida. Topsail Hill State Preserve has been named in Attaché magazine as one of the "Great Wilderness Beaches." Seaside was named in Attaché magazine as one of the "Greatest Romantic Beaches."
Birmingham magazine recognized ArtsQuest as the "Best Arts Festival" and the magazine also gave Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort the distinction of the "Best Family-Friendly Destination." In 2002, Florida Trend magazine gave the Golden Spoon Award to Criolla's restaurant for the 14th consecutive year. Florida Trend also recognized the Sandestin Hilton's Seagar's restaurant as one of the top 200 new restaurants in the state. |
 State parks and miles of nature trails are perfect for those who prefer hiking and biking over swimming and sunbathing. Dunes, pine flatwoods and salt marshes provide a safe haven for an abundance of plants, birds and other wildlife, including several endangered and threatened species. Nature trails at Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail Hill State Preserve, Point Washington State Forest and Cassine Gardens offer wonderful opportunities to observe flora and fauna. SoWal is home to 17 fresh and saltwater lakes as well as the Choctawhatchee Bay. These waters are a haven for fishermen and kayakers.
When you hear the word "beach" you think of summer. And, naturally, summer is the peak season along Destin & SoWal. However, fall and winter are quickly becoming popular due to the many "perks" this time of year offers. Rates drop, sunsets are spectacular, temperatures are mild, crowds are few, and festivals are plentiful. |
 Destin & SoWal offer championship golf concentrated along a 12-mile stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, including Sandestin's Burnt Pine Golf Club, Links, and Baytowne -- all named as Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." Sandestin opened its fourth course, The Raven Golf Course, in 2000 and it has already been voted best new course in the state.
Tennis is also a popular sport with hundreds of courts open to the public. Whether you are a tennis pro or just learning the game, you'll find all levels of play available on hard, clay, and even the only Wimbledon-style grass courts in North Florida.
It wouldn't be the beach without water sports and visitors to Destin & SoWal can find plenty of ways to "get their feet wet." Home to the Gulf of Mexico, 17 fresh and saltwater lakes, and the Choctawhatchee Bay, visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and, of course, sunbathing. |
 Shopping and dining have become art forms in Destin & SoWal. You will find everything from quaint antique shops along the South Walton Antique Trail to the largest designer factory outlet center in the nation. You won't want to miss Seaside's open-air market and artists colony or the many shops that are part of The Market at Sandestin. Art galleries are also plentiful throughout the area.
After a day of shopping, nothing is better than a great meal. Destin & SoWal are home to over one hundred restaurants offering everything from fresh Gulf seafood to Caribbean Creole cuisine. (And since you're in the south, you can also expect to eat some of the best Southern-style cooking you have ever had.) Seven of Florida Trends' top 200 restaurants in the state are located in SoWal including Bud & Alley's, Café Thirty-A, Seagar's, and Finz. We are also proud to be the home of Criolla's, voted one of the top 400 restaurants in the world by Wine Spectator, and a Florida Trend Hall of Fame Restaurant. |
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Golf Courses |
Bay Dunes Golf & Country Club
5304 Majette Tower Road
Panama City
850-872-1667
Bay Point Yacht & Country Club
100 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City
850-234-3307
 Camp Creek
Located just off of Northwest Florida's Scenic Highway 30A, just west of Panama City Beach, there is a water and sand experience of a different sort at the Tom Fazio-designed Camp Creek Golf Club.
684 Fazio Drive.
Panama City Beach, Florida 32413
850 231-2019
Emerald Bay
Semi-private 18-hole championship course
40001 Emerald Coast Pkwy
Destin
850-837-5197
Bluewater Bay Golf Resort
Semi-private, 36 holes
1950 Bluewater Blvd
Niceville
850-897-3241
The Golf Garden Par 3
Public, lighted, 9-hole course
12958 U S Hwy 98 W
Sandestin
850-837-7422
Holiday Golf Club
100 Fairway Blvd.
Panama City
850-234-1800
Hombre Golf Club
120 Coyote Pass
Panama City
850-234-3673
Indian Bayou Golf & Country Club
Semi-private, 27 holes
1 Country Club Dr E
Destin
850-837-6191
Kelly Plantation
Semi-private, Fred Couples signature course
307 Kelly Plantation Dr
Destin
850-650-7600
Red Bay Golf Club
Highway 81 South
Red Bay
850-835-5254
Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club
Public course, 18 holes
465 Regatta Bay Blvd
Destin
850-650-7800
Sandestin Resort
72 holes on 4 courses
9300 Hwy 98 W
Sandestin
800-277-0800
Sandpiper Cove Par Three
775 Gulf Shore Dr
Destin
850-837-9121
Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club
Semi-private, 18 holes
334 Golf Club Dr
Dune Allen Beach
850-267-2229
Seascape Resort
Public, 18 holes
100 Seascape Dr
Sandestin
850-837-9181 |
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Tennis |
Seaside
Six tennis courts (four Rubico, two hard courts). Six courts are lighted for night play. Open daily.
850-231-4224
The Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort
The Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort offers 16 tennis courts; two Wimbledon-style grass courts, eight hydrogrid clay and six hard courts. The largest tennis specialty shop in Northwest Florida
850-267-7060
Hidden Dunes Beach & Tennis Resort
850-837-3521
hiddendu@emeraldcoast.com
 Rosemary Beach
Eight clay courts and professional tennis instruction.
850-278-2061
tennis@rosemarybeach.com
Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club
850-267-2305
Seascape Resort
800-874-9106
Tops'l Beach & Racquet Resort
850-267-9292
800-336-4853
WaterColor
5 Har-Tru courts, 3 with lights. No fees for guests of the WaterColor Inn or cottage renters.
850-534-5000
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Civic Information And Links |
American Business Women´s Association
Emerald Coast Chapter
PO Box 731
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850)864-7697
www.arc.net/abwa
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative
PO Box 512
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850)892-2111
Destin Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 8
1021 Hwy 98 E. - Suite A
Destin, FL 32540-0008
850-837-6241
www.destinchamber.com
Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County
PO Box 4097
Ft Walton Beach, Fl 32549
(850)651-7374Walton County Economic Development Council
(850)892-0555
Emerald Coast Association of Realtors
10 Hollywood Blvd. S.E.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850)243-6145
 Emerald Coast Access
Area info, local news and events; listings of architects, builders, and suppliers.
www.EmeraldCoastAccess.com
Emerald Coast Tourist Development Council
www.destin-fwb.com
Florida's Great Northwest
11490 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Suite 300
Destin, FL 32550
(850)337-3469
Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce
34 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850)244-8191
GraytonBeach.com - relocation info
www.graytonbeach.com/relocation.html
Gulf Power
PO Box 1388
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850)892-2154
Habitat for Humanity, Walton County
PO Box 2400
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850)267-0606
Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council
(850) 267-3511
South Walton Tourist Development Council
(850)267-3511
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com
South Walton Utility Co., Inc.
79 Old Hwy 98
Destin, FL 32541
(850)-837-2988
SoWal.com - Beaches of South Walton message board, photos, real estate, information, more.
www.SoWal.com
Sprint
PO Box 1778
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850)664-3015
Walton County Government Official Site
www.co.walton.fl.us
Walton County Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1598
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850)267-0683
www.waltoncountychamber.com
Walton County School District
www.walton.k12.fl.us |
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