SOUTH WALTON COUNTY, FLA — Near the lush beach front resort called WaterColor, a lone kayaker moves in near silence across a coastal dune lake, his oar rhythmically slicing through the calm water.
He paddles just a stone’s throw from the sugary, white-sand beaches which make this part of the Florida panhandle a must-visit destination for Memphians. For many of us, there’s nothing to do but lounge on the beach when visiting South Walton — 14 communities that stretch from the bustling Sandestin Resort to quiet neighborhood of Inlet Beach along Florida’s Highway 30A.
But there’s plenty of natural adventure waiting for those looking to dig a little deeper into South Walton’s charms.
Water, water everywhere
South Walton is home to 17 coastal dune lakes — extremely rare ecosystems found only in the Florida panhandle, the Pacific Northwest Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar.
While the lakes are protected natural areas, kayakers and canoes paddlers are absolutely welcome to explore them.
A variety of certified outfitters offer guided, environmentally sound kayak or canoe tours of the dune lakes, starting at $40, including equipment.
Guests of Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort can use canoes and kayaks free of charge to explore Choctawhatchee Bay, either on their own or with a guide. At WaterColor, guided tours of Western Lake and Grayton Beach are available for guests, as are sunset tours of the lakes.
Hiking / Biking
Throughout the state parks, resorts and simply along Highway 30A, hundreds of miles of hike and bike trails await those who want to use pedal and foot power to explore the natural beauty of the area.
The Eastern Lake hike and bike trail, located in Point Washington State Forest, offers three loops through a varied ecosystem that includes pine scrub and longleaf pine flatwoods, cypress ponds, wet prairies and swamps.
Bikers can take also take the scenic route, skirting along 30A on the winding Walton County Bicycle Trail. The trail is 18 miles long, and extends from Dune-Allen Beach to Inlet Beach.
Bikes are readily available for rent, whether by the hour or the week, from a variety of sport and bicycle shops along 30A, and many of the resorts have on-site bike rentals for guests.
Stay in nature
Both Grayton Beach and Topsail offer cabins and camping options. Grayton Beach’s 30 cabins can each accommodate up to six people and include fireplaces, air conditioning and central heating, screened porches with grills, and fully-equipped kitchens and linens. The year-round nightly rate is $110.
At Topsail, one-bedroom bungalows rent for $690 a week year-round, and include full kitchens and linens, as well as cable television, an option not available at Grayton Beach.
Camping options include RV and tent camping, with daily rates ranging from $19 to $68.
IF YOU GO: The Beaches of South Walton
South Walton County is about an 8-hour drive from Memphis; the area is serviced by the Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Panama City airports.
For general information, including activities and accommodations, visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com or call 800-822-6877.
Information for the state parks mentioned in this article is available online at www.floridastateparks.org or by calling 850-245-2157; cabin and camping accommodations for Topsail Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park are also available through each park’s Web page on this site, or by calling Reserve America at 800-326-3521.
Kayak and canoe rentals and guided tours, as well as bicycle rentals, can be arranged through a number of vendors listed on the Beaches of South Walton Web site, including:
Blue Sky Kayak Tours
850-368-3155
www.blueskykayak.com
Big Daddy's Bikes & Beach Sport
850-622-1165
30-A Bike Rentals
850-865-1433
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Comments » 1
JoshMclean writes:
South Walton is a stretch of fifteen beach communities in Northwest Florida, and any beach of South Walton has many vacation rental properties that give views of the white sand and green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the unique natural aspects of the area, including seventeen dune lakes and blue dune scrubs at Blue Mountain. In addition to many beach rental homes in South Walton, beach activities include outdoor activities ranging from fishing and snorkeling to canoeing and kayaking, as well as shopping and the arts, such as music festivals held in the area yearly and performances by the Seaside Repertory Theater. South Walton beach house rental can be for as short as three days or as long as a month – all of that depends upon how long you would like your vacation to be.
The most popular type of vacation rental in South Walton is a beach house. A beach house rental in South Walton can be as large as three floors with several bedrooms, or as small as a cottage. The size often depends on the location and how many people want to rent. Some South Walton beach rental communities have houses directly by the beach, such as Miramar, which has many vacation rental properties with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, as the beach is located between the Gulf and Gulf Drive. Other rental properties in South Walton have smaller rental houses, such as Seagrove, with its many cottages and Seascape with lakefront and gulf front villas. In addition, if you plan to have a South Walton vacation rental long term, another aspect to consider is the architecture of your vacation rental, as a few beach communities in South Walton have unique – both new and old – architecture. For example, many rental and residential homes, as well as businesses, in Rosemary Beach are based on Dutch and West Indies architecture, while Alys has Bermuda and Guatemalan-inspired architecture. For newer designs, Seaside, aside from its theater company, is known as being the location of Robert Davis’ New Urbanism architectural designs. Seaside, after creation in 1981, is fully designed with New Urbanism architecture, including many public spaces in a space of 80 acres.
For any type of vacation rental in South Walton, many accommodations and recommendations can be made ahead before you plan your trip. As South Walton has many types of activities, recommendations and arrangements can be made beforehand for outdoor activities, a music festival, or theater performance, or even arrangements for a fishing trip or a spa visit at one of the beach’s resorts. As far as the beach rental homes in South Walton are concerned, a rental home can be accommodated before you arrive to be filled with groceries or even with a visiting chef or prepared meals. Arrangements through a rental company aren’t only just the vacation rental property – it’s the preparation for the entire vacation experience, as well.
Visit www.FiveStarGulfRentals.com for vacation information.
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