Destin & The Beaches of South Walton 

Destin's rich history begins with Native American inhabitants who lived and fished off its spectacular coast as early as the 7th century. The 16th century brought Spanish explorers, charting the waters and sending home accounts of the area's richness and natural beauty. But it wasn't until the mid-19th century, however, that Destin's namesake, Captain Leonard Destin, visited the area from Connecticut. Destin brought with him the beginnings of the fishing industry that earned the town the title: "The luckiest fishing village in the world." While Destin has evolved from a once-sleepy fishing village to a thriving haven for those seeking beauty and relaxation, the fishing industry in the area is still a driving force today. The Destin harbor is home to the largest commercial fishing fleet in the entire state of Florida.

Fishing here is dictated by the season. From late March through mid-May, the cobia migrate in great numbers. Cobia, a long brown game fish & outstanding table fare, are often mistaken for sharks at a glance. When the cobia run, you may spot pockets of boats just off the beach. Cobia can get quite large & the world's largest cobia typically come from Florida's panhandle, with fish exceeding 100 pounds taken in most years. In the summer & early fall, you can fish for redfish, sea trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, amberjack & pompano. From November through February, schools of rapacious, big redfish are at the water's surface, pushing each other out of the way to be the first to attack a surface lure in a shower of spray likely to leave your hands trembling!

Walton County has been inhabited for at least 3,000 years. Woodland and archaic civilization artifacts dating back to 1,000 BC have been found in the Grayton Beach area. More recently, from the 15th to the 19th centuries, Choctaw Indians and the Euchee Indians of the Creek nation populated the area now known as Walton County.

Walton County was created in 1824, soon after the United States acquired West Florida. It now contains 1,028 square miles and is governed by a five-person Board of County Commissioners, along with mayors and city councils in the cities. A single county school board oversees all public schools and prides itself on having one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the state. Experiencing a 37% growth rate from 1980-1990, the 2004 estimated population is 44,923. The 1999 estimated average household income was $41,331, while the estimated median income was $29,973. The average air temperatures are 68° in the winter, 79° in the spring, 91° in the summer and 80° in the fall. The average water temperatures are 64° in the winter, 74° in the spring, 84° in the summer and 79° in the fall. Area airports are the Pensacola Regional Airport (approx. 1˝-hr drive), the Panama City/Bay County International Airport (approx. 45-minute drive) and the Okaloosa County Air Terminal (approx. 45-minute drive).

Our natural landscape is cherished and preserved within the Beaches of South Walton.

Point Washington State Forest is the home of a variety of unique wildlife and plant communities which include sand hills, coastal sand pine scrub, longleaf pine, flatwoods, wet prairies, cypress pond and titi swamps. The forest provides the perfect environment for the gopher tortoise, a species of special concern, and the red-cockaded woodpecker, listed as an endangered species. 

The South Walton beaches hold unique treasures in its pristine coastal dune lakes. These freshwater, sometimes-brackish lakes are located immediately next to saltwater and are very rare in the world. Coastal dune lakes are important breeding areas for birds and mammals inhabiting surrounding coastal ecosystems. We are home to 17 such lakes. The plants and animals that have come to live here are some of the oldest and most primitive of all flowering plants. The Great Blue Heron is a vital component of our ecosystem. Dolphins are frequently seen playing in the crest of the waves along our emerald shores. Sea Turtles live in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and nest along Florida's beaches. Of the eight species worldwide, five are found in the state of Florida. The Brown Pelican is one of many species of birds that was nearly driven to extinction by the spraying of DDT; today we are indeed fortunate to have this endangered species back in large numbers.

The waterways of Walton County are many and varied. The rivers flowing from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee into Choctawhatchee Bay are wonderful and exciting to explore. On a trip along Choctawhatchee River you may see an osprey or a bald eagle patiently scouting the river for its dinner. The Bald Eagle, our proud national symbol, is a resident of our community; Florida is second only to Alaska in bald eagle populations. On the lakes and rivers, you may catch a glimpse of a shy alligator as he slides off the bank into the dark water, or see an old log full of turtles basking in the Florida sunshine.

Wildflowers bloom every day of the year in our area. The wild rosemary called Conradina, with its lovely silver needles, blooms sweetly in March. Soon after, Gulf Coast Lupine, a rare and endangered plant growing near the beach, sends up its striking bloom spikes. The bluish-purple flowers and silver leaves are so showy that they are seen at quite a distance. Legend has it that pirates off the coast saw the tall dunes covered in the blue of blooming lupine and called the area Blue Mountain Beach. In the fall, the sand hills explode with the beautiful splendor of wildflowers as they come into bloom. Attracted to our golden flowers, Monarch Butterflies make their annual fall migration along the Gulf Coast to Mexico each year.

Folks around here live in small beach communities tucked into the native landscape. Point Washington is the eastern-most point on Choctawhatchee Bay and was once a thriving port community. In Seagrove Beach, you can meander through canopied streets lined with magnificent live oaks. The community of Seaside is content living in quaint cottages in yards of preserved oak, pine and palmetto. In Rosemary Beach, named for the conradina that grows throughout, the developers planted sand live oak trees on the street to grow and create a tree tunnel over Scenic Highway 30-A. WaterColor and WaterSound, two of our newest beach villages are developing their communities in delicate balance with nature by using native plants throughout  landscape. Historic Grayton Beach, with its sand live oaks that date back more than one hundred years, is adorned with eclectic shopping opportunities and residents who welcome the opportunity to share the colorful history of this unique town.

Whatever your interests are, they can be found in South Walton and nearby Destin. Along with our famous white beaches, an abundance of shopping, dining, world-class fishing and golf await you.

Check out these links for more information:

• Northwest Florida Daily News
• South Walton Tourist Development Council
• Walton County Chamber of Commerce
• Destin Chamber of Commerce
• The Walton Sun
• The Destin Log

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