The Beaches of South Walton & Destin 

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.