Beaches of South Walton
Visitors have been enjoying Beaches of South Walton's unspoiled
beauty, native vegetation and inland waterways long before the term
"eco-tourism" was coined. Here are a few reasons why Beaches of South Walton are
emerging as a popular eco-tourism destination.

Beaches second to none - This is what we're all
about and why first-time visitors gasp in amazement and proclaim Beaches of South Walton's
stunning sugar-white sand and clear aqua waters some of the finest in the world. South
Walton's shoreline consists of perfectly sculpted sand dunes and native vegetation, some
of which is endangered and indigenous only to our shores.
South Walton's 13 beach communities are recognized for their
natural, unspoiled beauty. In 1994, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of the University of
Maryland's Laboratory for Coastal Research, named Grayton Beach the "Best Beach in
the Nation." Rated along with 650 other beaches in the U.S., including the Hawaiian
Islands, the compelling qualities found in Grayton were crystal clear water, sugar-white
sand, sunny climate, towering sand dunes, pristine nature trails, and a safe, clean, crowd
free environment.

Pristine, unspoiled beauty - Approximately 40%
of Beaches of South Walton's 56,000 acres are owned by the State of Florida and thus are
protected from future development. That's an amazing 25,000 acres of untouched property
where native wildlife such as deer and fox and endangered species like the Gopher Tortoise
and the Red Cockaded Woodpecker call home. A part of this undeveloped land is within Point
Washington State Forest, a 15,180-acre tract purchased by the state in 1992 and one of
five state-owned properties found along Beaches of South Walton.
During the early nineties, the state acquired a total of 18,000
acres in South Walton, including a large portion of what is now Topsail Hill State
Preserve. Other popular attractions for eco-tourists are the Eastern Lake Bike Trail, with
its three-loop trail for hiking and mountain hiking through virgin forest, and the scenic
Cassine Garden Nature Trail that winds through native cypress marshlands.
South Walton,
Florida - When you hear the word '"beach" you think of
summer. And, naturally, summer is the peak season along Beaches of South Walton. 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.