The 26 miles of white sand beaches in South Walton Florida help make it the premiere panhandle getaway for a Gulf of Mexico experience inside the States, but the beaches alone are hardly the only draw. It’s South Walton’s collection of 16 distinct neighborhoods that provide the variety of charms and personalities truly setting this region apart.
Together, they offer more than a dozen opportunities for day tripping to check out new beaches and towns daily, all in the same vacation. Neighborhoods each have private beach access, but there are public beaches throughout, too. Unless you’re staying for more than 2 weeks, you’ll have to choose which ones to catch, though, so here’s our take on the 5 best beach towns of South Walton Florida to get you started.
SEASIDE
South Walton’s most famous beach town isn’t just widely appreciated for its New Urbanist design—it’s the Hollywood ideal for a neighborhood. Literally. Seaside is a pastel-painted town so meticulously designed and impossibly cheery that it was used as the setting for “The Truman Show,” representing pure perfection. Although it turns out to be a manufactured set piece in the film, it’s as real as can be.
The entire town is walkable, from the tiny, whitewashed post office flanked by twinkling palms to the pristine beach. It’s an ideal family town, especially in summer, when Central Square offers free concerts and outdoor family film screenings nightly. After window shopping at the many stores here, check out the gourmet food truck offerings of Airstream Row and consider a jaunt to the dune lake of Grayton Beach State Park about a mile away.
MIRAMAR BEACH
Miramar Beach is for those looking for the best of both beach worlds. Retro vibes abound with mom-and-pop beachfront cottages and classic surf shops. You’ll also find the upscale and modern here, from fine dining to 5-star stays and the sprawling designer shopping destination of Silver Sands Premium Outlets, where more than 100 tempting stores will test your vacation budget.
Dreamily laze about along the emerald shores of Miramar Beach, or take an adrenaline-fueled approach with jet ski rentals and a parasailing adventure. Grab a quick sandwich at The Local Market or sit down to a swanky meal at top-rated Bijoux Destin. Whatever vacation mood you’re in, Miramar will satisfy it.
SANDESTIN
If you’re looking for plenty of action, head to Sandestin. This busy neighborhood packs a full calendar of events and festivals and is a top draw for championship golf, tennis pros, and watersport enthusiasts. For more family-focused thrills, the village of Baytowne Wharf offers zip lines, climbing walls, an aerial ropes course, and more, plus a weekly farmers market. After days full of activity, you may want to take advantage of Sandestin’s serious spas, too. This is a play-hard town that manages boatloads of activity without sacrificing that all-important holiday atmosphere.
SANTA ROSA BEACH
Trying to enjoy postcard-perfect beach without the crowds of South Walton’s busier beach neighborhoods? Head to Santa Rosa Beach, which was founded more than 100 years ago, pioneering what would become this 16-strong collection of coveted coastal getaways. But don’t be afraid that it’s been left been behind. Quiet, yes; but sleepy, no. You’ll still find a bounty of nature-focused activities, top quality golf, and upscale dining in Santa Rosa Beach—you just won’t find quite as many people dotting it’s idyllic shores, making it the perfect spot for seaside serenity.
WATERSOUND
For the poshest panhandle paradise, spring for a stay in Watersound. This entire neighborhood is a private beach community that offers full-service family vacations with both house and condo opportunities, but access to the to the membership-only Watersound Club and its many amenities provides the ultimate exclusivity in this gated community.
Premium perks belong only to those who own here, but you can access many of the amenities with strategic stays at some of the inns and lodges, too. This is the spot for a curated stay that combines outdoor inspiration among the dunes and along the shore with the exciting eats, epic pools, and family entertainment hub of The Big Chill.
