South Walton Things To Do
Deer Lake State Park Between Rosemary Beach and Grayton Beach
Deer Lake State Park is a 1,920-acre facility named after a freshwater coastal dune lake within its boundaries. The trail access to the Gulf of Mexico opens to a magnificent dune field and to a pristine section of beach. Deer Lake State Park contains 11 distinct natural communities, including beach dune, mesic flatwoods, sandhill, scrub, basin swamp, depression marsh, dome swamp, coastal dune lakes, blackwater stream, estuarine tidal creek, and unconsolidated marine substrate. Blackwater streams are lined with spring azaleas. Summer wildflowers are seen around cypress domes throughout the sand hills and longleaf pine habitat of Deer Lake. 850.231.4210
Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail Located on CR 395, 1 mile South of US 98
Walton County is home to the Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail, a popular destination for hiking and off-road biking along the Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast. The Eastern Lake Trail was Point Washington State Forest’s first trail system. The Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail has 3.5-, 5.75- and 10-mile loops. Visitors opting to go hiking or biking along the 10-mile loop will pass Eastern Lake. 850.231.5800
Eden State Gardens Santa Rosa Beach FL
Tucked away in historic Point Washington on the shore of Tucker Bayou is a beautiful turn-of-the-century mansion surrounded by azaleas, camellias and towering Spanish moss draped live oaks, some dating back more than 600 years. Eden State Gardens is also home to ArtsQuest, an award-winning fine arts festival held in May. Guided mansion tours are offered Thursday through Monday. Look for Eden State Gardens one mile north of US 98 on County Rd. 850.231.4214
Grayton Beach State Recreation Area Grayton Beach FL
Hailed as the "Best Beach in the U.S.," Grayton features pristine landscapes, camping, self-guided nature trails and picnic areas. A boat ramp is located on Western Lake. You'll find this park off Scenic Highway 30-A.850.231.4210
Point Washington State Forest Santa Rosa Beach FL
Point Washington State Forest welcomes visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation among the more than 15,000-acres of wetlands, sandhill, Curtiss’ Sandgrass and rare wildlife species, such as the American Kestrel, the Gopher Tortoise and the Flatwoods Salamander. Point Washington State Forest is available to the public for various types of natural-resource based outdoor recreation. The forest is widely used for off-road bicycling and hiking. The Eastern Lake Trail System provides a three, five and ten-mile hiking or biking trail loop. The forest is also a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a 2,000 mile trail unifying bird sites throughout Florida. 850.231.5800
Topsail Hill State Preserve Santa Rosa Beach FL
Topsail Hill Preserve is a secluded beach area in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This 1,640-acre park features a variety of habitats: pristine beaches, freshwater coastal dune lakes, old growth longleaf pine forest and wetlands. The dunes and beach are home to the endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse, shorebirds, nesting sea turtles and wildflowers. Other unique areas found at Topsail Hill Preserve include the wet prairies and maritime hammocks. 850.267.0299
30-A Bike Rentals, 850.865.7433, Seagrove Beach, FL
96° Beach Shop, 850.231.7996, 5231 Scenic 30-A, Seagrove Beach, FL
Aqarius, 850.231.0953, Seaside Medical Arts Building, Seaside, FL
Big Daddy's Bikes & Beach Sport, 850.622.1165
Blue Sky Kayak Tours, 850.368.3155
Butterfly Bike & Beach Rentals, 850.231.2826
Cassine Gardens, 850.231.4851, Seagrove Beach, FL
Kidz Beach and Surf and Skim Skool, 850.267.5646
Marsh Hen River Tours, 850.267.6940
Not A Dog Charters, 850.267.2514
Ono Surf Shop, 850.231.1573, Seaside, FL
Ride On Surf School, 850.582.2593
Rosemary Beach Racquet Club, 850.278.2061, Rosemary Beach, FL
Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club, 850.267.2305, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Seagrove Ice House, 850.231.9024, Seagrove Beach, FL
Seaside Bike Shop, 850.231.2314, Seaside, FL
Yellow Fin Ocean Sports, 850.231.1717, Grayton Beach, FL
