The votes are in, the ballots counted and the readers have had their say. A list of what makes this region special, its own Seven Wonders, has been selected and it is no surprise that the Sugar White Beaches of the Florida Panhandle ranks as the number one wonder of the Emerald Coast.
The top Seven Wonders vote getters are:
1. Sugar white beaches
Miles and miles of crystal sand beaches, warm Gulf waters and sub-tropic temperatures almost year round, make the Emerald Coast a favorite tourist haven.
2. Dune Lakes
15 rare dune lakes dot the South Walton coastline. These lakes, a continuously changing combination of fresh and briny water, are found only here on the Emerald Coast, in Madagascar, Australia, and along the U.S. Pacific northwest coast.
3. Seaside
A South Walton County cottage community turned film set for the 1998 movie “The Truman Show. The community has grown into a cultural center through the efforts of its Seaside Institute and its charter Seaside Neighborhood School for grades 6, 7 and 8. Community founders Robert and Daryl Davis donated their location fees from the movie to build the school.
4. Oyster beds of Apalachicola
More than 90 percent of Florida’s oysters come from this small, historic town. Many local seafood restaurants serve only Apalachicola oysters.
5. Cape San Blas, St. George and St. Joseph Islands
Some of the most pristine, undeveloped beaches along the Emerald Coast. These beaches are consistently ranked among the best in the world.
6. Crab Island
The ultimate party destination in Destin. Just pull your boat up on the sand bars on the bay side of the East Pass and enjoy the live entertainment.
7. Mid-Bay Bridge
The two-lane, 3.6-mile span connects Niceville/Bluewater to Destin via the Choctawhatchee Bay. Prior to its construction, the bridge was branded a waste of money and many said it would never be used. It is now a major hurricane evacuation route through Okaloosa and Walton counties. The tolls charged for using the bridge, initially set at $2, were increased in 2004 to $2.50, the most expensive in the state.
Not surprisingly, the majority of these Seven Wonders are natural phenomena. Aside from the picture perfect Seaside community and the hurricane evacuation corridor Mid-Bay Bridge, the other top five wonders are all thanks to Mother Nature. Even though Crab Island had a little help with its creation; it’s not wholly man-made.
The two artificial structures include a cottage community that doubles as a movie set and a white elephant no one wanted that turned out to be a lifesaver on more than one occasion.
The natural wonders, encompass more than 100 miles of beaches that are literally sugar-white, and one beach in particular that has maintained its natural beauty and is recognized as not only one of the more pristine spots on the Emerald Coast, but also a top pick around the world.
One of the wonders, a collection of rare dune lakes, is only found in the United States in South Walton County and the Pacific Coastal region. We can boast of having 15 of these lakes situated along the gulf shores of Scenic Highway 30A.
The last wonder has been around for centuries, dating back to prehistoric times. The oyster beds in Apalachicola took a hard hit during the 2005 hurricane season but have made a strong comeback.
Thanks to all the EmeraldCoast.com visitors who participated in the voting. Now, go out and enjoy all the Wonders of the Florida Panhandle.