Things To Do Index

Things to Do – South Walton

Dotted by large expanses of lush, undeveloped forests and plush, manicured resorts communities, South Walton County offers the best of both worlds – rich natural beauty and impeccable luxury.

Page Index

Attractions		Fine Arts		Festivals
Sports		Restaurants		Museums
Parks		Shopping		Libraries
		Nightlife

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Attractions

• “The Truman Show” – starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, and Northwest Florida Daily News columnist emeritus Ted Raymond, was filmed on location in Seaside, a planned resort community in South Walton County, in 1998.
  Scenic Highway 30A
  Seaside
  
  
• Chautauqua Winery – The largest vineyard in Florida, harvests its grapes in late August and early September. Complimentary tours and wine tasting are available.
  I-10 and Highway 331
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 892-5887
  
  
• Lowest state highpoint in the U.S. – 345 feet above sea level
  Britton Hill in Lakewood Park
  State Road 285 near Paxton

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Sports

Enjoy playing the same course many PGA greats have walked or get caught up in the fast-paced exhilaration of the running of the hounds at the Ebro Greyhound Park. With 26 miles of “Blue Wave” certified beaches, you could always just sink a fishing pole in the sand and cast a line for your dinner.

• Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort – host of the 2006 Boeing Championship on the Senior PGA tour
  9300 Highway 98
  (850) 267-8211
  
  
• Ebro Greyhound Park
  Highways 78 and 20
  Ebro
  (850) 234-3943
  
  
• Fishing – find information and articles all about fishing in the local area
  Fishing licenses – Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

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Parks

Year-round temperate weather lets visitors enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors on the Emerald Coast spring, summer, fall and winter. Whether you like to paddle a kayak along the coast, hike the woods or dine al fresco in any of nationally recognized state parks in Florida, there is an adventure waiting in Walton County.

• Deer Lake State Park
  357 Main Park Road
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 231-0337
  
  
• Eden Gardens State Park
  Point Washington
  (850) 231-4214
  
  
• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
  7525 W Scenic Highway 30A
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 267-0299
  
  
• Cat Island Park – fishing, boat ramp, restrooms, picnic pavilions, pier
  Juniper Lake
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 892-8703
  
  
• Douglass Crossroad Park – ball fields, basketball courts, pavilions, playground, restrooms
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 892-8703
  
  
• Wee Care Children’s Park – playground, adult exercise course, ball fields, restrooms, picnic pavilions, grills
  Walton Road
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 892-8703

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Fine Arts

Theatric productions in South Walton County are a mix of refinement and good, old-fashioned story telling. Add in free family-friendly movies and your weekend plans are made.

• Grit & Grace – stage productions created from the oral history of Walton County through skits, songs and tales of faith and inspiration
  Freeport
  (850) 835-2032
  
  
• Seaside Repertory Theatre – community theater
  Scenic Highway 30A
  (850) 231-0733
  
  
• Wednesday Night Concert Series – free family concerts
  The Village of Baytowne Wharf
  (850) 267-8100 or (800) 277-0801

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Restaurants

Whether you like your dinner barbequed, fried, grilled, wrapped in a tortilla, or smothered in cheese or marinara sauce, you’ll find something to satisfy any appetite in Walton County.

• Buffalo Jack’s
  11275 Highway 98
  Miramar Beach
  (850) 424-6288)
  
  
• Maw Maw’s Country Kitchen
  110 Cannery Lane
  Village of Baytowne Wharf
  Sandestin
  (850) 351-1885
  
  
• Bud & Alley’s
  2236 C Highway 30A
  Seaside
  (850) 231-5900
  
  
• Cherry Peppers
  E Highway 98
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 267-0182
  
  
• Camille’s Sidewalk Café
  Silver Sands Factory Stores
  10406 Emerald Coast Parkway
  Sandestin
  (850) 650-2920 
  
  
• Pig’s Alley Bar-B-Q
  9848 Highway 98
  Sandestin
  (850) 654-3911
  
  
• McLain’s Family Steakhouse
  622 Hugh Adams Road
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 892-2402
  
  
• Criolla’s Restaurant
  170 E Scenic Highway 30A
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 267-1267
  
  
• Giovannis Pizza
  16735 Highway 331 S, Unit 3
  Freeport
  (850) 835-4097

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Shopping

Browse through quaint boutiques or designer outlets, or peruse unique custom art galleries while vacationing on the Emerald Coast. South Walton County is a shopper’s paradise with these market shops.

• Silver Sands Factory Stores
  10362 Emerald Coast Parkway
  Sandestin
  (850) 654-9771
  
  
• The Market Shops at Sandestin
  9375 Emerald Coast Parkway
  Sandestin
  (850) 267-8092
  
  
• The Village at Baytowne Wharf
  9300 Emerald Coast Parkway
  Sandestin
  (850) 267-8117
  
  
• Grand Boulevard
  US Hwy 98 by Sandestin
  Sandestin
  
  
• Gulf Place Shops
  Scenic Highway 30A and 393
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (800) 336-4853
  
  
• Perspicity
  Scenic Highway 30A
  Seaside
  (850) 231-2859
  
  
• Shops of Grayton
  Scenic Highway 30A and 283
  Grayton Beach
  
  
• Uptown Grayton Circle
  East of Highway 30A
  Grayton Beach

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Nightlife

Hot music and cold drinks are a winning combination at these nightspots. There is a party every night somewhere in Walton County.

• Ball’s Out Sports Bar
  4842 Highway 98
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 622-9140
  
  
• Blue Orleans
  2260 W City Highway
  Blue Mountain Beach
  (850) 622-1909
  
  
• Red Bar
  70 Hotz Ave.
  Grayton Beach
  (850) 231-1008
  
  
• Shades
  83 Central Square
  Seaside
  (850) 231-1950
  
  
• The 3-Thirty-1
  24200 S Highway 331
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 622-3335
  
  
• John Wehner’s Village Door
  136 Fisherman’s Cove
  Sandestin
  (850) 837-6321
  
  
• Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar & Grill
  130 Fisherman’s Cove
  Sandestin
  (850) 351-1817

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Festivals

Fine art, fine wines, first-rate movies and butterflies – there are celebration dedicated to all the wonderful things in life planned throughout the year.

• ArtsQuest – Mother’s Day weekend
  Village of Baytowne Wharf
  Sandestin
  (850) 622-5970 
  
  
• Flutterby Festival – mid-October
  Gulf Place Community Center
  Scenic Highway 30A and 393
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 622-5970 
  
  
• Coastal Wine Tour – late October
  Scenic Highway 30A
  Rosemary Beach on Scenic Highway 30A
  
  
• Telluride MountainFilm Tour – late October/early November
  Marina Park Amphitheater
  Scenic Highway 30A
  WaterColor
  (850) 822-6877
  
  
• Beaujolais Nouveau Holiday Kick-off – mid to late November
  Market Shops at Sandestin
  (850) 267-8092

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Museums

Learn more about what makes Walton County so unique on the Emerald Coast at the Heritage Museum.

• Walton County Heritage Museum
  1140 Circle Drive
  DeFuniak Springs
  (850) 951-8029

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Libraries

Special family events, gallery art exhibits and books can be found at any of the Walton County branch libraries.

• Walton-DeFuniak Public Library
  3 Circle Drive
  (850) 892-3624
  
  
• Freeport Branch
  3093 W Highway 20
  (850) 835-2040
  
  
• Walton County Coastal Library
  336 Loop Road
  Santa Rosa Beach
  (850) 267-0157
  
  
• Walton County Library
  261 Flowersview Blvd.
  Flowersview
  (850) 834-5487

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	Things To Do Index
		Apalachicola
		Crestview
		Destin
		Fort Walton Beach
		Navarre
		Niceville
		Panama City
		Port St. Joe
		South Walton / 30A

 

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