Walton County is a stretch of Florida’s Emerald Coast between Pensacola and Destin, full of Southern eateries, businesses focused on sustaining the environment, and an unabashed love of local artists and artisans. The more affluent and recently renovated part of Walton County, it’s characterized by eco-friendly businesses, walkable neighborhoods, and mid-range to upscale offerings. For generations, Walton County has been a road-trip vacation destination, thanks in part to Scenic Highway 30A. Living up to its name, the highway connects more than 20 miles of coastline along Florida’s panhandle.
Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Walton County, Florida
South Walton includes the towns of Grayton Beach, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Seagrove, and WaterColor. In some instances — like White Lotus-esque Kaiya Beach Resort or film-set-like planned communities like the all-white Alys Beach — it can feel a bit unsettling to see so much rigidly pristine perfection. But at its best, South Walton represents what it can look like when eco-centric tourism prioritizes local people, the need for the local arts, and the local environment. The area has adopted Highway 30A not only as local branding but as a way of life. With a slower speed limit than nearby US Highway 98, 30A has come to symbolize taking things slow to enjoy the beautiful ocean views, the area’s focus on ecological conservation, and a love of all things local.
Things to do in South Walton
Bike the Watersound® Monarch Art Trail
Photos: Delia Harrington
Enjoy nature, art, and the slower pace of life on the Watersound® Monarch Art Trail (MAT). A mile-long walking and biking path between Highways 30A and 98, the MAT features eight sculptures (complete with QR codes with information about each sculpture and the local environment), as well as benches where you can sit to listen to the self-guided audio tour while enjoying the view. See if you can spot the butterfly inspiration on each one.
Northwest Florida is part of the monarch butterfly’s migration pattern each year, and South Walton is no exception. The MAT brings together art and ecology, with the sculptures and native plants along the edge of the nature preserve making resting perches for the butterflies. The Cultural Arts Alliance, in partnership with The St. Joe Community Foundation, created the MAT as part of its Art in Public Spaces Program. Take your ride at either end of the day to beat the heat — sunset makes for an especially beautiful ride.
Watersound® Monarch Art Trail: S Watersound Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Browse the artworks at OMAIRE Gallery
Photos: Delia Harrington
OMAIRE is South Walton’s first fine art gallery. Located within Kaiya Beach Resort, the gallery is free and open to the public. The gallery’s debut exhibit is The Divine Feminine by sculptor Claire McArdle, curated by Terry D. Slaughter. Gorgeous marble pieces blend the figurative and the abstract, from small figurines and busts to life-size standing and reclining statues. A mix of smooth, feminine curves and an intentionally weathered, textured look, the collection calls to mind artifacts found among ancient ruins, like so many time-worn treasures pulled from the Aegean Sea.
Several of the pieces were acquired by The Kaiya Foundation, the resort’s nonprofit arm, for the purpose of becoming permanent fixtures in the resort. The Kaiya Foundation is also working with OMAIRE on a number of local initiatives to give back, including sponsoring an art-focused summer camp for students in need. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM or by appointment. The Divine Feminine will be on view until September 6, 2025.
OMAIRE: 25 Kaiya Ave, Suite 2, Inlet Beach, FL 32461
Make a clay mug at the Bayou Arts Center
Photo: Delia Harrington
You can feel the presence of the nonprofit Cultural Arts Alliance throughout South Walton, but if you really want to flex your creative muscles, head to the picturesque Bayou Arts Center to take a class. Don’t worry if you’re not particularly artistically inclined, or if you’ve never thrown clay before. Lead instructor Jessica Batson is great with newbies and takes a thoroughly unpretentious “there’s no wrong way to make art” approach to her classes. The center also does its best to recycle any clay scraps, and you can even take home unclaimed (“orphaned”) pottery projects by making a pay-what-you-want donation.
By supporting the center, you’re helping to support many excellent local initiatives, like its local arts advocacy work, prison art program, therapeutic arts program, artist grants and scholarships, periodic fundraisers for causes like breast cancer, and the marine conservation initiative known as the Underwater Museum of Art. The Cultural Arts Alliance also organizes all sorts of workshops, so if a mug isn’t your speed (or won’t fit in your suitcase), check out its full slate of offerings.
Cultural Arts Alliance: 105 Hogtown Bayou Ln, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Shop, play, and dine at Cowgirl Kitchen
Photo: Delia Harrington
Cowgirl Kitchen is a woman- and queer-owned business with one very charismatic owner and three locations in South Walton. For the best bang for your buck, go to the market and cafe in Blue Mountain Beach to shop, play some cornhole, and enjoy all-day mimosas (perhaps with some cheese grits and praline bacon that I can’t recommend enough).
The market promotes local, Florida-based, and regional women artists, including 30A merch, trendy upcycled accessories, decorative and functional pottery, original art and prints, and Americana apparel with a sassy spin. You can also catch an event like live music, Cowgirl Flow Yoga, Young Bucks Soiree (young professionals night), and watch parties for local sports.
You can also hit up the other two locations — Cowgirl Kitchen Rosemary Beach and CK’s Feed & Supply Rosemary Beach (right behind the restaurant) — for wine, cheese, dips, and other to-go picnic provisions to cowgirl up your beach hang.
Cowgirl Kitchen: 2252 W County Hwy 30A, Blue Mountain Beach, FL 32459
Admire the murals at the Inlet Beach Underpass
Photo: Delia Harrington
Check out some local art at the Inlet Beach Underpass. A pedestrian and cyclist tunnel, it makes the area safer and easier for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers alike, while turning what would otherwise be a boring cement feature into a cool spot to highlight local artists. Ten local artists painted 20-foot-wide murals in distinct styles in the lit tunnel. The underpass is wheelchair accessible, and also features a replica sculpture on each end from the Underwater Museum of Art, a rare chance to glimpse that art without needing SCUBA gear!
Inlet Beach Underpass: Intersection of US Highway 98 and Scenic Highway 30A, Inlet Beach, FL 32413
See The Truman Show town in real life
Photo: Delia Harrington
It’s not hard to believe that 1998’s The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, was filmed in Seaside. What’s more surprising is that they didn’t have to change the town to look like the cookie-cutter fictional town of Seahaven: it was selected because it already looked that way. One of several planned communities in the area, Seaside plays host to multiple filming locations from The Truman Show, including his home, the town gazebo, and the post office.
Seaside: Seaside, FL 32459
Where to eat and drink in South Walton
Bud & Alley’s
Founded in 1987 by a couple of surfers and named for the owner’s dog and the town founder’s cat, Bud & Alley’s is the definition of local and holds the record as Walton County’s oldest restaurant. Its menu spans from pizza and tacos to upscale Gulf Coast seafood, reflecting the vibe as well as the clientele. You’re just as likely to see someone come up from the boardwalk in a bathing suit as a couple out for a swanky night (they even do weddings). The frozen peach Bellini is a great way to enjoy a seat on the breezy deck with a view of the water — if you’re lucky enough to grab a spot (the deck is first-come, first-served). Bud & Alley’s serves local catch, and the peel and eat shrimp and crab cakes are especially good.
Bud & Alley’s: 2236 E County Hwy 30A, Seaside, FL 32459
Idyll Hound Proper
Enjoy local brews from Idyll Hounds Brewing Company, elevated cocktails, and an Asian-fusion twist on Southern classics outside on the patio or in the eclectic dining room at Idyll Hound Proper. Waitstaff steered us toward anything Asian-influenced on the menu since it’s Head Chef Nick Walton’s specialty, and they were right. Some temporary specials were so beloved, they’ve become permanent menu fixtures, like the delicious Bangin’ Grouper.
Idyll Hound Proper: 12805 US-98 E101, Inlet Beach, FL 32461
Amavida in Rosemary Beach
There are plenty of cute places to pick up a coffee or a quick breakfast in South Walton, but Amavida is a local favorite for a reason. The fair-trade roaster is committed to uplifting both the farmers who harvest its coffee beans and the local community in Rosemary Beach. Owned by a local husband and wife team, Amavida has local art on the walls and pays dignifying wages to farmers. Its breakfast burritos are the way to go, but you certainly won’t be disappointed by the pastry case, either. Amavida also has a location in Seaside.
Amavida: 104 North Barrett Square Unit 1A Lofts West, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461
Havana Beach Bar & Grill
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s beloved El Floridita in Havana (“My mojito in the Bodeguita del Medio and my daiquiri in the Floridita”), Havana Beach’s cocktail menu is formidable (and, of course, includes a daiquiri). Come for dinner and enjoy live piano music while you sip on a drink or an authentic glass of Havana Club rum. The restaurant is located inside The Pearl Hotel, in the planned community of Rosemary Beach.
The menu is more upscale Floridian than anything you’ll find in Havana — no arroz moro (Cuban rice and beans) here, and the only ropa vieja (shredded stewed beef) is in a breakfast hash — but don’t let that stop you. The grouper bites are a must, and the crab cakes are solid. Keep your eye out for great art throughout the restaurant, including a piece by Claire McArdle, whose work is currently on view at OMAIRE at Kaiya Beach Resort. Be sure to check out the Havana Beach Rooftop before you go — which also serves a slimmed-down food and drink menu — for fantastic views of Rosemary Beach.
Havana Beach Bar & Grill: 63 Main St, Rosemary Beach, FL 32413
Where to stay in South Walton
Camp Creek Inn
Photo: Delia Harrington
Boutique hotel Camp Creek Inn is located on Highway 30A in Inlet Beach. Service is a high point here — I don’t think I opened a single door myself during my stay, and housekeeping came multiple times a day, even coiling my charging cables. There’s a huge water slide at the resort-style pool, a lazy river, and an adults-only pool if you’re not feeling the kid vibe. The hotel also has pickleball courts and lessons for everyone from beginners to experts, as well as facilities for golf, tennis, fitness, and wellness, plus bikes to borrow.
Be sure to check out ANR, Camp Creek Inn’s high-end restaurant with an elevated take on Gulf Coast favorites. The crab cake is a clear standout — and a hearty portion to boot. The indoor cocktail bar and outdoor patio fire pits (with waitstaff serving the full bar menu, including food) are a huge plus. Also, check out the Treat Suite on each floor — turning the concept of the overpriced mini-bar on its head, the Treat Suite offers 24/7 access to all manner of snacks (including chips, cookies, granola bars, ice cream sandwiches, juice, soda, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa) all included with the price of your room.
Camp Creek Inn: 684 Fazio Dr, Inlet Beach, FL 32461
Kaiya Beach Resort
Photo: Delia Harrington
This pristine, gated wellness resort and community is focused on calm, quiet rejuvenation. Whether you invest in a multi-million dollar condo or row house or choose to stay at one of the $2,000+//night villas in the resort, Kaiya delivers peace, stillness, and luxe details. Check out the on-site yoga classes or OMAIRE, the in-house fine art gallery, to find your center and deepen a sense of contemplation during your stay. Enjoy the infinity pool or beachside chaises on the private, pristine white sand of Inlet Beach at Kaiya Beach House.
Plan to have at least one meal at Kaiya Beach House to enjoy food from Chef Phillip McDonald of Black Bear Bread Co. There’s no heavy fried food here — the focus is on fresh, seasonal, local farm-to-table meals. The food is so good that even dressed garbanzo beans and sweet potatoes feel indulgent — and you won’t even notice that you’re not eating meat. The flaky croissants are a can’t-miss.
Kaiya Beach Resort: 25 Kaiya Ave, Inlet Beach, FL 32461
Getting to and around South Walton
Photo: Delia Harrington
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City, Florida, opened in 2010, only about 40 minutes away from Inlet Beach, making Walton County an easy flight from cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, and St. Louis. Previously, it was more of a driving destination from surrounding states. You can also fly into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), which is just over an hour from Inlet Beach, or the larger Pensacola International Airport (PNS), which is a little over two hours from Inlet Beach or 1.5 hours from Destin — but the convenience of a small (dare I say) friendly airport like ECP is unmatched.
One of the biggest draws of South Walton is how walkable each neighborhood is. You’ll need a way to get between them, but there are plenty of rideshares and cabs available if you’re not interested in renting a car. Biking is also a major way of life in South Walton, with plenty of bike rental companies available. (Some resorts and Airbnbs also make bikes available to guests.) The terrain is flat, and there are some great bike paths, so you’ll see a lot of people without helmets and a lot of cruiser bikes on offer, with no brakes or gears. Make sure you get one with a basket to carry your water, sunscreen, and towel. 