Walton County Tourism

8 Great Hotels that Nod to Badass Women

The four-star hotel was named after Effie Burns, the owner’s grandmother. And nothing conjures up Southern hospitality more than this woman, who was known for her charm and described as the ultimate hostess.

20 Best Places to Live on the Coast

Southern Living

Alys Beach, Florida. It all starts here with sheer beauty: bone-white beaches and the turquoise Gulf of Mexico play off bright-white buildings with exotic lines in courtyard-based layouts, plus a gorgeous community swimming pool that feels like something out of Marrakesh.

Scenic Highway 30A is Selected as Scenic America's Newest Scenic Byways Designation

Scenic America

Visit South Walton celebrates the selection of Scenic Highway 30A as one of Scenic America's newest byways designations. National Scenic Byways designations recognize those roads across the country that exhibit one of more six core intrinsic qualities— scenic, natural, historic, recreational, archaeological, or cultural– contributing towards a unique travel experience. As of 2021, there are 184 roads in 48 states that are designated as either National Scenic Byways or All – American Roads.

10 Lux Beachfront Hotels and Resorts Opening in January/February 2021

OCEAN HOME

The new 250-room hotel was designed to welcome Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort guests to a comfortable, luxurious experience exemplary of Southern hospitality.

6 U.S. Scuba Diving Sites Worth Planning a Trip Around

Condé Nast Traveler

Goliath grouper, which can weigh up to 800 pounds, like to swim around here. But you may be too distracted to notice, thanks to a few other eye-catching sites below the surface: Nineteen sculptures, all made of materials that won’t harm the marine life, rest less than a mile off the coast of Grayton Beach.

A Picturesque Road Trip Along Florida's Pandhandle and Beyond

AARP

Start your road trip in the Panhandle in Miramar Beach for easy access to South Walton County's coastal dune lakes. Freshwater oases that exist in only a few places in the world, dune lakes are created when wind redistributes sand and creates shallow pools.

Will Meetings And Events Ever Be The Same? 41 Clever Things Hotels Are Doing To Make Them Safe

FORBES

“The biggest trend we’re seeing these days is in hybrid meetings, where some attendees join in person and others are looped in virtually,” says Maggie Weaver, director of marketing for the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Florida.

Small, But Mighty—How ‘I Prefer Hotel Rewards’ Program Adds Value Without Hassle

FORBES

The new Hotel Effie Sandestin in South Walton, Florida is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts

The 16 Best Boutique Hotels in America

Reader's Digest

The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, Florida spoils you upon check-in with a glass of sparkling wine to enjoy before you relax on their private beach with complimentary beach chairs and oversized umbrellas for shade. It is the only adults-only property in the South Walton area, overlooking the stunning Gulf of Mexico.

10 Best Beach Festivals on Florida's Gulf Coast

Southern Living

Each January, Florida’s Highway 30A transforms into a music-lover’s Eden when hundreds of artists come to play intimate venues steps from the Gulf’s flour-soft sand.

Vacation Home Rentals Are Hot, Social Distant Getaways

AARP Online

Tracy Louthian, director of marketing and communications with Newman-Dailey Resort Properties in Miramar Beach, Florida, has noted the growing interest in vacation rentals over hotels in the Walton County area this summer, and surmises that it's at least in part due to renters’ recognition that “guests [can] check in directly at the vacation rental home or condominium and avoid contact with staff."

Despite COVID-19, New Summer 2020 Hotel Openings Offer Hope For Travel Rebound

FORBES

Named after the hotel owner’s grandmother, Hotel Effie at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in South Walton, Florida is still on target for a mid-August opening. With a rooftop pool, spa and 20,000 square feet of meeting space, it has an optimistic look on travel rebounding along Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast in the future.