Ever wonder how the town of Seaside, Florida began? It's become an extremely popular place to visit and served as a model that many new small towns have followed. Read on to learn about the history of Seaside.
Time was, families coming to the beach stayed in simple cottages…in beach towns where porch-sitting and strolling were activities at least as important as swimming and sunbathing.
The historic Seagrove Villas Motel welcomed SoWal beach lovers for over 60 years, but the doors closed and the neon sign dimmed for the final time in 2012.
All that will remains are the memories of so many beach lovers who have stayed at the motel and villas over the years. Thankfully, a few of the cottages on the north side of Scenic 30A will remain as shops. Perhaps to some a sad reminder of sunny days gone by when they visited the motel as part of "Old Florida".
Celebrate 200 years of our incredible Walton County with a day full of fun, community spirit, and unforgettable memories!
We love the snow-white quartz sands of SoWal beaches that squeak when we walk on them with bare feet, the emerald green and turquoise waters of the Gulf; a bay pregnant with fish and oysters; the delta of the Choctawhatchee River; our 18,000 acres of forest, parks and preserves; plus our unique coastal dune lakes that make South Walton one of the most desirable places on earth to live and visit.
If you walk down one of Grayton Beach's oak-shaded roads, you may have the feeling things don't change very fast here. Pine, magnolia and oak trees surround many of the old wooden homes, letting you know the homes have been in place longer than the trees have been. This south Walton County village, which celebrated its 130th anniversary July 4th, 2020, stakes a claim as one of the area's oldest communities.
Celebrate Walton County's Bicentennial at North Beach Social on Sunday, April 21st! The 200th Anniversary Jubilee, an all-day party features live music, face painting, a low country boil and paella, and good times.
Live Music All Day
11am - 1pm: About To Sweat
2pm - 5pm: Wildlife Specials
6pm - 9pm: Cousin Curtiss
Spend the day with friends and family on the bayside with cold drinks, delicious eats and live entertainment.
The Spanish began naming towns, rivers and bays, usually after Saints, as they explored and colonized Florida in the 16th Century. In the 17th Century, following Saint Rose’s death and Sainthood, the Spanish name a major bay in what is now the Walton County, Florida area “Santa Rosa Bay” and publish the name on maps of Florida.
The name was changed by the British around 1778 to Choctawhatchee Bay. Thus, the longtime Spanish name of Santa Rosa Bay became unknown to many contemporary residents and visitors to South Walton and Florida.
Do you love the REAL Florida? Do you love OLD Florida? Then a visit to Camp Helen State Park on the eastern edge of South Walton is a must.
The protected sanctuary is sandwiched between our largest coastal dune lake, Lake Powell, and the gulf. Camp Helen is a true gem not to be missed, with amazing views from high bluffs, rustic foot bridges over still waters, forested trails teeming with wildlife, and a bit of Florida history to boot.
The Friends of Eden Gardens State Park invite the community to the annual Camellia Festival at Eden Gardens State Park on Saturday, February 12th from 10:00 a.m. til 2:00 p.m.
Visitors are invited to stroll through amazing gardens full of unique Camellias, see displays and demonstrations, historic re-enactments, and learn about Camellia propagating and growing. Camellias will be available for a donation from the nursery.
If you’ve ever driven down Scenic 30A through Seaside, then chances are you've seen one or more of the Seaside pavilions on the Gulf.
They are beautiful and enticing. They may be the most photographed architecture in South Walton, and they are also quite significant to SoWal’s history and architectural story. The nine pavilions help make our community stand out from other beach destinations, and each structure is unique in appearance and designed by a different architect.
