Sponsored: The Ultimate Beach Bucket List

Visit Camp Creek Lake, one of the world’s rare coastal dune lakes, and try to catch one of the jumping mullet fish. Or sit back, relax, and watch Great Blue Herons accomplish the task. 

Enthusiasts can pedal more than 200 miles of trails, state parks and forests, designated bike lanes and sidewalks. South Walton is one of the most pedal-friendly places in the country.

Break a sweat on The Longleaf Pine Greenway Trail, home to the tall, splendid trees that grew abundantly along the coast and are now the focus of major conservation efforts.

Step out of your cottage and walk through Mojito Alley or Daiquiri Garden, two garden paths planted with produce you can pick. Anyone staying in Alys Beach can grab strawberries, mint, lemon, and more. 

Hear live music at one of South Walton’s 30 music venues. From dive bars to outdoor stages, there’s always a fresh sound around here.

Look for Snowy Plovers and Least Terns while strolling the long, wooden walkway over the dunes to the pristine beach in Deer Lake State Park. 

If you’ve always longed for a house with a picket fence, Seaside is your dream town. The pretty, pastel-colored houses are required to have fences, but the patterns can’t repeat on the same street. 

South Walton is a treasure-trove for art collectors hunting for works by budding artists. It’s home to more than 60 galleries and studios featuring creations by locals, many of whom work in unusual mediums such as broken glass or paint sculpture.

Van Gogh provided the inspiration for chef-turned-artist Justin Gaffrey. He “sculpts” vivid and whimsical three-dimensional paintings with layers upon layers of paint. See his work at his gallery on 30A. 

While waiting for a table at Chef Jim Richard’s Stinky’s Fish Camp, hit up the restaurant’s Bait Shack. It’s the only live bait supply shop with craft beers on tap from the local Grayton Beer Company. 

Enjoy sunrise by paddleboard on one of South Walton’s 15 rare coastal dune lakes. The brackish waters nurture a diverse mix of plant and animal life. Support a local-turned-international company by renting your gear from YOLO Board.

Splash away in Seascape’s crystal-clear water on sugar-white sand where you can always see your toes through the surf, even by moonlight. 

Sign up for a class at Boathouse Paddle Club, and strike a seaworthy yoga pose on a paddleboard. 

Visit Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and play challenging Burnt Pine and Raven Golf Courses. It’s the only instance where Rees Jones and Robert Trent Jones, Jr., courses meet. 

Pick up the iconic 30A sticker. As a South Walton original, the bright, sunny sticker represents a relaxing lifestyle and has also raised thousands of dollars for charity.

The Pearl Hotel’s Havana Beach Bar & Grill is where you go to see and be seen. Order a classic cocktail and hunker down at its beautiful hand-carved bar. 

Grab some wheels at one of South Walton’s numerous bike rental shops, including Big Daddy’s or Butterfly Bike & Kayak.

Catch the Dread Clampitt band (which brings down the house every Sunday) while sipping good $3 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas at Red Bar. 

Even during high season, Inlet Beach’s white-sand stretch is peaceful. Although it feels like a secret beach, it’s the most expansive public beach access in South Walton.