A Mom’s Guide to South Walton

South Walton’s sugar-white shorelines make for the perfect family vacation spot, from everyday beach play to specialized events and activities. We’ve curated a list of helpful tips, tricks and hotspots below to ensure you and your family make the most of South Walton’s 16 beach neighborhoods.

Where to Eat: Family-friendly restaurants are easy to find across the welcoming beach neighborhoods of South Walton. Try Pizza by the Sea with locations in Seacrest and WaterColor for fresh pizza pies and more; this cheerful spot’s WaterColor location is also directly next door to Publix in case you need to stock up on snacks or other essentials for your stay. You can even bring your furry family member along to dog-friendly spots like Bud & Alley’s and Summer Kitchen Café. In between meals, pick up healthy snacks and juices at Raw & Juicy, and be sure to stop by one of South Walton’s many ice cream and candy shops for a sweet treat.

Family-Friendly Entertainment: When you’re not on the beach, plenty of other family-friendly adventures await you and your crew during the day, such as biking (there are numerous bike rental spots in South Walton) and stand-up paddleboarding. Take the tykes to the Baytowne Adventure Zone for zip-lining, rock climbing and more. In the evening, check out BLAST Arcade & Laser Maze or the Seaside Repertory Theatre. With food truck-style dining, live music and family-friendly movie nights, The Big Chill is the perfect place to wind down with your family after a day at the beach.

Fitness Fun: If you’re looking to stay active while you’re on vacation, you won’t have a hard time in South Walton. Everywhere you turn, there’s an opportunity to take advantage of beautiful scenery or familiar classes to keep you moving during your stay at the beach. Mellow out with a morning run on the sugar-white sand, or shape and tone during a class at Pure Barre in WaterColor or Sculpt Studio in Santa Rosa Beach. Prefer to move at your own pace? Stop by Grayton Beach Fitness or Grand Fitness in Sandestin to get your blood pumping. If yoga is more your speed, there are a number of studios with skilled instructors in South Walton where you can find your zen.

On-Demand Help: Make your life a little easier and rent your kid and baby necessities from Babies-n-Town. This local baby supply rental company has everything from cribs and strollers to car seats, booster seats, highchairs and more for your little ones – and they deliver!

Soothing Spots for “Me” Time: Give yourself a break at one of South Walton's luxurious spas. Neighborhood beaches offer a number of peaceful spa retreats; many spas are hosted within local hotels, too. Bring the massage experience directly to your beach home or condo with a house call from a licensed massage therapist at Grayton Beach Massage! Looking for a little retail therapy, instead? Pamper yourself with shopping at one of South Walton’s boutique stores, artisan shops or Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Browse a list of shopping and spa options and treat yourself to some well-deserved time off.

Perfect Places for Date Night: Escape for the evening to one of South Walton’s romantic restaurants like Paradis in Rosemary Beach, FOOW in WaterColor or Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood in Sandestin. Kick things off with cocktails at one of these South Walton hotspots.