Beginning March 1, 2025, Walton County opted to go with one main chair and umbrella rental vendor across South Walton Beaches. For 2026 the singular company is Coastal Beach Service, which has served the area for decades.
The service offers more than just chairs and umbrellas - see their website for locations and options, or call 850-233-0914.
South Walton is an enviable vacation spot — and just off the beach at the growing and vibrant Watersound Origins community you can live the life full time!
Surrounded by majestic natural splendor and pristine beaches, Watersound Fountains at Watersound Origins is one of the most exclusive 62+ residential communities in the world.
The Seaside Institute awarded Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt the recipients of the prestigious 2026 Seaside Prize, which is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of architecture, urban planning, and community development.
Here's a recap from the Seaside Institute:
As the sun touched the horizon on the Gulf of Mexico on a recent evening in Seaside, a familiar sound echoed from the rooftop deck—but this time, the bell wasn't just signaling the sunset. It was a toast to 40 years of "Good Food, Good People, and Good Times."
To celebrate four decades as the heart of Scenic Highway 30A, the entire staff of Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant gathered on the rooftop for a celebratory toast, honoring a legacy that began with two friends and a dream.
The days of stuffy, windowless boardrooms are fading into the past, replaced by the coastal elegance and bright, open spaces of Hotel Effie in Miramar Beach.
Just north of Grayton Beach and Scenic 30A is a large parking lot with trolleys that runs every 15 minutes back and forth to the beach and "Downtown Grayton" by the Red Bar.
When you lay down your hard-earned money here in South Walton for the" vacation of a lifetime," you need to make sure you have easy beach access without any hassles. South Walton has a lot of legal issues with beach access. There are ongoing court battles regarding private beaches, public access, and customary use.
If you live anywhere in South Walton, or drive Hwy 331 north of the bay, you're hearing the buzz and seeing the progress in Freeport.
As commercial and residential land in SoWal gets gobbled up, Freeport has become more popular with open spaces and lower prices. New subdivisions, apartments, restaurants, parks, schools & churches have made Freeport among the fastest growing cities in the country. Progress is in the air with more and more families are moving to Freeport, Florida.
Join us in sharing SoWal!
One of the ways we like to promote our area, and help you do the same, is sharing our collection of more than 5,000 photos for you to download and share for FREE! We are pleased and proud to share photos of our beloved South Walton. It's why we started SoWal.com - to share our love for the beach. Please help us spread the joy and Share SoWal!
Step into the kitchen with Chef Jim Shirley, founder of many South Walton favorites such as Great Southern Café, Farm & Fire, The Bay, North Beach Social and The Meltdown on 30A! Shirley’s unique take on modern Southern cuisine was inspired by learning international cooking from his two classic Southern grandmothers. Watch and learn more about how his vision for his restaurants is to create a shared experience that aligns with the overall sense of interconnectedness in these local beach neighborhoods.
