Santa Rosa Beach/30A

Founded in 1910, Santa Rosa Beach was the start of South Walton as we know it today. But this community of luxury beach houses, upscale dining, the unique artist colony known as Gulf Place and the beautiful Eden Gardens State Park is certainly not a relic of the past. Santa Rosa Beach provides several entrances to Point Washington State Forest, a 15,000-acre preserve with more than 10 natural communities. In fact, all of South Walton is renowned for natural scenic beauty, turquoise waters and sugar sand beaches, including one of Travel + Leisure magazine’s “Best Beaches on Earth” for families.