Within an easy flight or a day’s drive from just about anywhere in the Southeast, the beaches of South Walton County are a place of silky-white sand dunes and vast nature preserves, dancing sea oats, gulf breezes and miles of walking and bicycle trails. Along scenic 30A and the sparkling Gulf of Mexico, the Western Florida Panhandle gives visitors the chance to connect with natural rhythms, shop for antiques, dine on the freshest seafood and produce, and explore a mix of old beach cottage towns and new urbanist communities.