I almost don’t want to write about my trip to South Walton, as it will draw more attention to this gem of a meetings destination, which showcases a side of Florida the more nationally known tourist spots lack.
This is in part due to building and environmental regulation designed to protect the area, but it’s also because the locals are friendly and hospitable—it’s hard not to be when you wake up each morning knowing you have easy access to the area’s sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise Gulf water.
And while there are plenty of visitors who travel to South Walton each year (though the peak and low seasons are the reverse of South and Central Florida’s), there is also a strong sense of community in each of the 16 beach neighborhoods, which include Sandestin, WaterColor, Seaside and Rosemary Beach, and this in turn makes it an excellent spot for family-friendly meetings.
“All the biking and hiking trails and coastal dune lakes, along with miles of unspoiled nature, are what gives us a 90 percent repeat rate for visitors,” says Pamela Watkins, director of sales for Visit South Walton.
During my trip, I stayed at the Watercolor Inn & Resort. The property has been named one of the top family-friendly resorts in the nation and offers a full-service Kids Camp along with a private beach area that can be used for weddings and other events. There is 4,000 square feet of meeting space directly at Watercolor Inn, in addition to other nearby resort-owned options.
Watercolor is home to the AAA Four-Diamond Fish Out of Water restaurant, and is in the process of finishing its brand-new 3,700-square-foot events facility, The LakeHouse, overlooking Western Lake.
Visit South Walton led a tour through some of the top meeting spots in the area, consisting of the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Seascape Golf, Beach & Tennis Resort and TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort.
Hilton Sandestin highlighted its outdoor dining area and 20,000-square-foot deck, alongside its recently updated 32,000 square feet of indoor meeting space.
The resort is currently in the process of renovating its spa tower guest rooms, Serenity by the Sea Spa and remaining dining areas (the AAA Four Diamond Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood was renovated last year). The project is scheduled for completion this month.
We also visited the new 55-room luxury boutique hotel The Pearl in Rosemary Beach. The property features exclusive photography from Tommy Crow, who owns a studio across the street, and an Ernest Hemingway-inspired Havana Beach Cuban dining area that is already gaining critical acclaim. The Pearl’s ballroom can accommodate up to 120 attendees.
There are a variety of outdoor activities for groups in South Walton, including miles of biking and hiking trails, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), which I was able to take part in courtesy of the YOLO Board store and Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Jeff Archer, owner of YOLO Board, explained how SUP made for a great activity for small groups and is relatively easy to learn while still providing a sense of accomplishment.
Once we took to Choctawhatchee Bay, I’m happy to report no one fell off their board and we all had a blast. Sandestin Resort offers a variety of additional team-building activities in addition to its 65,000 square feet of combined meeting space, split between two conference centers.
While my time in South Walton felt short-lived, it provided one of my favorite beach experiences, and its many meeting facilities are bound to impress attendees.
