Unlocking the Secrets of the Emerald Coast

Written by Craig Baranowski for Idyllic Life magazine.
Every year thousands of visitors and families come to the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast to enjoy the sugar white sand beaches and bask in the tranquil Florida sunshine, gazing out at the Gulf’s awe inspiring emerald green waters.
Locals and visitors alike enjoy sharing stories of why North West Florida’s beaches are among the finest in the world and one of the best kept secrets lost among a long list of overcrowded and overhyped vacation destinations. The moment their feet feel the soft sugary white sand “squeak” between their toes, they realize they are part of something special, almost magical. Many wonder why the sand is white as snow and the water is green as an emerald, or why the sand dunes glow like snow drifts in a clear evening sky.
The white sand evolved over millions of years from particles of quartz that washed into riverbeds from the Appalachian Mountains. The rivers acted as a natural filter depositing the pristine white sand along the shoreline. The crystal clear water along the South Walton Beaches that we enjoy is due to the lack of sediment heavy rivers flowing into our shores.  The shallow depths of the gulf add to the pleasure of summertime wading and reflects large amounts of sun light off the white sand creating a translucent effect in the water.
With such alluring beaches beckoning at their cottage doorsteps, may visitors often overlook the other natural wonders North West Florida offers, an ecosystem that is arguably more unique than the area’s world class beaches. Numerous outdoor opportunities await the curious adventurer. South Walton’s coastal dune lakes are not only breathtaking; they are extremely rare and are home to the largest concentration of coastal dune lakes in the world. These natural wonders are only found along the Emerald Coast and remote areas of Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  A quiet and relaxing kayak or paddle board trip on the Camp Creek coastal dune lake allows you to meander along estuarine marshes where you can see an Osprey or a Bald Eagle gliding above with their daily catch in their talons. If the tides are right one can paddle right out to the Gulf enjoying a delightful sense of accomplishment and amazement how the coastal dune lake and gulf interact in harmony. Sightings of Great Blue Herons are common as they stand in the shallow coastal dune lake waters patiently scanning for their next meal to swim by.
Venturing off the beaten path can keep even the most serious explorer busy for weeks among more than 225,000 acres of protected parks and preserves. Historic Bruce Creek Valley Park offers canoeists and kayakers alike access to a creek know as the “Old Place” to Native Americans.   A day of fishing and wildlife sightings of fox, otter, alligator, numerous bird species, and the state’s largest population of beaver can be found along one of Florida’s wildest and most scenic rivers, the Choctawhatchee River.
On a hot summer day a trip to Morrison Spring will reveal one of Walton County’s greatest treasures; a 250-foot diameter natural spring pool that produces millions of gallons of crystal clear water each day. This unique ecosystem provides habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife and drinking water for a large portion of the state.  Experienced kayakers can test their skill in the frigid water of Seven Runs Creek near Red Bay and follow it all the way to the Choctawhatchee Bay.
If staying close to the gulf is your preference, one can experience one of the most pristine and environmentally protected pieces of coastal property in Florida at Topsail Hill State Preserve. Venturing up the 25-foot-high sand dune exposes a breathtaking view of the rare coastal dune lakes, bald cypress swamps, and wildflowers that attract Monarch Butterflies as they make their annual fall migration along the Gulf Coast to Mexico each year; truly a remarkable sight to witness.
With all of these choices, visitors and families are sure to find Florida’s Gulf Coast a refreshing mix of adventure and leisure. Come join us and unlock the many secrets of the Emerald Coast.
– Craig Baranowski