LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
Locals secure, via a lottery, beach driving permits. Owners of certain car types cruise onto the beach at regulated points. On weekends, vehicles fill Grayton Beach to create a huge party. Go there a few weekends and you’ll know just about everyone in the neighborhood.
Locals walk their dogs by the ocean. This sets us apart from Okaloosa and Bay counties, who ban dogs from the beach. Pet owners must secure dog tags from the Walton County Clerk’s Office by proving residency and certifying that pets are vaccinated. In spring and summer, dogs are welcomed from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. In fall and winter, hours extend from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 a.m.
Locals appreciate nature. Stroll through hundreds of miles of trails in the Point Washington State Forest. Park at the trailhead north of 30A in Grayton Beach, and explore untouched timber and oak forests. Locals learn the tides. If you’ve only ever boated in fresh, inland waterways, you’ve likely never had to calculate dangerous tidal effects. Find tidal charts in local papers and at park information booths. Get a free look at the ocean depths by swimming out to Turtle Reef. The South Walton Artificial Reefs Association deployed 58 heavy concrete fish-shaped structures in the water. With two guideposts on land to keep you on course, you can swim about 100 yards to the structures, where you’ll spot fish and other marine wildlife you may otherwise see only in aquariums.
Sallie Paris is a real estate agent at Coastal Luxury, and specializes in representing buyers. With a broad local market knowledge and a high level of service, she assists clients in all aspects of real estate purchases—from investment properties to beach homes. Sallie says, “Although I’ve lived here for years, I still feel like I’m on vacation every day. My goal is to help other families find the perfect property so they can grow to love the Emerald Coast as much as I do.” Contact Sallie at 850.213.3478 or Sallie@CoastalLuxury.com www.coastalluxury.com
Sallie Paris
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