As we bid farewell to summer, the dazzling white sands of Beaches of South Walton become their most peaceful. Gem-toned waves sweep a gently sloping sand bottom – nice and calm for little ones. Every now and then, like magic, swarms of monarch butterflies color the land like delicate, winged stained-glass windows.

In the fall, Beaches of South Walton on northwest Florida's Emerald Coast comes to life, bringing with it a flurry of activities that go beyond the beach. From fall through the winter holidays, its 14 coastal dune communities celebrate the cool, peace and quiet with Autumn Tides – a season of events that takes full advantage of the region's natural attributes and penchant for the artistic.

A number of the coast's newer resort towns were planned with the safety and entertainment of families in mind. Along with a deep sense of community, they offer diverse vacation accommodations, beachfront kids' programs, shops and restaurants.

Autumn Tides

Many of the Autumn Tides events are designed specifically for families; others are fun for visitors of all ages. In October, the Cultural Arts Association builds on the monarch migration to artistically engage youngsters during the Flutterby Children's Art Festival in Santa Rosa Beach. The festival gives kids a chance to dress up like butterflies and take wing in a colorful parade. Live entertainment, hands-on crafts, butterfly education booths, a butterfly garden, a rock climbing wall and inflatable party toys fill the weekend with flights of fancy.

The following weekend, the Back to Nature Festival celebrates the region's opportunity for adventure in the great outdoors, including everything from kayaking to sandcastle-building. Big kids will especially revel in the intrigue of fine sports cars at Vettes at the Village in Sandestin.

November brings street art to Seaside during Via Colori™. Families love perusing the vivid paintings created by talented artists right on the pavement to benefit the local school.


Family-friendly Communities

Every fall day erupts with the spirit of family celebration in Beaches of South Walton. Its coastline stretches 26 miles long and immeasurably wide in activities that kids crave.

A number of the coast's newer resort towns were planned with the safety and entertainment of families in mind. Along with a deep sense of community, they offer diverse vacation accommodations, beachfront kids' programs, shops and restaurants. The earliest of these, 2,400-acre Sandestin, encompasses a marina, golf courses and two villages for shopping and dining.

Seaside set architectural standards with its new urban design, and pedestrian streets make it feel entirely hometown. Newer on the scene, Rosemary Beach, WaterColor and WaterSound also offer self-contained amenities, a wholesome atmosphere and architecturally winsome vacation homes and cottages.


Natural and Cultural Attractions

Older communities line the beach with pristine parks, mom-and-pop motels, condos, beach homes and funky seafood restaurants. The oldest, Grayton Beach, holds an artist community. The litany of beaches continues with Seascape, Miramar, Dune Allen, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain, Seagrove, Seacrest and Inlet.

Grayton Beach is also known for its award-winning sands at Grayton Beach State Park. With its soft, towering dunes and forested tidal lakes, the park wins favor with families who come to sun, swim and camp. For a beach with even more wilderness, try Deer Lake State Park, where you hike between dunes to reach secluded sugar sands. The beach at Seaside is especially family-friendly, given its close proximity to affordable restaurants and its marketplace.

Seaside's shops range from a collection of open-air booths to fine art galleries and the popular Modica Market for food. Ice cream stands, a beachside grill and other casual eateries satisfy family hunger pangs. For shopping and dining in air-conditioned comfort, head to Silver Sands Factory Stores, where you'll find more than 100 familiar brand-name stores and lots of favorite kid foods.

Go ahead, indulge in pizza and gelato. Beaches of South Walton gives you plenty of choices for exercise that are more fun than strenuous. Rent bikes and head to the looped Eastern Lake Hike/Bike Trail of Point Washington State Forest. The three loops range in length from 3.5 to 10 miles.

Sandestin is a good place to headquarter on-the-water adventures. Sailing classes, complimentary (for guests) kayaking and boogie boarding, pontoon boat rentals and snorkeling excursions let you enjoy the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and Choctawatchee Bay.

For more information on fun family forays to Beaches of South Walton, call 800-822-6877 or visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.