How to Spend a Winter Vacation in South Walton

As the holiday season heats up and things start to get hectic elsewhere, the beach stays laid back. Skip sweating over the stove and kick back and enjoy yourself on sugar-white sand! Create new holiday traditions in South Walton for a Gulf Coast winter vacation the whole family will love.

During a season known for its traditions, there's always room for a few brand-new ones. Bring your family to the beach for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and it'll become an annual custom you’ll treasure. And if you need a respite from the chaos, a South Walton Friendsgiving is sure to set itself apart from any other events you plan with your nearest and dearest.

In addition to relaxing and unplugging over the holidays, you can also count on some truly sensational meals. For the best holiday dining experiences in South Walton, try the legendary Thanksgiving spreads at Stinky's Fish Camp and Great Southern Café. With Gulf-fresh seafood and local produce, you're in for a Turkey Day unlike any you've ever experienced!

If a seaside Christmas celebration is on the menu, restaurants like Fish Out of Water in Watercolor go all out, offering a festive Christmas Eve brunch complete with kids' events like cookie decorating. Wondering where to see South Walton Christmas lights afterwards? Just steps away in Cerulean Park, you can walk under the Holly-decked arches to see the sparkling Christmas tree at the center of the park. It’s a family tradition in the making!

While there are plenty of new Christmas traditions and events in South Walton, we know that sometimes you just need to relax. Luckily, the beach is also the perfect holiday respite for you and that special someone. Relaxing is easy here, and you can be as engaged and activity-oriented as you choose. Whether you stay in one of the beachfront cottages for Christmas vacation in South Walton or an all-inclusive resort, you can pick the home base for the trip of your dreams. 

Looking to release even more of that holiday stress? There’s no better cure than a winter spa day. Choose from manicures, pedicures, facials, scrubs, and massages at luxurious spas in one of our 16 beach neighborhoods.

Need to check a few things off your gift list between spa treatments? Holiday shopping in South Walton is a cinch. Engage in retail therapy and shop for gifts in one of the unique local boutiques for holiday shopping, or get it all in one go at one of the country's largest designer outlet centers.

If you haven’t already, you’ll soon discover why the warm winter weather in South Walton makes it the perfect time to plant seeds for a new holiday tradition. Sit back, watch it bloom, and enjoy making memories with your loved ones for years to come! Booking your winter wonderland has never been easier.