Park It and Pedal: Walkable South Walton

Whether you’re exploring on foot or by bike, South Walton is intentionally designed for accessibility. The walkable neighborhoods encourage you to park your car, hit the sidewalks, and soak up every single ounce of beauty – no steering wheel required.

Once you pull up and park, you won’t have to think twice about your car while you're here. But what exactly makes South Walton's beach neighborhoods among the most walkable towns in America?

It’s built into the design. American New Urbanism was born here. An architectural and design movement centered on making neighborhoods walkable, bikeable, and built on a human scale, New Urbanism first took shape in Seaside, before forming WaterColor, Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach.

Designed for humans by humans, New Urbanist towns are ideal for families, with their signature gridded street systems, town centers, parks, and sprawling green spaces. At heart, these communities encourage interaction between neighbors, and walking or biking through New Urbanism communities is always a social affair.

However, the New Urbanist influence doesn't mean everything has the same cookie-cutter look. Buildings can be any style as long as they fit within the building code, creating a cohesive neighborhood feel that retains each home’s unique charms. And with beautifully paved roads, cobblestone corridors, and protected bike paths, South Walton is exceptionally bicycle-friendly. Cyclists are everywhere, so bike safety and respect are built into our culture.

If you’re ready to switch to pedal power, bike rental is a breeze with stores like Big Daddy’s Bike Shop and Peddlers 30A Bikes ready to help you find your wheels. Afterwards, hit the Timpoochee Trail for one of the best biking tours in South Walton. Stretching the length of Highway 30A, it’s the perfect way to get up close and personal with nature while sightseeing along the beach. But it’s not just for bikers – you can also enjoy a stroll along some of the most scenic South Walton pedestrian trails.

And when you’re just about done, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of South Walton’s sugar-white sand and turquoise water along the paved, multi-use path on Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach.

Want to let your bike do the work for you? Try out an electric bike from Pedego. Whether you’re interested in exploring local bistros or wooded trails, you’ll be well-equipped for a full day of adventure.

Walton County is also working to encourage the use of electric cars and trucks to bolster sustainability. While you’re out refreshing your spirits on foot and by bike, your electric car can get its own recharge at one of the local stations listed below. Just be sure to double-check the location and number of available plugs before you put it in park.

Courtyard by Marriott: 100 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (EV + Tesla)

Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard: 300 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (EV + Tesla)

TOPS’L Beach and Racquet Resort: 9011 US Hwy. Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (EV + Tesla)

TOPS’L Commercial Center: 8955 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (EV + Tesla)

Embarc: 8626 Baytowne Ave. West, Sandestin, FL 32550 (EV + Tesla)

Seaside: 2215 E. Co. Hwy. 30 A, Santa Rosa Beach,  FL 32459 (EV + Tesla)

Seaside: 2288 E. Co. Hwy. 30A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (Tesla)

Dunes of Seagrove: 396 Lakewood Dr., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (Blink & Tesla)

The Lofts at Seacrest Beach: 65 Red Bud Lane, Inlet Beach, FL 32461 (Blink)

Alys Beach: 9581 E. Co. Hwy. 30A, Alys Beach, FL 32413 (Tesla)

The Pointe: 10711 E. Co. Hwy. 30A, Inlet Beach, FL 32461  (Tesla)

30Avenue: 12805 U.S. Hwy. 98, Inlet Beach, FL  32461 (EV + Tesla)

The Southern at Santa Rosa Beach: 1333 J D Miller Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (EV)

WaterSound: 99 Compass Way, Watersound, FL 32461 (EV)