Arts

For so many Atlantans, the Gulf Coast is a second home. Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles has particularly close ties there, because so many of our readers keep vacation homes along its pristine Northwest Florida beaches. Likewise, our favorite designers regularly shuffle between our capital city and Florida’s beautiful 30A to decorate breathtaking beach homes for discriminating clients. So it’s natural that we’d be worried about the aftermath of the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its effects on one of our favorite destinations. Thankfully, in the wake of these unfortunate circumstances, there is still good news to be told. I attended a media briefing at Buckhead’s Bistro Niko last Thursday, hosted by communication execs from the Beaches of South Walton, to catch up on the many great ways that the local industry is weathering this unseemly storm. For one, the local tourism industry is accommodating the rapidly changing situation by maintaining flexible rental and reservation schedules. Where rental companies used to require seven days’ commitment, they are now allowing as few as three. Better still, you can click here to get a custom accommodations schedule and vacation planner.

Even in the wake of environmental uncertainty, the Beaches of South Walton remain gorgeous today—and for the forseeable future. They’re known for being the nation’s cleanest, after all. As the only destination in the country to have 26 continuous miles of certified Blue Wave beaches, they’ve passed 65 rigorous tests administered by the Clean Beaches Council—ensuring that they remain clean, well-managed and environmentally protected. The oil cleanup and impact-prevention efforts—including building 3-foot-high sand berms designed to keep any impending tar balls at bay—are led by a vigilant team of workers who, during the negligible number of impacts, have combed the areas clean overnight. The entire portfolio of 15 beaches—all boasting crystal clear waters and sugar white sand—are still open for enjoyment, so you can still partake in the joys of summertime. Visit the Beaches of South Walton blog (a very cool initiative!) for daily updates on the status of the beaches and the cleanup efforts. Here are a few things to enjoy right now:

• Attend the Le Grand Cirque performances at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, continuing through August 15
• Ride horses and hike at Point Washington State Forest, one of Florida’s most beautiful protected areas
• Rent bikes and tour scenic highway 30A
• Dine at Table 5 or any of the many exceptional restaurants that have opened in the past year, like Restaurant Paradis, La Cocina and La Botana
• Check out Eden State Gardens’ recent transformation

Look forward to a number of “Autumn Tides” activities in the fall (and even more so as the unfortunate Deepwater Horizon oil spill becomes a fading memory):

• An evening Art Expo at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, featuring artwork from the Southeast’s premier galleries, September 3-5
• The Farewell to Summer concert at Grand Park in Sandestin on September 5, featuring entertainer and singer David Seering
• An “Inspirational Weekend,” held September 8-10, along scenic 30A highway and in the community of Alys Beach, where guests can enjoy yoga as well as food and artwork local to the communities of the Beaches of South Walton
• “A Box of Grace” by the official folk life production group of Walton County, Grit & Grace, September 9-12
• The Santa Rosa Beach Centennial Celebration at the Gulf Place Amphitheatre, September 10-12. Enjoy the entertainment, artists and vendors all celebrating the community’s 100-year anniversary
• The Seaside Neighborhood School’s presentation of Via Colori 2010, an Italian-style art festival hosting local and visiting artists who will paint squares on the streets of Sandestin in a variety of styles on September 18
• The 2010 Autumn Playwright Festival that each year recognizes the work of a distinguished playwright. This year, it celebrates the work of David Mamet throughout the month of October
• The Back to Nature festival, which explores the host of natural attractions the Beaches of South Walton has to offer, October 15-17
• Live entertainment and sampling more than 100 specialty beers on display at the Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival in Sandestin, October 23
• The 20th annual Seeing Red Wine Festival in Seaside, November 4-7
• The Flutterby Festival celebrating the arts, children and the colorful migration of Monarch butterflies through the Beaches of South Walton in Rosemary Beach, November 13-14