24 lifeguards endured chilly temperatures during training Mar. 5.

28 lifeguards getting ready for 2010 season start Mar. 13

24 of the 28 South Walton Fire District lifeguards started pre-season training and orientation on Mar. 5. With the Gulf water temperature of 59 degrees, each lifeguard has passed a rigorous physical ability test of running and swimming and began their additional physical training, emergency medical training, communications, customer interaction and service strategies.

With Beach Safety Director, Gary Wise watching from the shoreline, the lifeguards did a  beach run, a swim, one hour of board rescues and one hour of buoy rescues.
The lifeguards will be stationed at eight public beach accesses in South Walton Saturday March 13th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.  The lifeguard locations are: Inlet Beach, Bramble Grove/Santa Clara Street, Van Ness Butler Jr., Blue Mountain, Gulf View Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Miramar Beach public beach accesses.

For more information regarding SWFD and Beach Safety, visit their website at www.swfd.org

For additional information about the South Walton beach accesses, click here

Posted under Beaches

Walton County beach parks with lifeguards, easy access, parking, and restroom facilities

Walton County’s beaches in Miramar Beach and along Scenic Highway 30A offer many public beach accesses. Locals have their favorites, whether it be good surf, quiet strolls or the safety of a lifeguard available. South Walton Fire District lifeguards patrol eight locations. These eight locations offer adequate parking, restroom facilities, and three offer handicap access with wheelchairs available: Ed Walline at the corner of Scenic Hwy. 30A and CR 393, Bramble Grove/Santa Clara Street in Seagrove and Miramar, near Pompano Joe’s on Scenic Gulf Drive. Lifeguards are on duty from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., seven days a week from the second Saturday in March until the last Sunday in September.

Here is a list of beach access locations with lifeguards from west to east:

Miramar Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located on Scenic Gulf Drive off of U.S. 98 in western Walton County • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Dune Allen Access – ::MAP:: Located west of County Road 393 on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • Handicap access

Ed Walline Access – ::MAP:: Located at the intersection of 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Gulfview Heights Access - ::MAP:: Located 1/2 mile east of intersection County Roads 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Gulfview Heights Street • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking

Blue Mountain Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located at the south end of CR 83 • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Limited Parking

Van Ness Butler, Jr. Access – ::MAP:: Located between Seaside and WaterColor on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Ample parking lot on the north side of Scenic Hwy. 30A

Grove Road/Santa Clara Street – ::MAP:: Seagrove on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Inlet Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located 3/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Orange Street • Lifeguards • Portable restrooms • Parking

Posted under Beaches

More than 400 people showed their support for Hands Across The Sand in Seaside, Fla. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

State of Florida shows its support for
Hands Across The Sand

More than 400 people showed their support for the Hands Across The Sand in Seaside, Fla. on Feb. 13.  The protest was to raise awareness about pending Florida legislation to drill for oil along Florida’s coastal waterways. The protest gained incredible momentum as there were thousands across the state who shared support. More than 80 in Blue Mountain Beach, 3oo in Key West, 262 at Siesta Key as well as many other locations across the state.

Posted under Beaches

Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

More than 150 people attended the public forum on proposed legislation to allow drilling off Florida coast Feb. 4 at South Walton High School Feb. 4.

There were three presenters on the panel, Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida was at the forum speaking against the proposed drilling on behalf of protectfloridasbeaches.org. David McLain, senior policy director for Apalachicola Riverkeeper, also spoke against proposed drilling. As a former oil spill clean up expert, McLain spoke about the impact of an oil spills on Florida’s coastlines and estuaries. Eric Hamilton, Associate Director, Florida Petroleum Council, spoke in support of the proposed drilling.

Hands Across The Sand, a peaceful protest against the proposed drilling legislation is slated for Feb. 13. For more information, click here

presentation was quite weak, as he had no good answers on the risks. Eric Draper was great as he spoke about what Fla. really is and the importance of protecting our beaches. I liked his quote…”Can Floridian’s afford to bet the farm?” David McLain was wonderful as well talking about …The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center sponsored the event.

Posted under Beaches

Forum to be held at South Walton High School auditorium

The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center will be sponsoring a public forum on the proposal to allow oil and gas drilling in Florida state waters.  The forum will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the South Walton High School Auditorium, located at 645 Greenway Trail off Highway 331 South, Santa Rosa Beach.

Presenters at the forum will be David Mica, Executive Director of the Florida Petroleum Council; Eric Draper, Executive Director of Audubon of Florida; David Rancourt, a partner with the Southern Energy Group and Lead Advocate for Florida Energy Associates, and David McClain, former oil spill planner and trainer with the Marine Spill Response Corporation and current consultant to Apalachicola Riverkeeper. 

After the presentations, there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Posted under Beaches, Home/Garden

Water is closed to the public

Nov. 9, 8:45 a.m.

SURF ZONE FORECAST: WAVE HEIGHTS: 3-6 FEET. RIP CURRENT RISK: VERY HIGH…A VERY HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MEANS THAT WIND, WAVE AND TIDAL CONDITIONS ALL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXTREMELY STRONG AND DANDEROUS RIP CURRENTS. WATER IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, LIFEGUARDS ARE NOT ON PATROL. LIFEGUARDS RESUME PATROLLING THE BEACHES OF SOUTH WALTON IN EARLY MARCH 2010.

Click here to keep up to date with tracking of Tropical Storm Ida

Posted under Beaches, Nature

Sunsets are always a treat in South Walton

This is the time of year when the sun sets on the southern horizon and, as the locals know, Mother Nature provides some spectacular shows. Here’s one to share:

Posted under Beaches, Nature

Picture perfect paddle

Local Joe Moore paddles in from a glassy evening on the Gulf of Mexico Nov. 2. This incredible photo was taken by Brandan Babineaux, www.brandanbabineaux.com.

Posted under Beaches, Nature, paddle/surf/boat

A weekend of events include dinners, wine tastings and festival

Seaside is “seeing red” … again.  The coastal holiday town, located on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, will host the 19th annual Seeing Red Wine Festival Nov. 5-8, 2009 throughout the community.  The four-day festival, which is a part of the Autumn Tides series of events, will include special vintner dinners, al fresco wine tastings, a sparkling wine brunch, live music and a wine retail sales tent.
Read More…

Posted under Beaches

Beach wheelchairs will continue to be available for those in need

Sunday, September 27, 2009 was the last day for the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) Lifeguards supervising the beaches of South Walton for the 2009 season.

As the sun lowered on the horizon, lifeguards, with the assistance of firefighters, began the arduous task of removing the eight lifeguard towers from the beach. Lifeguard towers, wooden and aluminum symbols representing a safe and secure place to enjoy the surf and sand, are heading for post- season maintenance and storage.

Lifeguards have been supervising the beaches from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily since March. Read More…

Posted under Beaches