Exploring South Walton with a Tween

I’m only 12, so I can’t exactly drive yet. But what I love the most about going to the beach is riding my bike through all the neighborhoods.

At home, we have to ask our parents to drive us, but in South Walton I can strap on my helmet and hit the trails. I love winding my way past all the colorful rental houses on the back streets, and the bike paths make it easy and safe to get around. With miles of paved pathways like the Timpoochee Trail, we can bike safely without disrupting the flow of traffic.

There are plenty of places for tweens to go in South Walton, but one of the most fun places for us to hang is The Big Chill. It has a little bit of everything, from smoothies and snacks to candy stores like Sugar Wave! There’s great live music, fun restaurants like Macho Taco, and all kinds of activities like kids’ yoga, family game nights, and DJ dance parties.

No matter what end of South Walton you’re staying on, there are so many great sweet treats to sample. On the west end, Blue Mountain Beach Creamery has totally delicious homemade flavors and lots of outdoor fun for teens. I love to stop by to cool off after a day at the beach. Check out their Shake Shop out back!

Another one of my favorite places to hang out is the bookstore. Whether I’m looking for my assigned summer reading or flipping through new releases in the YA section, Sundog Books has the best selection and coolest vibes. I especially love the fact that Central Square Records is right upstairs, and they have everything from Taylor Swift records to cute pins for my backpack. My dad even tags along sometimes – they have all kinds of vintage stuff on vinyl, and he likes to brag about how he saw these bands in concert back in the day.

The shopping is great, but my real favorite thing to do is hang outside. One of my happy places is Eden Gardens State Park. There’s a beautiful old mansion, and I love to sit and read under the big live oaks. I think one is around 600 years old!

All the room for independence really works out for our family. I get to discover so much on my own, and Mom and Dad get to enjoy freedom too. It’s also a big responsibility for me and other beach tweens. I love the neighborhoods, the beach, and exploring everything, so it’s important to respect it all, from people to nature. That means picking up after ourselves, keeping the noise down after dark, and being thoughtful in general. 

All it takes is a little respect and courtesy to keep South Walton fun and beautiful, and make sure it stays one of the best vacation spots for teens and families!