A stay at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in South Walton is the stuff that dreams are made of:  sweeping views of the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, delectable dining, year-round heated pools, and beach service on the sand. Add sunny Florida skies to the equation, and you’ve got the perfect beach getaway.

A Dreamy Florida Gulf Coast Getaway

For years, I’ve heard tales of the sugary white sand that blankets beaches along Florida’s northwest coastline. Several friends in my home state of Texas frequently vacation there. And they always return saying it is worth the 11-hour drive from Austin just to dig their toes into the powdery soft sand and to wade in the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

I struggled with some serious Florida beach envy. I yearned to experience this magical sand for myself. Then I was invited to stay at the Hilton Sandestin for South Walton Fashion Week last fall. What luck! I packed my bags and headed off to enjoy some cake by the ocean.

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

When I arrived at the Hilton Sandestin, all I wanted to do was to park myself under a Hilton umbrella at Miramar Beach and bask in my front row view of the exquisite quartz crystal coastline. Imagine whiling away peaceful hours on a private beach. Does life get any better?

Well, actually, it does. At Hilton Sandestin, I could order lunch online and have it delivered right to my beach chair from the Sand Bar.

Dining at Hilton Sandestin

From delicious breakfast buffets at Sandcastles, to poolside ice cream from Picnix, to Happy Hour bites at Hadashi Sushi Bar, to a casual meal at the outdoor Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill, I savored every bite at Hilton Sandestin. My absolute favorite meal was a three-hour fine dining experience at Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood. Chef Dan Vargo crafts mouthwatering culinary delights such as Crab Napoleon and Steak Diane, which can be paired with your choice of more than 400 labels of wine. If you dine at Seagar’s, be sure to wear your stretchy pants. You won’t want to miss out on dessert just because you stuffed yourself with divine salads and mouthwatering appetizers.

Hilton Sandestin Spa

Since I was kid-free on this trip, I indulged in an AromaStone Massage at the recently renovated Serenity by the Sea spa. I followed that up with an afternoon of soaking in the jacuzzi and luxuriating under a scented shower head. Have you noticed that while I went to Florida on a fashionable mission, I quickly got distracted by delicious food, spa treatments, and general laziness? Well, you’re right. Hilton Sandestin is full of wonderful distractions. I recommend them all.

Family Fun at the Hilton Sandestin

If you do bring little people along to Hilton Sandestin, they will love it too. Kids can go for a swim in one of the resort’s three heated pools, or step down to the private beach to enjoy water sports. Day and nighttime children’s programs are also available through Kids Krew.  These could include anything from stilt-walkers and snow cones on the beach to a movie in the resort’s movie theater. Hilton Sandestin also offers 400 Deluxe Junior Suites with bunk beds, which are perfect for families.

Miramar Beach

Hilton Sandestin is the largest beachfront property in the area, located right on Miramar Beach. And guess what? Everything you’ve heard about the Gulf Coast’s fine sand is true. Consisting of nearly pure quartz crystal, the sand on Miramar Beach is so soft I wanted to scoop it up by the handful, just to let it sift through my fingers. Sadly, guests are not allowed to bottle the sand up and take it home, although it surely is tempting.

I followed the rules and didn’t steal the beach. Instead, I settled for painting it with pastels, alongside Melody Bogle, the 2016 South Walton Artist of the Year. My masterpiece now lives in my home office, and I stare at it daily. I’m trying to wish myself back to Miramar Beach.

South Walton, Florida

South Walton is made up of 16 beach neighborhoods, dotted along 26 miles of exquisite beaches. The scenic 30A highway transports visitors from one eclectic neighborhood to the next. From Miramar Beach – home of Hilton Sandestin – all the way down to Inlet Beach, there is something for everyone. This includes 60 artist galleries, 200 restaurants, 300 places to shop,18.9 miles of of bike path along 30A, fishing, birding, water sports, and more. South Walton is also home to many annual events, which draw attention from all over the country.

Fashion Forward Florida

A celebration of local, regional and national designers, South Walton Fashion Week (SWFW) features runway shows, trunk shows and glamorous parties at various venues throughout South Walton. At the 2016 event, aspiring model and emerging designer competitions featured celebrity judges including Becca Tilley (“The Bachelor”), and the headliner, designer Christian Siriano (“Project Runway”). SWFW had all of the appeal of a larger-scale international fashion week, in a much more intimate, palm-tree laden setting. 

Book a Beach Trip to Sunny South Walton Today

South Walton may just be Florida’s best kept secret. With its beautiful sunny skies, stunning waters, sandy white beaches, fine dining options, amazing experiences, and world-class events, it’s hard to imagine a nicer place to vacation. Whether you want to relax on the beach, or to enjoy exploring a wide array of unique activities, Hilton Sandestin is just the home base you need for your next Northwest Florida Gulf Coast getaway!

To read more about Hilton Sandestin, check out Hilton Sandestin Resort Review – a Piece of Paradise and Sandestin: The Gem of the Emerald Coast.