Culinary Traveler? Visit the Beaches of South Walton This Fall

America is a nation of foodies—cooking, eating, planning the next meal are all popular pastimes. And many Americans are making vacation decisions based on a destination’s food and wine offerings. Some travelers map out a daily itinerary based on a city’s cuisine others sign up for regional cooking classes to learn techniques and use ingredients indigenous to the region.

Dubbed “culinary travelers” and making up nearly 20 percent of leisure vacationers, these adventurers actively seek out food and wine activities wherever they go—and make a point of enjoying local cuisine and restaurants, according to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). Culinary travelers also have a strong interest in indulging in other aspects of the travel experience, including shopping, entertainment, art, spa services and festivals.

“Beaches of South Walton along Florida’s Panhandle is a favorite destination for culinary travelers—especially during Autumn Tides,” says Kriss Titus, executive director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council. “The Autumn Tides season enhances the culinary experience with comfortable temperatures, spectacular sunsets, seasonal ingredients, and, of course, the unforgettable events.”

Titus went on to say that the art, wine and cultural events that make up the annual Autumn Tides celebration, embrace the culinary treasures of the region. Beaches of South Walton is home to six of Florida Trend’s top 200 restaurants in the state. Chefs in Beaches of South Walton enjoy an unlimited supply of fresh seafood and seasonal and organic ingredients.

Food and wine festivals feature Southern delicacies, specialty wines, and fresh seafood. In Rosemary Beach for its fourth consecutive year, the Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour (Oct. 19-21) blends premium wines with Gulf Coast food and culture. From featured chefs to the feast created for the “Walkabout Brunch,” culinary delicacies are paired thoughtfully with fine wines from around the world.

Beaujolais Nouveau Holiday Kick Off (Nov. 16) celebrates an age-old French tradition. Couples enjoy culinary delights, exceptional Beaujolais wines, and live music all under a canopy of white lights at The Market Shops, Sandestin.

The Autumn Tides celebration kicks off Labor Day weekend and continues through December, and this year includes a number of signature events, including:

• The Autumn Playwright Festival (Oct. 17-27) is a two-week event celebrating the works of a famous playwright, including play productions, panel discussions, staged readings and ancillary events. This year’s event features Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing. Before or after the events, the Great Southern Cafe serves up fresh regional flair including Gulf shrimp, Apalachicola oysters and traditional Southern vegetables.
  
• Via Colori (Nov. 10-11) is an Italian street painting festival where visitors and residents create masterpieces out of colored chalk on the u-shaped street around Seaside’s Amphitheater. The family-friendly event benefits the Seaside Neighborhood School. After a day of fun in the sun, participants and spectators are rewarded with the award-winning restaurants in Seaside including Bud & Alley’s. The Roof Deck Bar invites patrons to guess the exact time of sunset for a chance to receive a drink on the house.
  
• Autumn Tides Month at Silver Sands. During October, visitors present $300 in same-day receipts at Shopper Services, and receive a limited edition “Autumn Tides” print by local artist, Donna Burgess. Ciao Bella Pizza serves authentic Italian pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, and salads, providing a delicious reprieve during a shopping spree.

 New events to this year’s schedule include:

• Enjoy the largest collection of art galleries on the coast at the 1st Friday Art Walk in Ruskin Park (Sept. 7, Oct. 5 and Nov. 2) featuring a tour of the galleries, live music, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wine, while participants stroll the park under the illuminated oak trees. Café Rendezvous adds to the celebration with fine wines and succulent sushi and crepes.
  
• Vettes at the Village rolls into The Village of Baytowne Wharf on Oct. 27 for one of the largest gatherings of Corvettes in the southeastern United States, drawing thousands of enthusiasts – and more than 200 Vettes – to the Emerald Coast.
  
• The Philharmonic of Northwest Florida, under the direction of Dr. David Ott, continues its 2007/08 season with Orchestral Showcases (Nov. 9) featuring Bizet's exhilarating Carmen Suite, Roman Carnival Overture, by Berlioz, Copland's beloved Hoe Down, from Rodeo, and Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky.
  

Environmental events honor the area’s sugar-white sand, pristine sand dunes, and scenic nature trails. The annual Back to Nature Festival (Oct. 19-21) showcases the area’s exquisite landscape and rich history with two days of activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, area tours, nature walks and boat tours. Screened under the stars in the WaterColor amphitheater, Telluride's MOUNTAINFILM on Tour (Nov. 2-3) features the best selections from America's premier festival of adventure, cultural, and environmental film and video.

Family-friendly events entertain the “kid” in all of us. More than 100 arts and crafts booths, butterfly costume parades and more highlight the Flutterby Children’s Art Festival (Oct. 13-14).

A complete list of Autumn Tides events and activities is available online at www.beachesofsouthwalton.com. Visitors interested in booking travel to the region can learn more about accommodation options by visiting the site, or by calling 1-800-822-6877.

SOURCE Beaches of South Walton