Fantasy Land
photograph courtesy visit south walton
The Dolphin Reef is one of four artificial reefs created by the nonprofit South Walton Artificial Reef Foundation to provide havens for sea life and destinations for snorkelers. Other reefs are shaped like a seahorse, a sea turtle, and a cobia fish.
This isnât the Gulf Coast of your childhood. Sure, the pristine, white beaches and quiet, turquoise waters have always been there. But, for most of the twentieth century, Floridaâs major tourist destinations were concentrated in the southern part of the state. There, travelers flocked to the glitz of Miamiâs South Beach, the spring break mecca of Fort Lauderdale, the roar of racing-obsessed Daytona, and the history of Cape Canaveral and the Space Coast. Along the Panhandleâs Gulf Coast, there wasnât much between Panama City and Pensacola except seagulls and fishing boats.