Perhaps you would like to treat yourself to a day of complete relaxation. No problem – the InnSpa offers massage treatments, body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, and wax treatments. You’ll be pampered from head to toe.  After all that relaxation you might wish to get moving and head to the Watercolor Boathouse to rent a kayak or take lessons to learn how to handle a YOLO board around Western Lake. There’s also a swimming pool on site and a bike barn for those who like to exercise on land.

Shopping is always a part of any getaway. Browse the unique shops of Watercolor Town Center to engage in your personal retail therapy. You’ll be delighted to find shops offering fine art, toys, apparel, fine furniture and a Lily Pulitzer retail store. Stop for a rest at Wine World

Flower Garden at Watercolor

and listen to the cascading water fountain as you sip a glass of wine and enjoy lunch al fresco.

Every Saturday night is special for families because Watercolor hosts Bonfire on the Beach. Enjoy the beach, the fire and s’mores as you watch the sun set over the Gulf. You might even find yourself singing to the live music! Kids will enjoy Camp Watercolor, which offers a variety of experiences both on and off the beach. They’ll love learning about wildlife, creating works of art and swimming in the camp pool for kids.

Be sure to dine at Fish Out of Water and enjoy fantastic food while admiring the view of the Gulf of Mexico. The restaurant has earned  an AAA Four Diamond rating and is not to be missed.

Rosemary Beach has a French Quarter feel in its Town Center’s shopping and dining area. The entire town is connected by boardwalks and secret pathways that wind between carriage houses and cottages. Here, you will spend your time relaxing at the beach or pools, resting on the porch, browsing through boutiques and galeries, or dining al fresco. The West Indies Market is held for two days, May 12 -13 on Long Green. Enjoy shopping at the outdoor stalls filled with pottery, paintings, Stained glass, jewelry and wood carvings. Each April and November, Rosemary Beach plays host to a Bocce Ball Tournament on the lush, green lawns. You’ll often see people tossing the ball all year long and might want to give it a try yourself! Stop by the Summer Kitchen Cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner – or simply for a glass of wine. There is always something to di in Rosemary Beach!

Seacrest Beach is a tranquil setting for a quiet beach vacation. A mix of classic Florida beach homes and new vacation homes, Seacrest Beach is primarily a residential community and is very natural. The main forms of recreation here are fishing, kayaking, beachgoing, swimming and golfing. Camp Creek Lake provides a venue for hiking and birding.

Kids love the interactive water fountain at the Village of South Walton. The splashing water is refreshing to run through or just to watch.

The Pool At Seacrest Beach

At night, the water blends with lights and music and is truly magical.  be sure to visit Consign Mint Boutique to shop for one of a kind fashion pieces and home furnishings. The store also offers staging and design services to help you decorate your home.

Camp Creek Golf Club is a Tom Fazio – designed champion course with water features. Give it a shot! If you have a desire for excellent Mexican food with a coastal flair, be sure to try La Cocina Mexican Grill. One owner is from Texas and the other is from the Gulf Coast, so you know it just has to be good!

Seaside, Florida

Seagrove Beach is a taste of old Florida with lots of new updates. One of South Walton’s coastal dune lakes, Eastern Lake, is a great place for kayaking and YOLO boarding. The Eastern Lake Trail was the first trail to be established in Point Washington State Forest and passes through wetlands and crosses over to Peach Tree Creek.

A well known restaurant that wll remind you of old Florida is Old Florida Fish House. A place for casual dining, they serve seafood, steaks and excellent sushi. Sip a drink in the bar and listen to the Fish House Band.

30A Junk and Art always catches my eye when I drive on 30A in Seagrove. This colorful shop is filed with found objects, whimsical art painted on recycled materials, vintage clothing and crafted jewelry. Be sure to stop in at the Seagrove Village Market Cafe for deep fried shrimp, oysters, and fish or one of their famous grouper sandwiches. If you want to go a little more upscale, enjoy an evening at V Seagrove on the corner of 395 and 30A. They offer indoor and outdoor dining and focus on seafood and local produce.

Seaside is the place to be for a lot of activity – because it has so much to offer Seaside offers small town living and urban appeal. Seaside was America’s standard for New Urbanism and continues to thrive in its idyllic beach setting.  Bud & Alley’s is the place to enjoy a drink and have an excellent dinner while  you watch the sunset.

The tiny Seaside Post Office is a well known and loved landmark in town. Its right in the middle of the Airstream cafes where people gather for lunch and snacks. The outdoor ampitheater is the site for events, concerts and the Saturday Farmers Market. Kids and adults will enjoy Fired Up where you may choose from over 500 pottery pieces and paint them to make them your own creations. and, be sure to visit the beautiful shops on Ruskin Place or just sit on one of their many benches and take in the artistic atmosphere.

Two lovely towns with much to see and do. Don’t miss them!

Alys Beach Boardwalk Trail

. Not many visitors or locals are aware of a secret trail to explore off of scenic30A.The trail winds through 22 acres of preserved wetlands within the Alys Beach community. This 3/4 mile trail takes you on a pleasant passage into nature.

Christian Wagley, the environmental coordinator at Alys Beach sought what avid explorers would appreciate when he designed the elevated trail, and planned it along areas giving the largest overview. Along the trail you will see pitcher plants, titi trees, cypress domes, flowering shrubs and wildflowers. Interpretive displays along the path educate visitors about the plants and wildlife that live in the area.

As you walk the trail you will peek into different ecosystems as you pass through a wetland area, then, as you exit the boardwalk onto the sandy path, the vegetation becomes dryer. Here, you will notice reindeer moss, woody goldenrod, and scrub rosemary become more prevalent.

This boardwalk trail may be the longest in Walton County. It gives visitors a true sense of Northwest Florida’s natural diversity – all within steps of the Gulf of Mexico. The trailhead is located at the north end of Alys Beach at the end of Charles Street. It is open to the public 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset.At various times of the year, Snookie Parrish gives educational tours of the trail.

The Coastal Branch Library will host a public forum on the geology of the Chocawhatchee River basin on May 23 at 7 P.M. The public is invited and the library is located at 437 Greenway Trail in Santa Rosa Beach.

Learn about spiders at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on May 26 at 2 P.M. Park at the Day -Use parking area and walk to the clubhouse for the presentation.

Get ready for the 12th Annual Choctawhatchee Bay Old Nick’s Speckle Trout Shootout from May 26 to June 3. You must pay your entry fee at Nick’s Seafood Restaurant in Blue Mountain Beach.

June Summer Horse Camp will be offered in Santa Rosa Beach in two sessions, June 12 -15 and June 19 -22. Students will learn horsemanship, how to tack, mount,post and trot with safety.

The 17th Rags to Riches Regatta is set for Saturday, July 1. Participants will race their Hobie 16s from Grayton Beach to the turn around point and back to Grayton Beach

The Beaches of 30A

, behind the Red Bar.

Be sure to keep evenings open for some fun! Seaside is hosting outdoor cinema for the family each Friday night in June. They will have outdoor concerts each Wednesday evening as well.

Rosemary Beach is hosting outdoor movies for the whole family each Thursday night in June. Bring a blanket and enjoy! 

Rosemary Beach’s architecture will capture your attention and pique your interest. The homes and commercial buildings are built in a Dutch and West Indies style. Colors are those found in the area’s natural surroundings in shades of rust, tan, green and brown. Homes sport Bermuda shutters, wide second floor porches and arched garage doors. Footpaths and boardwalks lead to large decks over the dunes and to the beach.

The town was established in 1995 and was named after the dune rosemary, which grows in abundance here. Rosemary Beach continues to grow, adding homes as well as new places to dine and shop in the town center. Some of the places in town center that are well known are La Crema, a wine and tapas bar, Restaurant Paradis, Summer Kitchen Cafe, Cowgirl Kitchen

Rosemary Beach

, and Amavida Coffee. One of my favorite shops is Patchoulis which sells the most amazing bath products and perfumes and always invites me in with its lovely fragrance.

The town is a new urban community, so you are able to walk to town center, to the beach, or to a friend’s home. As you walk you’ll be captivated by the greenery and the plantings and the “secret” passageways that are everywhere. Rosemary Beach is perfect for family relaxation, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico,spending time at the pools, strolling, or resting on the balcony with a cool drink as you watch the world go by. You will love the idyllic lifestyle and the beauty that is Rosemary Beach!

Watersound is a town that has been carefully planned to enable residents the opportunity to enjoy its unique geography and climate along  the stunning coastline that is a part of the community. Trails and pedestrian bridges link the neighborhoods and link residents to the amenities and the beach. These walkways protect delicate dunes, wetlands and conservation areas.

One of the best parts of Watersound is the Watersound Beach Club, overlooking the dunes on the Gulf of Mexico. Here is the 7,000 square foot zero entry pool that mirrors the shapes of the dune lakes that can be found along 30A. The club has a restaurant, a demonstration kitchen, indoor and outdoor terrace dining, an open air full service bar and shaded arbors. The beach is on the other side of the club and is a short walk on the boardwalk away.

Just west of Watersound Beach is Watersound Beach West, which keeps the same architectural spirit as Watersound Beach. The shingle style homes have a maritime influence with deep porches and elegant craftsmanship. This neighborhood also has winding trails and boardwalks and green parks.

So close to Seacrest Beach and to Rosemary Beach, this is the place to be if you really wish to relax, yet be close to wonderful restaurants and shops when the mood strikes. Chances are, you’ll never want to leave Watersound once you experience the serenity and beauty that envelop you.

The Beaches of 30A

There are a lot of events that are coming soon on 30A and around the county. Some of them are informative, some are educational, and some are just plain old fun! Here are a few of these events, so take your pick and attend a few:

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will be hosting a presentation about sharks on May 11 at 2P.M. Meet at the Day-Use parking area on 30A and hike to the clubhouse to take part in this learning experience

Have breakfast with a ranger on May 12 at 9A.M. at Topsail. Bring $4 to cover the cost of the food, which goes to the Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, or bring your own breakfast.

The E.O.Wilson Center is open every Saturday from 10A.M. until 3P.M. On May 12 there will be a presentation about sea turtles and on May 19 there will be a presentation about Florida Black Bears.

Each Saturday the Seaside Farmer’s Market is open from 9A.M. until 1P.M. Shop for locally grown produce, eggs, honey, cheeses, milk, organic chickens, jewelry, soaps and more.

ArtsQuest is coming to Seaside on May 11-13 and will feature fine arts and crafts, live music, public atr projects and activities for kids.

The Grayton Beach Kids Fishing Tournament is happening on May 12 from 8A.M. until noon. You can register on the day of the tournament on the back porch of the Red Bar.

Topsail is hosting a presentation about alligators on May 18 at 2P.M.

The Sandestin Bicycle Tour is going to be held on Mat 18-20. Join the cyclists for an opportunity to soak in a bike ride along pristine, white beaches. There will be a rest stop in Seaside.

Nick’s redfish Round – up fishing tournament will be held on May 19 with a pay out of $5,000 to the top 3 places.

There are many more events coming up this summer here on 30A, which I’ll be sure to tell you about. Meanwhile, choose a couple of events from the ones I mentioned and have a great time!

This morning I decided to treat myself and stopped at Modica Market in Seaside for a capuccino  I took my drink and walked to Ruskin Place to sit and enjoy the serenity. Ruskin is special because of its design, which reminds me of Paris. On the lower level of the attached townhomes are shops – beautiful, small shops filled with art, jewelry, home accessories, one of a kind fashions and galleries. Shop owners live above the shops and have formed an artist colony called The Shops at Ruskin. Each shop owner has the most glorious plantings and cozy areas in the tiny spaces outside the shops which open onto the green allez that runs the length of Ruskin. The allez is lined with tall, twisting trees that provide intimacy and shade. Benches are provided and they invite one to sit and stay awhile, which is exactly what I did this morning.

On my way back to the car I met a couple from Orlando who were amazed by all that 30A has to offer. They had been to Rosemary Beach

The Shops at Ruskin

and, of course, loved it. As they stood and admired the majesty of Ruskin, they said that they felt as though they were in another world. They had no idea that 30A would be as wonderful as it is and were looking forward to further explorations in the area. I know they will have a wonderful time!

Each day I appreciate the fact that I live surounded by an abundance of beauty and people who are careful to preserve the beauty that nature has given us. This is ‘Living Life on 30A” at its best!

It’s here that you’ll find Justin Gaffrey Art Studio and Sowal’s oldest health food store, For the Health of It. There are some great restaurants here, as well. Johnny McTighes Irish Pub is popular with the locals and Marie’s Bistro is just a couple doors down from it. Local Catch is a short distance west  on 30A and so is Basmati’s Restaurant, which offers food with an Asian twist. Cafe Tango

Blue Mountain Beach

is an intimate dining spot with amazing food and a wonderful atmosphere. Back in the center of Blue Mountain Beach is Blue Mountain Creamery with homemade ice cream. Not surprisingly, this place always has lots of customers when the weather becomes hot! It’s the perfect place to stop for a sweet treat on your way back from the beach.. Sally’s By The Sea Store is a good place to go for burgers and fried chicken. They smoke slabs of ribs every Friday night and they smell delicious! Sally’s Back Side offers after hours food and entertainment. Acr

A few blocks from the public beach access on Highway 83 is a trail entrance into Point Washington State Forest. Walk the trail and you’ll see Cypress swamps, fields of wildflowers and stands of Longleaf Pine. Blue Mountain Beach hosts three coastal dune lakes – Draper Lake, Little Redfish Lake and Big redfish Lake. All three lakes are good places to go if you’re looking for nice places to fish or go kayaking.

Sleepy? Yes, but there really is much to do and see in Blue Mountain Beach!