The communities along the upper Gulf Coast in South Walton County, Florida, are a unique family borne of the pairing of County Highway 30A and the upper Gulf of Mexico shoreline of beaches, dune lakes, and natural forests, each with its distinct personality.

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Planned communities, for the most part, these small towns combine sophisticated upscale vacation homes, condos, and hotels; gourmet restaurants; impressive art galleries and outdoor art shows; independent bookstores; little theater; upbeat beach music; deluxe golf courses and tennis courts; and creative shops.

These destinations are for visitors who like an experience without the gaudy and loud, crammed entertainment along the streets of Panama City Beach, Fort Walton, and Destin, with instead the cultured offerings and brilliant white sand beaches.

 

They’re a more expensive vacation than other destinations along the upper Gulf Coast, but they’re a delight for those who can afford to stay in their accommodations or want a pleasant day trip from their rooms in the more crowded garish destinations along U.S. Highway 98. 

 

What’s great about the communities along Highway 30A is that they are so close together, their shops and restaurants and beaches are easily visited as a day trip from Destin or Fort Walton, or as a destination on their own.  Check out the individual listings for each community for recommended places to eat.

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These communities sit between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach on Highway 30A, which hugs the shoreline along the Gulf Coast. Highway 30A also has its own internet radio station, which plays upbeat beach music. You can access it on the 30A website. 

 

Fun fact: famed Gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson got his start in newspapers at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach. He was the Command Courier’s sports editor and he moonlighted as the sportswriter for The Playground News (now the Northwest Florida Daily News). He remembered it somewhat with pleasure: “It was a wonderful gig, in retrospect, and at times I which I could go back to it – just punch a big hatpin through my frontal lobes and maybe regain that happy lost innocence that enabled me to write.”

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Seaside

The first of these was Seaside, made of a now-famous architectural design of homes and commercial buildings set among shady trees, a green central park, and sidewalks and paths that make for a community spread along both sides of Highway 30A. The original houses were small cottages, required by legal covenants to have tin roofs, screened in porches, and white picket fences in front of their small yards. It was the brainchild of the romantic Robert Davis, grandson of the founder of the famed Pitztiz Department Store in Birmingham, Alabama. He held an MBA from Harvard and was an urban planner who wanted to recreate the small towns of old coastal Florida that he remembered from his childhood.

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On land inherited from his grandfather, Davis created the unincorporated town of Seaside, intending to create a town of cottages and bungalows owned by permanent residents who wanted a slow beach life. It was idyllic; so romantic, it was the site where “The Truman Show” was filmed when the filmmakers needed an ideal small town in which to set their story.

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Seaside has a wonderful independent bookstore, Sun Dog Books; a general store, Modica Market, where you can buy necessities and gourmet foods; and Great Southern Cafe. Around the square are dress shops and gift shops as well as a wine bar, a record shop, and a bakery.  Across the highway is a collection of little shops, Bud & Alley’s restaurant, Pickle’s Beachside Restaurant, and The Shrimp Shack. On the square are a few food trucks to feed the many visitors, though the food that’s sold is more upscale than you’d find on a food truck in, say, Mobile, Alabama. Check all the merchants in Seaside by going to their merchant directory on their community page.

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But the fame of Seaside’s architecture and planned community brought national and international attention – and tourists. The cottages and bungalows were rented to vacationers by absent investors and other investors built bigger, more impressive rental homes around the square. It also brought a bevy of imitators. And so was born the string of communities along Highway 30A.

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Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach sits at the eastern most point of Highway 30A, just outside Panama City Beach.  It is an unincorporated community made up of small Old Florida cottages, bordered by 13 acres of protected dunes near Camp Helen State Park and the largest coastal dune lake, Lake Powell. There is the noted burger restaurant, 30A Burger, 12805 U.S. Highway 98, Suite E101, serving great hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, and custard shakes, local beers, and wine. Open for lunch and dinner, and you can bring your furry friend because they’re pet friendly in their outdoor seating.

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​Rosemary Beach

Just up the highway from Inlet Beach, going west, is Rosemary Beach, a planned community that has the feel of a old European village. There are four swimming pools and an open park leading up to the beach.

The northern part of the town square is residential; the southern part has shops and galleries.

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One is Curate: A Collaboration with Vinings Gallery, 72 Main Street. Vinings Gallery was established in Atlanta by Gary Handler and features nationally recognized artists. The shop in Rosemary Beach is a collaboration that brings some of the works of those same artists to the Gulf Coast.

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You’ll also find The Hidden Lantern Bookstore and Gallery, 84 North Barrett Square; and a collection of clothing, interior, house style, and other unique boutiques and shops.  For dining you’ll find Havana Beach inside the Pearl Hotel at 63 Main Street, Cowgirl Kitchen at 54 Main Street, Amavida Coffee and Tea at 104 North Barret Square, Edward’s Fine Food and Wine at 66 Main Street, La Crema Tapas & Chocolate at 38 Main Street, Restaurant Paradis at 82 South Barrett Square, The Summer Kitchen Café at 78 South Barrett Square, The Daughters Kitchen at 46 North Barrett Square that is part of Five Daughters Bakery, Pescado Seafood Grill at 74 Town Hall Road, and The Sugar Shak at 5 Main Street. You can also pick up wine, cheese, and other edibles at Wild Olives, 104 North Barrett Square.

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Seacrest Beach

A few miles west of Rosemary Beach is Seacrest, where the preferred means of transportation is the bicycle. If you don’t have one, you can rent two wheels at Peddlers 30A Bikes, 10343 East County Highway 30A.  Camp Creek Lake, a coastal dune lake, is nearby. Modern art is available at Color Field Gallery, established by Panama City artist Al Morris.  Peddlers Pavilion with a huge fountain out front offers bicycle rentals, snow cones, and boutiques.

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Alys Beach, Prominence, & WaterSound

Alys Beach, six miles east of Seaside near Seacrest and Rosemary Beach, has the ambiance of Bermuda, with every structure from condos and houses to commercial buildings being a brilliant white stucco. Stone-paved streets all lead to the town or the beach. The residential area circles around courtyards and the city green offers a grassy square.

 

The town has been designed by Duany Plater Zyberk and Company to follow New Urbanism’s demand to combat sprawl and build sustainable, walkable, human-scale towns. Opening in 2020 will be the Private Owners’ Beach Club, constructed on the beach side of Highway 30A. In 2019 two commercial and residential structures, The Camden and The Whitney, opened on the town square. The residential units will be completed by summer 2020.

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Towering palms embrace Highway 30A as it flows through the town. Outdoor art and pottery by Phid Lawless of Maine grace the walkways. The town has a bike shop; Neat, a high-end specialty bottle shop selling spirits and wine; Caliza, serving gourmet American cuisine in a poolside retreat; Piper’s Kitchen, serving specialty tacos and housemade agua frescas; disposable fashion and home décor at Alys Shoppe; fresh donuts from Charlie’s Donuts Truck; George’s, an upscale, causal cottage restaurant offering organic foods and traditional fried seafood (open for lunch and dinner); Raw and Juicy, and Ann Hartley who showcases jewelry and other wares from her worldwide travels.

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Ayls Beach has an annual wine festival in late February or early November, and in May has a unique Digital Graffiti art festival. The town’s digital magazine is Alys Gazette.

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Prominence and Watersound are beach communities along Highway 30A where you can rent condos and townhouses.

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Seagrove Beach

Seagrove is a two-mile-long beach community with upscale housing, boutiques, and casual cafes. It is near Deer Lake State Park and Eastern Lake, a coastal dune lake. Cafes at Seagrove are Cowgirl Kitchen Market (American cuisine of mostly sandwiches, serves breakfast and lunch); The Perfect Pig Grill and Fish House (gourmet Southern food with a twist, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner); Surfing Deer, serving craft cocktails and gourmet cuisine (dinner only); and Café Thirty-A, open only for dinner, serving amazing food such as lobster and truffle mac and cheese or langoustine ceviche.

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WaterColor

WaterColor, just a few miles west of Seaside, is anchored by the WaterColor Inn and Resort. Restaurants include Fish Out of Water, located at the Inn and serving local fish with Southern flavors (attire must be a step up from causal beach wear); and The Wine Bar, a charming French bistro. The BoatHouse rents water sport equipment.  Or you can shop at the Blue Giraffe boutique.

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Grayton Beach

Grayton Beach has been enticing visitors so long that it offers rental “old beach cottages.” Indeed, Grayton Beach is the site of the famous Wash-A-Way Hotel (formerly known as the Grayton Hotel), built in the 1880s for Major Charles T. Gray, founder of Grayton Beach, as his residence. He later turned it into a hotel for fishing tourism. It got its name because a 1926 hurricane almost wiped it out. Now, it is again a private residence and the oldest building still standing in the town.

 

Today, Grayton Beach structures are less likely to wash away. It’s a laid-back, narrow streets town that has one of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches at the nearby Grayton Beach State Park, where there is a magnificent underwater art gallery that you can see only by snorkeling or scuba diving.  Upscale shopping is available at Andy Saczynski Studio Gallery for art, Beau Interiors for furniture, and The Studio Gallery for art.

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Grayton Beach is a noted artists community, so there are several art galleries.  Clothing can be purchased at Gypsea, He Said…She Said, and Islanders. Catch a bite at Grayton Corner Café, or Grayton Beer Brewpub or Grayton Seafood Co. Complete meals also can be enjoyed at Goatfeathers for fresh seafood, Chanticleer Bakery & Eatery, Café Hibiscus (breakfast only), Borago for Italian, or AJ’s Grayton Beach.

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Blue Mountain Beach, Gulf Place, and Dune Allen

These are neighborhoods where you can rent condos or houses, but they also have restaurants and shops. Blue Mountain Beach got its name from sailors who were impressed with its high dunes and its Blue Lupine vegetation. It has an ice cream shop, a natural foods store, bike rentals, and restaurants.

 

Here you’ll find Basmati’s Asian Cuisine, Blue Mable Smokehouse and Provisions for barbecue, Blue Mountain Beach Creamery for ice cream yogurt, For the Health of It serving deli and steaks, Johnny McTighe’s Irish Pub for pub fare, La Loba’s Bakery for baked goods and cakes, Local Catch Bar & Grill for bar food and fish, Red’s Fueling Station Bar and Restaurant for bar food, libations, and live music, Trebeaché for seafood and steaks. Shops include Déjà Vu for beach clothing.

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Gulf Place is a 25-acre community with palm tree-lined streets, park benches, walking trails, and green spaces. It offers original art, boutique shopping, local cuisine, live music, and a place to relax. Dining includes Deep South Market for sandwiches and salads; Yum Pizza by the Sea; La Playa for Caribbean flavors and live music; and Sunrise Coffee Co. for hot coffee, cold ice cream, baked goods, and sandwiches. Shopping includes Affinity Fun Shoppe and Boutique for women’s clothing, jewelry, and art;  Coastal Paradise for beach needs; 30A Store for 30A-branded items; Jewel Toffier Clothing for women’s clothing and jewelry; and Soho Beach for contemporary women’s clothing.

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Dune Allen Beach is bordered by coastal dune lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a neighborhood with Topsail Hill Preserve State Preserve park for amazing natural trails and dune lakes. Fishing is a cottage industry here. For a bite to eat, there’s Stinky’s Fish Camp serving great food with a New Orleans flair.

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Where to Stay

There are several websites that will put you in touch with rentals. One is Discover 30A. Another is Rent30A. You can also check out Destin Vacation for recommended best places to stay on 30A.

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Getting There

If driving by car, you can access County Highway 30 from U.S. Highway 98 at either Fort Walton, Panama City, or Destin. From Highway 98, you can take County Road 393 at Santa Rosa Beach, County Road 83, County Road 283, or County Road 395.

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For air travelers, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport serves the area from Panama City Beach.