Many guests happily reside at one of our wonderful distinctive vacation rentals on Scenic 30A. This is not surprising, because this lovely setting and the enchanting coastal villages along the way are located beside some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. In fact, they have been awarded Blue Wave beach status, which is the nation’s highest acclaim of excellence for natural beauty and pristine conditions. What some may not know is that there are an abundance of places off the shore to experience the great outdoors during their stay. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Parks
Three amazing state parks parallel the coast along 30A. They include the Topsail Hill Preserve with towering dunes, award-winning
Grayton Beach, and forested Deer Lake.
The Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a massive 1,643 acre heavily forested property bordered by Highway 98, Scenic 30A, and the shimmering bright beach. Miles of natural dunes soar twenty-five feet tall beside the sugary shoreline. This lovely remote location makes you feel like you have the whole place to yourself. Enjoy heavenly walks along the beach, watching distant dolphin play, and joining them for a swim. Interior pathways lead to a couple of sizeable coastal dune lakes that are available to enjoy fishing. Such bodies of water are a rare treasure, and other than here, they are found hardly anywhere else in the entire world. Their exotic blend of salted fresh artisan waters provides a natural habitat for an abundance of fish and wildlife.
Grayton Beach State Park is particularly lovely, where Scenic 30A crosses a narrow isthmus on Western Lake, which borders the forest and the crystalline beach. It sits beside aptly named
WaterColor since the lake provides spectacular sunsets from autumn till early spring that are reflected in the mirror-like waters. The rolling white dunes and the glowing jewel-toned gulf on the beachside of Western Lake is a glimpse of heaven. Grayton Beach State Park was named in Forbes magazine as one of the most beautiful in the nation last year. Couples and families can be seen here enjoying nature or fishing aboard their kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
Deer Lake State Park near
Seacrest Beach features a raised nature trail that meanders through this natural forested setting across cola toned creeks over to the dunes at the beautiful beach. You may spot deer beside the lake nibbling sea oats on the dunes at twilight, watch Great Blue Herons and Snowy White Egrets harvesting fish or view the wildflowers that flourish here. The raised walkway is easily accessible and places you in the midst of natural beauty.
A paved bike trail meanders 18 miles down Scenic 30A, allowing you to enjoy traveling right past these precious coastal dune lakes and parks, perhaps with nature stops along the way. It runs from
Dune Allen all the way to Rosemary Beach.
The Festivals
Gulf Place at
Santa Rosa Beach, iconic Seaside, the enchanting village of Rosemary Beach, lovely Watercolor, and white bright Alys Beach all feature fun festivals during different times of the year.
Gulf Place serves as the Santa Rosa Beach village center, which sits high upon a sugary dune at the Ed Walline beach access. It features a large grassy amphitheater landscaped with tropical palms where it hosts outdoor concerts, various weekend art shows, a Third Thursday Wine Walk spring through fall, and other special events. Restaurants, bistros, galleries, and fashion boutiques nicely complement this setting. Seaside has international fame for its idyllic Americana coastal village design and is also centered on an amphitheater lined with towering Royal Palms. It helps play host to the annual 30A Songwriters Festival in February along with other villages, has a 5K Marathon in March, art shows in May, a Farmer’s Market on weekends during the summer, a wonderful Independence Day celebration with festive fireworks and lively patriotic music by the Northwest Florida Symphony, the Seeing Red Wine Festival in November and firework celebrations on New Year’s Eve.
Rosemary Beach also has special fireworks on Independence Day with fun old fashioned family fare on its grassy village lawn, including sack races, egg tosses, children’s games, musical entertainment, and adult beverages. The Rosemary Uncorked Wine Festival and a 10K Run are held in November. Fireworks are shot off on New Year’s Eve.
Alys Beach hosts a wine festival beside its gorgeous Caliza Pool in February and is host to an internationally acclaimed Digital Graffiti show where computer artists from around the world display vivid, vibrant digital displays on the sides of its alabaster-white village walls.
Watercolor hosts a popular MountainAir Film on a national tour presentation at its Marina Park under the stars for two days in November. It features the latest adventure-packed and inspiring cultural films of the year curated from Telluride, Colorado.
Enjoy viewing our wonderful
30A vacation rental properties to pick your favorite near a festival of your choice on our user-friendly website.
