Seagrove Beach

Families have been making the pilgrimage to Seagrove Beach’s soothing shores since the 1940s, and the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of those early pioneers still return to relax in some of the very same cinder-block cottages of their youth. That could be because, when you’re in Seagrove Beach, you’re arguably “in the middle of it all.” Seaside, WaterColor and Grayton are just a mile or two to the west, while the newer planned communities of WaterSound, Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach are just a few miles east.

Not that you need to go anywhere, of course, as Seagrove is home to a wonderfully diverse assortment of restaurants, shops and other local businesses, all of which just a short stroll or bike ride away. Most homes in Seagrove are either tucked away beneath stately oak trees or overlook the Gulf of Mexico.

Seagrove Village Market Cafe is a true South Walton institution, serving “Deep Fried Love” since 1949. Over the decades, this ultra-casual café and convenience store has been featured in Travel & Leisure, Southern Living, Coastal Living and countless other publications. In fact, Seagrove Village Market Café’s Grouper Sandwich was once named one of the “100 Things You Must Eat Before You Die” by Garden & Gun magazine. Next door, with its South Beachy landmark-style facade and a high-profile crossroads locale, the relatively new V restaurant promises to eventually become Seagrove’s official “town center.”

Down 30A to the east, the award-winning Café Thirty-A is a consistent crowd-pleaser and it’s open 7 days a week. The atmosphere is casual and yet sophisticated. No matter how much your appetite begs for mercy, the banana beignets are a must. 723 Whiskey Bravo’s Gulf-view deck has also become a hot spot for sunset cocktails, and be sure to pick up some Official 30A Gear at Coast next door.

A little further to the east, you’ll cross Eastern Lake and Deer Lake, two of South Walton’s rare coastal dune lakes. Deer Lake State Park consists of 1,920 acres and eleven distinct natural habitats. The main boardwalk spans stunning and pristine dunes before opening onto a less-traveled section of secluded Gulf beaches. Deer Lake State Park boasts a variety of rare plants including spoon flowers, golden asters and the Gulf coast lupine, among others. The nearby Eastern Lake system features a “Bike / Hike Trail” with 3.5, 6 and 10-mile trail loops.