The Emerald Coast is truly a gem!

Considered by many as one of the top beaches in the U.S., The Emerald Coast of Florida is absolutely spectacular. For miles and miles, the white sugary, sandy beaches draw you to the magnificent emerald green ocean. Soft breezes and the warm Florida sun have welcomed families to this area for generations. Located in the panhandle of Florida, over 5 million visitors a year flock to the many resort towns along the coast. From the internationally recognized “Seaside” resort; famous for its iconic pastel-painted, tin-roofed homes and site of the filming of the Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show, to the popular spring break destination Panama City Beach, each town has a flavor of its own.

One of the quieter, family-oriented and beautiful towns along the coast is Seacrest Beach. Adjacent to Alys and Rosemary Beach, this area is known as the “jewels of 30-A.” Situated just minutes from Seagrove and Seaside, the beach here is pristine, and quite often the water is so clear, you can often see dolphins swimming very close to shore. Local beach and gift shops surround the area, as well as great restaurants featuring the best fresh seafood around. We are excited to be able to feature one of our member’s properties in Seacrest for this spring season, the perfect time and place to take away those “winter blues.” Roman Refuge is a secluded gorgeous home located right on the gulf in a private gated community. It has all the amenities of a primary home, but even better...it is on the beach! Close to golf, tennis, amazing fishing and boating, it is the ideal family beach retreat.

Some of the most amazing golf courses in the area are the Greg Norman-designed, Shark’s Tooth Golf Club at Wild Heron, which was in 2007 ranked by Golf Digest as one of the best golf courses in Florida and one of the best private courses in the nation. Also, Tom Fazio- designed Camp Creek Golf Club was in 2006 named “America’s Top Golf Course in the Zagat Survey and served as a regional venue for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

The area also has an abundance of fun, casual, and fine dining restaurants featuring local seafood, light fare and gourmet cuisine. From Bud and Alley’s to Café 30A, Cocoon’s to Goatfeathers, you can find the best steamed, fried or blackened shrimp and fresh grouper from one end of the coast to the other. For more information about the most popular restaurants in the area, go to the Beaches of South Walton/restaurants.

Drivable from most Southern cities, you can also visit this area by flying into the Panama City International Airport, just l5 minutes away.