SoWal Favorites - Where’s your favorite place to unwind?

[kurt]

Please tell us Where’s your favorite place to unwind in SoWal? - your suggestion may be published in a visitor guide from Beaches Of South Walton TDC. Thanks for your help!

[seagrovegirl]

Cape San Blas and Indian Pass.............love the remoteness. Love St. Joe Bay.

[NE SoWaller]

The beach in Seaside. I haven't been to many other places on 30A, but whenever i leave, I feel like I've rested for months....

[kurt]

Cape San Blas and Indian Pass.............love the remoteness. Love St. Joe Bay.

Thanks very much! How about in SoWal?

[Jdarg]

Grayton Beach, on a warm day when the water is clear aqua and green flag conditions, and the kids and grownups are just floating around in the water!

Also the walking trails at Watercolor....

[Beach Runner]

A nice walk on Seagrove Beach to admire the beauty of the beaches and to get some exercise, followed by cooling off and relaxing in our pool. Love our noodles for floatation and just bobbling around in the water and having a nice conversation with my husband and daughter.

BTW these are the old kind of noodles that we can't find anymore that are thick enough to support the weight of my 270-pound hubby.

[Franny]

Grayton Beach, on a warm day when the water is clear aqua and green flag conditions, and the kids and grownups are just floating around in the water!

Could not have said it better!! And our pool.

[hnooe]

After being a local now for 3.5 years, I only recently discovered Deer Lake State Park. When I am there, I do not feel like I am on a beach on 30A in the Summer !--No aluminum beach tent set ups, and very few people. The most incredible dunes on 30A!

[nodilberthere]

Grayton Beach, just before sunset, with my family [and a freshly made mojito.]

[barefootguy]

Gold's Gym

Who needs a beach when ya got Gold's Gym!

[tistheseason]

The best place to unwind is on the beach at sunset. With a glass of wine. (And the rest of the bottle near by!)

My vote for second is Fonville Press at Alys Beach when they have an Apres Beach -- and the kids are having fun playing on the mountain and the dog!

[DavidD]

During the off season, the rooftop bar at Bud & Alley's is grayt at sunset. During season, I like some of the sparsely populated stretches of beach in Seagrove.

[DD]

Grayton.

[SWGB]

The beach in front of Topsail State Park, it's wonderfully remote and usually no one on or near it.

[Allifunn]

A certian back porch, overlooking a marshy creek
Grayton Beach, Draper Lake at sunset with loved ones and wine, of course

At some point, when the waether and the bugs get better, I think the bay will be another favorite spot to unwind.

[foodie]

i just like to unwind at home with my sweet husband, 2 "boys" (aka dogs) & my tempermental "queen" (aka cat)....cooking, eating & watching tv with the family!

[seacrestgirl]

When we are down, we love to ride our bikes in the morning! The scenery is great, the breeze, the peace----It's what we look most forward to.

At the end of the day, our favorite thing to do is: enjoy a cocktail, watch the sunset. With the rhythmic rolling of the waves, the sun, the beauty...it is a spectacular way to unwind, forget your troubles, de-stress.

[Smiling JOe]

Wherever I happen to be. As SG says, if you can unwind in Wal-mart, you can unwind anywhere (paraphrasing). That has taught me a lot. One of my favorite places is putzing around in my kayak, somewhere around the second sand bar, until the thought of a 12 ft HammerHead or Tiger Shark comes to mind. JAWS ruined me. I just try to sit still with the thought of the big sharks swimming below, not much different than trying to be at peace in Wal-mart. It is a great test of mind over fear.

[ItzKatzTime]

I love to sneak into the cafe early in the morning to work....in Grayton you can hear the birds chirping, the foot steps of early runners, people talking to their dogs as they walk them, a screen door closing, someone sweeping last nights sand from a porch, and towels flapping in the breeze. These are the sounds that help me unwind for the day.

Grayton Beach....in the morning!

[kathydwells]

ANYWHERE on the beach on 30-A, with a cold one. Star gazing and satellite spotting with friends and family. Listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. Doesn't get any better than that my friends!

[Johnrudy]

Even though it's been several years since I've been to the beach, the first thought that came to mind was quietly sitting in a rocker on a porch in a Seaside cottage, watching the neighborhood walk past.

Also, the beach right before dusk. Everyone who got sunburned has left for the day, others have gone to dinner. It's usually just me and the waves and a few sand crabs.

Early morning's not bad either.

.

[hoity_toity]

srb

• beach at topsail.

depending on traffic, these beaches too:

• inlet
• deerlake
• some road off of alys
• between grayton, grayton statepark

okaloosa island

• beasley park
• the park closest to navarre beach

navarre

• navarre beach

[organicmama]

My fav beach access is at Stallworth. It's so quiet & unassuming there. It's empty compared to other accesses, even on the most crowded days. I cannot relax on crowded beaches & Stallworth has a secluded feel to it.

My fav place to relax with kids is Seaside. They can run & play, then get ice cream & zone out on the short drive home. I can get my fix at Amavida.

I love driving the stretch of 30-A and seeing the lakes & views of the beaches. Each of the views take my breath away every time I drive by. It makes me appreciate this very special place each time.

[hoity_toity]

stallworth is the closest public to topsail. ha, suppose it tends to crowd less since theres parking for ~6 + handicap (though ive only seen non-handicap park there)

[organicmama]

stallworth is the closest public to topsail. ha, suppose it tends to crowd less since theres parking for ~6 + handicap (though ive only seen non-handicap park there)

It's actually easier for me to use Stallworth than Topsail with 3 kids in tow. I love both and they are about the same distance from my front door.

[hoity_toity]

stallworth is how i get to topsail.

[JUL]

Just the thought of being in SoWal decompresses me and makes me smile! But I always enjoy Rosemary Beach and I also enjoyed Fonville Press last time I was in. Walking the beaches early AM and at sunset.

[Beachbummett]

I'm not much of an early morning person, wish I was because I would love to see some sunrises for a change.

Sunset at Watersound, either on our tower, where you can see the dunes that look like sand covered hills or sitting on the beach in my favorite beachchair, sipping a really good glass of champagne and just listening to the ocean sush while hoping to see the green flash. The colors at that time of day are absolutley breathtaking, the sand when it is cool on bare feet, I like to dig them further down where you feel the temperature change. Life does not get much better.

[Minnie]

I'm not much of an early morning person, wish I was because I would love to see some sunrises for a change.

Just stay up all night. Those are the best sunrises and then off to nap land.

Sunrises on the beach are the definite unwind.

[Sheila]

Any beach in SoWal that I can dig my toes in and see that beautiful water. Or....at the Tarpon Club with the Kitties, the Dargs and the MerPeople, and of course FBB.

[Mermaid]

Any beach in SoWal that I can dig my toes in and see that beautiful water. Or....at the Tarpon Club with the Kitties, the Dargs and the MerPeople, and of course FBB.

It's even better to be there with all your best peeps around sunset time, with your guesstimate about when the sun's going to drop written on the chalk board, waiting for the bell to clang!

Another favorite place in SoWal--one that we never fail to miss--is on Western Lake in a kayak. There are so many little watery nooks and crannies in that lake that you could never, ever get bored of being on it. One of our best "swimming holes" is at that little pass linking the old Grayton Beach side of the lake to the Grayton Beach State Park side. It's fairly shallow and the dunes are high enough that you can't see any houses. It's an unspoiled, beautiful place to take a dip.

[dcgoz]

Tending about 2lbs of grouper (salt pepper and olive oil) on the grill, watching the kids play in the pool, and digging the sand from between my toes. Ok, that may be kinda gross, but it sounds great to me.

[Miss Kitty]

Any beach in SoWal that I can dig my toes in and see that beautiful water. Or....at the Tarpon Club with the Kitties, the Dargs and the MerPeople, and of course FBB.

It's even better to be there with all your best peeps around sunset time, with your guesstimate about when the sun's going to drop written on the chalk board, waiting for the bell to clang!

Loved them all! I agree...and I so wish I could be with y'all at sunset tonight! I also love walking the beach in the morning or evening when you have it all to yourself...even carrying a bag for trash pickup is funn!

I know one thing, I did not unwind in the Political forums today. That place is wound UP!

[TooFarTampa]

I don't know if this counts, but I feel like I can finally BREATHE the moment I turn left on 30-A from Hwy 98. Just the act of driving through Rosemary is an attitude adjustment. It can take me from this to this pretty quickly.

My skin is sun-sensitive, so my favorite spot is any beach at any sunset, the beach right before a storm, and the view from our tower room in the middle of the afternoon, preferrably with a book and a box of Cheezits.

[mikecatadjuster]

Many people have listed the beach at sunset or sunrise as a great place to unwind and I agree. But the beach is an altogether different experience. When it is clear and the stars and blackness collaborate or when the moon is round and bright and reflected off of the gulf waters, it is magical. The waves crash against the shore creating a rhythm. The wind streams across the water with a momentum that makes you wonder about its origin. It makes me relax, but seemingly, I always get sentimental and wish I had someone to share the moment with.

[buster]

Walking or biking the trails in Point Washington State Forest, or one of the outstanding parks along Scenic 30A in SoWal.

[weluvgrayton]

The beach and dunes at Grayton Beach State Park. I also love the trail there.

[truluv]

sunrise at the 83 beach access, hello to neighbors, quiet, reflective the a.m. is truly the locals time at the beach

[JB]

On the steps in front of the Zoo Gallery on a Saturday night. Not exactly quiet, but for people-watchers like me, I can't think of a better spot in SoWal.

[KISH7374]

Walking east on the beach in the morning as the sun comes up. being able to notice how the beach comes alive in the morning. From Seacrest east towards the old pier.

[scooterbug44]

Either the beach in late afternoon or paddling through Grayton State park!

[Just_In_Thyme]

Sitting on the deck of my house, looking out over the Gulf at sunset with a cold beer in my hand.

[BeachbumAggie]

Sunset at Seagrove beach with my hubby and a bottle of bubbly!

[4dogs]

My backyard in Santa Rosa Beach, sitting under the oak tree with all my dogs playing in the yard.

[inside635]

I enjoy walking around Seaside after dinner then unfolding our blankets on beautiful Amphitheatre grass and watching a movie on a star lit summer night. Now that the kiddos are of age, Mr. 635 and I will meet them at Bud and Alley's for a drink overlooking the beach. Fabulous! We also enjoy riding our bikes to Grayton in the morning.

[Paige]

Riding a bike in the morning or the beach at night.

[Caroling]

Walking from Eastern Lake to Deer Lake State Park along the beach is the best. Usually on the way back, I feel the bliss level rising. I call it Blessings Beach. In the summer, dawn walks are coolest. In the winter I feel best when surrounded with deer lichen in the woods.

[SWGB]

I've discovered that walking down the shore line is the easiest way to unwind. It's amazing how far you can walk. Watching the waves crash quickly and race inland or fight themselves into submission. Noticing how the sand goes from a soft snow like consistency that crunches under your feet to a hard almost concrete like surface. The dunes standing like fortress walls ocassionally broken by a long forgotten hurricane. The birds running in the surf like little children.

Then if I'm still stressed I'll go out during the day and repeat.

[joebob]

staying on the beach till the sun disappears ---sitting in a comfortable beach chair--- cold one at the ready --- bride at my side --- kids at the house cookin' dinner

[bookworm]

A beach walkover at Rosemary Beach with a glass/bottle of wine.