Beachside Condos - Just booked

**akguise** · 01-14-2006, 08:24 PM

Hey there Beach fanatics! Our family (me, hubby and three year old daughter) just booked our upcoming SoWal vacation and will be hitting the sands April 15th - just in time for Easter. Has anyone stayed at the Beachside Condos before? Our condo looks cute online but I was wondering how they are in person. Also, for all of you parents out there that have visited, could you post some of your favorite(s) activities/restaurants that might be a hit with our family! I live in San Antonio, Texas, ever been? It's a great city but the Texas beaches are a JOKE! Our drive will be about 12 hours but I'd drive double that to see white sands and clear water again!

I can't wait to get there - we soooooooooo need a vacation!

**Ocean Lover** · 01-14-2006, 08:50 PM

Check out the Favorite restaurants thread and the Top Ten thread at the top of this forum. There are many many suggestions there. Two things we never miss when we visit Sowal are the Red Bar and Grayton Beach.

**Miss Kitty** · 01-14-2006, 08:53 PM

Tex! As you know, the drive is worth it!

**audie** · 01-14-2006, 09:30 PM

there is much info. to be found here, just keep on digging thru the threads !

**PEARL** · 01-14-2006, 10:00 PM

I'm an owner of a Beachside condo, and I've loved it for the 12 years I've owned. It's a great location, and of course, right on the beach. Which unit are you getting?

**OnMackBayou** · 01-14-2006, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by akguise

Also, for all of you parents out there that have visited, could you post some of your favorite(s) activities/restaurants that might be a hit with our family! I live in San Antonio, Texas, ever been? It's a great city but the Texas beaches are a JOKE!

I was born and raised on the Texas Gulf Coast, and used to think going to Galveston was heaven. I would never have dreamed there was something like the South Walton beaches on the same body of water!

San Antonio is a truly great city. Is La Fogata still there? Mi Tierra? I used to have a weekend place on Canyon Lake and spent many an hour on the Riverwalk.

Oh well, we live here in paradise now. As far as activities, my daughter just loves going to the beaches, and eating at Fudpuckers, or Red Bar, or Cafe 331, or Buster's (if Giggles The Clown is there). Biking the trail on 30a is fun, or renting jet skis, or a pontoon boat, or parasailing.

Have fun.

**akguise** · 01-14-2006, 11:43 PM

San Antonio is a truly great city. Is La Fogata still there? Mi Tierra? I used to have a weekend place on Canyon Lake and spent many an hour on the Riverwalk.

Yes, we moved here almost three years ago from Virgina (also a state with some nice beaches) and really like San Antonio. La Fogata and Mi Tierra are both still here and very popular with the locals and tourists too! The Riverwalk is a highlight of the city and is so much fun, we can't get enough of it; especially when it was lit up for Christmas. Canyon Lake is also a favorite spot of ours and we visit a few times each summer, although we've never stayed there. Thanks so much for your tips on family friendly hot spots, I appreciate it and CAN'T WAIT to dig my toes into real sand again.

**akguise** · 01-14-2006, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by PEARL

I'm an owner of a Beachside condo, and I've loved it for the 12 years I've owned. It's a great location, and of course, right on the beach. Which unit are you getting?

We booked Beachside Condo unit 21 - it's a one bedroom and with just the three of us it is a perfect size. Our daughter is going to love sleeping on the bunkbeds, she will get such a kick out of that. We had originally planned on staying at Beachcrest Condos but they didn't have anything smaller than two bedrooms and we were able to get a better rate for just one at Beachside. We worked with Garrett Realty and they said unit 21 was just redone and it looks adorable from the online pictures. Honestly, I could sleep on a beach chair and be perfectly happy. Our daughter had open heart surgery this year (she is 100% recovered and perfect) but after going through that we are just grateful to get away together as a family! I just wanted to see what other people thought of Beachside since I am taking the word of the sales lady.

What unit do you own? How are the beaches looking? Thanks for the post!!

**skippertoo** · 01-15-2006, 09:06 AM

Hello and

Audie... Love your new TAR !

**PEARL** · 01-15-2006, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by akguise

We booked Beachside Condo unit 21 - it's a one bedroom and with just the three of us it is a perfect size. Our daughter is going to love sleeping on the bunkbeds, she will get such a kick out of that. We had originally planned on staying at Beachcrest Condos but they didn't have anything smaller than two bedrooms and we were able to get a better rate for just one at Beachside. We worked with Garrett Realty and they said unit 21 was just redone and it looks adorable from the online pictures. Honestly, I could sleep on a beach chair and be perfectly happy. Our daughter had open heart surgery this year (she is 100% recovered and perfect) but after going through that we are just grateful to get away together as a family! I just wanted to see what other people thought of Beachside since I am taking the word of the sales lady.

What unit do you own? How are the beaches looking? Thanks for the post!!

We own Beachside #11, a 2 bedroom. #21 is a good one, with a great view, I believe. The beach there looks really good, too, though a seawall is being built right next door. Should be done before you arrive in April.

**amylouky** · 01-24-2006, 03:16 PM

We've stayed at Beachside for the last two years, and loved it. We stayed last August (after all the storms, except Katrina), and the beach wasn't too bad. If you didn't look back at the dunes, you wouldn't know anything had happened. (well, that, and the bulldozers we had to dodge, but I'm sure they're finished now!).
That section of the beach was generally quiet, although it could have been the time of year that we were there.
We have always enjoyed our stay at Beachside, and had very nice, clean accomodations, but we met some people last year who said that their condo was run down and dirty. You're going to run in to that anywhere, though, with individually owned units that are managed by different companies.
Our first year at Beachside, there was an armadillo living in the dunes, but he's probably not there anymore after the storms.
Have a great trip!

**akguise** · 01-24-2006, 04:07 PM

Thanks so much for your reply! I am glad to know that you have always had a great experience with your condo! We are very excited and we were told the condo has just been redone so it should be in pretty good condition. I can't wait to come and enjoy our first taste of Seagrove heaven!

**kathydwells** · 01-24-2006, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by akguise

Thanks so much for your reply! I am glad to know that you have always had a great experience with your condo! We are very excited and we were told the condo has just been redone so it should be in pretty good condition. I can't wait to come and enjoy our first taste of Seagrove heaven!

ak, and heaven it is!!! Enjoy your vacation, and am glad your little girl is fine. Have a great time!!!!!!

**Beach Girl** · 01-24-2006, 05:01 PM

Hi...we've actually stayed in Unit 21 ourselves two summers ago. We had our 6 month old with us and actually gave him the bedroom. We slept on the pull-out sofa in the living room. (closer to the ocean :)) The condo is very cute. The bedroom could is the only "plain" room. The rest of the condo is adorable.

Have fun!

**akguise** · 01-24-2006, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Girl

Hi...we've actually stayed in Unit 21 ourselves two summers ago. We had our 6 month old with us and actually gave him the bedroom. We slept on the pull-out sofa in the living room. (closer to the ocean :)) The condo is very cute. The bedroom could is the only "plain" room. The rest of the condo is adorable.

Have fun!

That is great news! How is the view, is it pretty good?

**Beach Girl** · 01-25-2006, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by akguise

That is great news! How is the view, is it pretty good?

The view is nice. It's one of the best ones in the second building. You will enjoy it!!! :)

**imasunbum** · 01-28-2006, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by akguise

Hey there Beach fanatics! Our family (me, hubby and three year old daughter) just booked our upcoming SoWal vacation and will be hitting the sands April 15th - just in time for Easter. Has anyone stayed at the Beachside Condos before? Our condo looks cute online but I was wondering how they are in person. Also, for all of you parents out there that have visited, could you post some of your favorite(s) activities/restaurants that might be a hit with our family! I live in San Antonio, Texas, ever been? It's a great city but the Texas beaches are a JOKE! Our drive will be about 12 hours but I'd drive double that to see white sands and clear water again!

I can't wait to get there - we soooooooooo need a vacation!

If you plan to take a stroll through Rosemary Beach, take your daughter to Gigi's for shopping and The Sugar Shack for a treat or snack. Not really spectacular to the big people but the little one love it. A nice break if you want to give her a change from the beach without going too far. Have a great time!

**Paula** · 01-29-2006, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by imasunbum

If you plan to take a stroll through Rosemary Beach, take your daughter to Gigi's for shopping and The Sugar Shack for a treat or snack. Not really spectacular to the big people but the little one love it. A nice break if you want to give her a change from the beach without going too far. Have a great time!

Another nice ice cream shop that our kids love is the Carvel ice cream place at the Villages of South Walton near Rosemary Beach. They also have fantastic desserts (sandwiches, too, but I haven't had one yet). It is very comfortable with plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. We love it and always go there when we're in the area.