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Ok. I was meaning in the summer you pretty much have to rent a beach set up if you want a space on the beach. Wondering if the vendors still cover the entire beach with chairs and we must rent them to sit, or if it’s bring your own like the past winters. It’s been a few years since we’ve visited...

Hello- We are thinking of visiting Seacrest or Rosemary in December around Christmas and am wondering if we must rent beach set ups like we do in the summer? In the past the beach was open during the winter months, but wondering if that has changed now that it's more crowded (but hope not too...

We are visiting soon and our son will be doing remote college work during our stay and needs access to reliable wifi in the morning. I know wifi/LTE access can be pretty unreliable, especially around Seacrest/RB, so wanted to have recommendations to any coffee shops or places where wifi is...

Unfortunately, my family and I won’t be going back until the customary use issue has been settled and we used to visit several times a year for more than a decade. Heck, we were extremely close to buying a place. I thought the rapacious beach vendors were bad, but the CU decision is appalling...

Beachmana, I understand! We have been coming several times a year for over a decade with our kids and won’t any longer due to the ridiculous vendor situation and now the almost unbelievable Customary Use issue. I have 30a art in my home that I’ve purchased there, professional photography hanging...

Thanks for the replies. I see both sides... somewhat. I believe beaches should stay open to all as a public good. Yet, we’ve been visiting for years (before the post BP Settlement boom starting in 2011) and I see how entitled, rude, and messy the tourists have become. I’m a tourist too, but have...

Can anyone explain the new Customary Use changes from HB 631 that take place in July? As a longtime tourist, it’s the first I’ve heard about it. Will visitors still be able to, say, walk the beach from Rosemary to Alys or Seacrest to Watersound, etc? Will there be roped off areas like I’ve seen...

Down at beach now and even clearer than yesterday with a few waves. It’s back to its normal beautiful self.

Here now (Rosemary) and although it’s not glass-like and perfectly clear, it’s still extremely pretty. Not mucky like it can be with June Grass and such. Saw news reports yesterday that Alberto changed the currents and west Galveston had very blue water for a day or so! Usually brown due to...

I’m sitting on the beach now watching the waves on Rosemary and fascinated with the parents who keep getting in..and letting their kids get in. Lifeguards and Code have their work cut out for them.

It’s our first time visiting at Christmas and wondering if there will be beach rentals of kayaks during the off season. Daily delivery might work too; but am staying across 30a and toting 2 kayaks from Seacrest would be a bit of a pain. Any advice? Thanks!

I wrote a few days ago and just received this response from Cindy Meadows: Thank you for your input. At the end of season, the bcc will evaluate the vendor program once again to make needed adjustments. Your input will go into the complaint file. Sent from my iPhone Cindy Meadows Walton...

Yes, I'm writing today. And thanks for the heads up that my original thread was moved to the local government forum. I've been reading the different topics and learning a lot. The signs, ropes and vendors are all related seems to me as an outsider. Interesting they voted to ban the signs and...

Great post. I don't see why this is such a complicated issue. What you suggest seems more than reasonable. I will be writing letters tonight.

I see I have responses to the thread I started earlier this week, but don't see the thread listed anymore under All About Sowal. Was it taken down?? Thanks, Robyn

I'm social as hell but that line made me chuckle too. Yikes.

This was the one beach chair vendor for Seacrest Beach. Asked the attendant last Sunday and he said $365 for two chairs and an umbrella for 6 days. It was less than $300 at Rosemary when we stayed there last summer.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Like I stated previously, I have been vacationing here for more than a decade (which is nothing compared to many) and the vibe on the beach at Rosemary/Seacrest absolutely sucks. The signs, the ropes...this is all new. Since I've seen (justifiably) angry...

Great info, thanks. I suppose I should visit another stretch of 30a these days. Love this area, but mama it is crowded! Love Grayton but figure it's the same. Seaside makes RB look sparse!

Seacrest. But dealt with it last year at Rosemary (but it was $300 there last year bc I rented chairs). Sound like a bitter ole hen but it's interesting to see the changes over the years.

I don't mind bringing my own things either, but when the vendors get to dominate the best spots it's impossible to get a good spot unless you get there at sunrise I'm assuming. He wouldn't tell me when they set up on purpose. $365 is crazy and you see empty chairs that nobody uses all day in...

We are back at Sowal and see that the beach chair rentals are now $365 for 6 days. When we first started visiting Sowal there weren't very many vendors and now the beaches are completely dominated by the . Further, the beaches are all divided up in small portions this year with ropes and signs...

At the risk of getting flamed or sounding petulant, I just want to add that we changed our Labor Day vacation plans from 30a to Sedona. :( These past two summers have been too stressful with the expensive chair vendors lining the entirety of Rosemary and Seacrest, crowds and traffic and decided...

and honestly, it's ruining the area. Breaks my heart.

I visit many beaches as do many of you here. Hilton Head, St. George Island, Cape San Blas, Orange Beach, Pensacola, South Padre, The Keys, Boca, and various islands in the Caribbean and South Walton is very different when it comes to chairs. I'm actually taken back by it. Plus it's getting...

The chairs are out of control! Been visiting for years and have never seen it so bad. In Rosemary it cost me almost $300 to rent two chairs for the week. But I had no choice since they are set up, several rows deep, all up and down the beach. What do owners do? I cannot imagine dropping $1.5+...

We are staying in Rosemary and the stench during and after the storm last night was intense! Still smelling it this morning. Wondering if that's the smell of septic tanks or sewers overfilling? Asking not to complain, just curious as it was so bad last night we had to close the balcony doors...

Love Cape San Blas and Apalachicola! St. George Island is also a favorite- visiting there over the summer too. I can't give up on 30a just yet! Although we have second thoughts of buying in the area. I don't see how tiny 30a will be able to handle all the traffic. I also don't understand...

Hello (again!) We've been coming to lovely Sowal for more than a decade and would like recommendations for a 'less crowded' area. We usually go back and forth staying in either RB or Seacrest, but last summer it was as busy as I've ever seen it. It was more difficult to do the biking we love...

Thanks for the info! I will miss that spot, it's lovely. Glad it's not closing for good though. How many more people can RB handle? It's bursting at the seams in the summer.

I had a follower comment on an Instagram pic I posted that SK is closing so more condos can be built in that (lovely, beautiful, picturesque) space. Please tell me this isn't true! After many years of coming to 30a several times a year, I find the explosive growth and summer crowds getting...

It hasn't been bad like previous years- it's been quite clear like the fall. But today there was more than I've seen the last few days.

Thanks for the comment! I also agree that it's ok for rental companies to make a dime. But to take up the entire beach, 3 rows deep before any customers is flat wrong. The rest of us are out there doing due diligence and they already have the entire area taken up. There must be a middle ground.

We are trying to get our set up at the beach this morning at 7:20. The Sea Oats company has everything set up 3 rows deep down each side of Seacrest Beach as far as the eye can see. If regular umbrellas are set up AT the water, they set up in front of peoples closed umbrellas! And in between...

Oh, I'm not overly afraid of sharks. I was just wondering because of the mass of them off of Pensacola a few days ago. I'm aware I'm in their home!

Getting the flag texts every day and just wondering if the purple is for jellies or sharks? Also wondering about the June grass conditions around RB/Seacrest? The pics from the Rags to Riches Regatta looked beautiful! Thanks!

I noticed this at spring break at RB/SB and it was ridiculous. I also don't knock a business trying to make a dime, but to spread so far out with 1/2 of the chairs unused is wrong. What's wrong with people?

You will be fine. I am here now at Seacrest and you access the beach directly across 30a at Sunset Beach. There is a tram available as well, but we just walk. 30a is a teeny tiny road, smaller than the cul-de-sac I live on, and super easy to cross (unlike the 6 lane highway I Frogger at South...

Thanks for the replies and helpful info! Can't wait!

Hi guys! My family and I usually come to 30a in the summer, but this year we are coming durning Thanksgiving week. Are stores/restaurants/activities available or do they usually shut down that week? We generally hang out in the Alys-Rosemary corridor on a daily basis, but travel to Seaside...

We REALLY enjoy the High Pointe condos right next to Rosemary Beach Square (I believe it's officially at Seacreast Beach). It has a fantastic pool, beachside grill and is within walking distance to a bunch of cute shops and restaurants at Rosemary Beach square. I was wary of renting from them...

Well, I am a Texan that goes to South Walton specifically because it HAS NO OIL RIGS on the horizon. We took the kids to Gulf Shores one spring break and I counted 31 oil rigs from my balcony. One day we decided to drive across the border to Florida and stop at a public beach. Voila - a...

Wow, that's a gorgeous picture, Surfrider. We were there in June and my kids loved those fountains. Ug, now that I'm thinking of Sowal...I am missing it. :(

Have a great time! I just got back last week and already planning my next trip. What a blast we had!

Oh, we wanted to try it. And wanted to try the Caliza pool restaurant. Next time!

DD (and anyone else)...how often do you drive to Sowal and how long does it take? --And in reference to the 'driving' question that people were asking-- I think it just struck me as funny because I think Sowal is so fun that it shouldn't just be seen as a regional destination. It's certainly...

Boo hoo, we are back from our ten day stay at High Pointe condos. It was absolutely perfect. I choose the beaches of South Walton after a good amount of research...but was still apprehensive since I had never been. What a wonderful place you guys have there. I already mentioned a few of my...

We made it in on Tuesday and are staying at High Pointe. We are totally sold on Sowal! Couple of quick thoughts from a first timer: Wow, 30a is tiny! I was expecting a 'Texas' sized highway - it's smaller than the street I live on! Next time I won't mind staying across from 30a at all. High...

Only 3 more weeks until our 10 day stay at High Pointe condos -our first trip! I sure hope I picked a good place. Along with going to the beach and hanging by the pool with the boys, I can't wait to drive around South Walton and look at all the different areas. We rented a convertible -woo hoo...

Thanks y'all! Booked for June! Just wanted to give a shout out to all of the nice people that responded to my previous post(s) about a June rental for my family. I booked at High Pointe for 10 days and am delirious. Some of you emailed me information about your rentals and they were all...