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What's the difference between Santa Rosa Beach and Seagrove Beach?

smcdon2 avatar
Beach Comber
20,907 views
Hello folks,
When I've been down to SoWal, we've rented in Santa Rosa, between Gulf Place and Blue Mountain beach (Old Florida Beach). I normally come down with the wife and daughters. This year, we're bringing two other families with us and I'm looking to get something bigger. It seems like you get a lot more for your money in the Seagrove beach area. :idontno:

I realize that this is a very subjective question, but what makes the difference in the two areas? Congestion, amenities, beach access, the beach itself, etc...?

As always, thanks for helping me out.

Replies

32
wrobert avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
Hello folks,
When I've been down to SoWal, we've rented in Santa Rosa, between Gulf Place and Blue Mountain beach (Old Florida Beach). I normally come down with the wife and daughters. This year, we're bringing two other families with us and I'm looking to get something bigger. It seems like you get a lot more for your money in the Seagrove beach area. :idontno:

I realize that this is a very subjective question, but what makes the difference in the two areas? Congestion, amenities, beach access, the beach itself, etc...?

As always, thanks for helping me out.


Interesting question since according to the post office there is none.
DuneLaker avatar
Beach Fanatic
#3
No Incorporated Cities in SoWal

There are no incorporated cities in South Walton. Walton County's three incorporated cities, DeFuniak Springs, Paxton and Freeport are all north of the bay. Here in SoWal, historical communities and resorts make up the bulk of identifiable areas. Boundaries in many cases are vague. We do have several zip codes (we lost our Pt. Washington zip, too bad). 32550 is the Sandestin area for instance. There is a post office named Santa Rosa with a zip of 32459. That is the official zip many of us are stuck with even though we don't live in what we consider "Santa Rosa Beach." In the middle of this zip code, Seaside PO has its own zip.

The TDC now defines and divides the beach into about 15 communites. You can connect and check them out in that format from the top of this page. Now keep in mind a number of us old times who live on Eastern Lake, don't consider it to be "Seagrove" as we remember when there wasn't much between Old Seagrove and neighborhoods east. Some new people and others use Seagrove for various reasons.


The question you might ask would be, "What is the difference between Gulf Place and Old Seagrove?" Old Seagrove does have its own unique feel and is easy walking distance to Seaside and a short bike ride to WaterColor, other independent restaurants and coastal dune lakes. Each of the resorts do have their defined boundaries and unique characteristics. The Seagrove area is closer to Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Bay County, or if you want to visit Gulf World. All are great, just depends on your interests. You might want to try all The Beaches of South Walton before you pick your favorite! Just remember that Destin, Okaloosa County, is NOT part of SoWal and is in the next county over. Don't be confused.

Price and value are wide.

Edited

Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#4
We prefer Seagrove just because it's in the middle of the 30A corridor. So you are close to to the more popular areas and restaurants in Grayton (love it), Seaside, and Rosemary, as well as in Seagrove. If you like Destin and its chain restaurants, chain retail stores, Santa Rosa Beach is closer to those, but a long drive (relatively speaking) to the heart of 30A. And most people have those chains at home, so they want a different experience when they come to the beach.

Edited

Bob Wells avatar
Beach Fanatic
#5
six miles give or take
momof2kids avatar
Beach Fanatic
#6
Sandestin area is technically a resort and not a town or city; Miramar Beach is the 32550 area which runs from the Walton Co/Okaloosa Co line to where ever the 32459 zip code starts - Mack Bayou?? I can't remember where right now. (not trying to step on toes here...) :blush:

When we moved here I lived in Destin with the 32541 zip code until we got a post office and then all of a sudden I no longer lived in Destin, but Miramar Beach. Go figure. :idontno:
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#7
I'm a "foreigner" who has stayed in both places, and don't think that there is a quality of life difference between staying in the two places. To me, the area west of Grayton is quieter and more laid back. You can ride a bike on the path (no debates about the bike path, please) and have a long, virtually uninterrupted ride. The beaches don't have a lot of people on them. Easy to relax--I like it when I'm coming down there to read books, eat in, and be by myself.

East of Grayton is a bit busier. It's closer to the Watercolor Publix (consult jdarg and her posse for today's specials) and convenient for going to see what's playing at the Rep. A bit more traffic because it's closer to all the good stuff.

Either way, you're in paradise. Don't be afraid of going to Seagrove instead. You'll still have a wonderful time, but it might be a little more fun!
John R avatar
needs to get out more
#8
In the middle of this zip code, Seaside PO has its own zip.

my zip at Seaside PO is 32459.
smcdon2 avatar
Beach ComberAuthor
#9
Thanks

Thanks to all for the input. I know that no matter where we go along 30A, we'll have a relaxing vacation in a wonderful place.

The winter in Cincinnati is already getting to me, so it's going to be tough waiting another 5 months :cry:
Beach Fanatic
#10
We've been vacationing for 4-5 years in Seagrove and we love it. I've found the best combo of price and quality to be in the Seagrove area, it's not crowded or congested and there are nice amenities in Seagrove itself: Market Cafe, Goatfeathers Fish Market, Flip Flops, bike and kayak rentals, just to name a few. Publix is just around the corner and there's a Tom Thumb in the middle of Seagrove. It's an easy drive to anywhere on 30A since it's in the middle. Also, you can bike to Seaside in just a few minutes and do a little walking around and shopping.

Last year we did have friends rent in the Magnolia Cottages in the Seacrest area and they were even more affordable than Seagrove, new homes and quite nice but pretty close together. These were about 5 minutes east of Seagrove.

Happy travels!
Beach Lover
#11
WHen will people learn that the ZIP Code has nothing to do with the community or city. If it did walton county would have 30-40 Zip Codes. In this it would only cost more and the postage would go up even more. (I belive it is still to cheep)

I bet thought that if you lived in Seagrove and put your address and Seargove Fl. 32439 on a letter you would receive it.

A postal friend told me that it did not matter about the city listed they deliver to the Zip Code unless the Zip is wrong then they look up the zip by the city and state listed on the letter.

Edited

DuneLaker avatar
Beach Fanatic
#12
my zip at Seaside PO is 32459.

Thanks for correction John R. I should have just said Seaside has a PO. I guess this helps you use the name "Seaside" along with the PO Box No. and thus the official blessings of the US Post Office. Whereas, I sometimes put Eastern Lake, Fl 32459 as my address on some personal mail. Until I have a summit with a former post office master (who lives right here in Walton County), I'll probably just cringe and use Santa Rosa Beach on my official mail.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#13
Thanks for correction John R. I should have just said Seaside has a PO. I guess this helps you use the name "Seaside" along with the PO Box No. and thus the official blessings of the US Post Office. Whereas, I sometimes put Eastern Lake, Fl 32459 as my address on some personal mail. Until I have a summit with a former post office master (who lives right here in Walton County), I'll probably just cringe and use Santa Rosa Beach on my official mail.

and the Rosemary Beach post office has its own zip, too. 32461. This sometimes causes problems with computer zip code verifier routines, because it seems that 32461 used to belong to Sunnyside in PCB.
NotDeadYet avatar
Beach Fanatic
#14
I bet thought that if you lived in Seagrove and put your address and Seargove Fl. 32439 on a letter you would receive it.

A postal friend told me that it did not matter about the city listed they deliver to the Zip Code unless the Zip is wrong then they look up the zip by the city and state listed on the letter.
This is correct. Quite a few people in Seagrove use it in their address with the 32459 zip and the mail does get delivered. The problem can come though with the list they use to look up the city and state on the letter if the zip is wrong or illegible. If "Eastern Lake" is not on the list and the zip code is illegible then the letter probably won't be delivered.
It is not just in SoWal that the zips don't reflect the actual locations. The zip tells you which post office delivers your mail. I know people living up on Rock Hill Road with Ponce de Leon addresses, because that is where their mail comes through. Likewise Choctaw Beach has Freeport addresses. And the reason the east end of 30A has a Panama City Beach address and zip is because that is the post office that delivers there.
County lines do not always coincide with zip code boundaries, which only adds to the confusion. But obviously there is confusion beyond the zip codes. Like that USA Today article on SoWal with the picture of Destin beaches. :bang:
Many people are geographically challenged. Perhaps a good place to start would be in the schools. Now that Google has mapped virtually everywhere a new set of skills could be taught.
(Yesterday I looked up the address of someone I know in DC. I wanted to see just how far exactly her house is from the inauguration location, and up popped a picture of her house!)
beachmouse avatar
Beach Fanatic
#15
And when we first moved to our house in 2001, we'd still get junk mail that had a rural route number, even though my area's textbook suburbia as well as misrouted Choctaw Beach mail that had a Niceville address.

At least a number of SoWal beaches have their own highway signs. FDOT still calls everything between the Meigs and Mid-Bay bridges and the county line 'Seminole' even though that only really describes about 5% of the homes in the area.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#16
We prefer Seagrove just because it's in the middle of the 30A corridor. So you are close to to the more popular areas and restaurants in Grayton (love it), Seaside, and Rosemary, as well as in Seagrove. If you like Destin and its chain restaurants, chain retail stores, Santa Rosa Beach is closer to those, but a long drive (relatively speaking) to the heart of 30A. And most people have those chains at home, so they want a

The question came up on this board a while back -- "Where is the center of 30A?" I researched it and it appears that the center of 30A (east to west) is around the stop sign at WaterColor. If that is true, Blue Mtn Beach area is no farther from Grayton Beach than Seagrove is from Grayton Beach. Just wanted to try and clarify for those who don't know.
DuneLaker avatar
Beach Fanatic
#17
We prefer Seagrove just because it's in the middle of the 30A corridor. So you are close to to the more popular areas and restaurants in Grayton (love it), Seaside, and Rosemary, as well as in Seagrove. If you like Destin and its chain restaurants, chain retail stores, Santa Rosa Beach is closer to those, but a long drive (relatively speaking) to the heart of 30A. And most people have those chains at home, so they want a

The question came up on this board a while back -- "Where is the center of 30A?" I researched it and it appears that the center of 30A (east to west) is around the stop sign at WaterColor. If that is true, Gulf Place is no farther from Grayton Beach than Seagrove is from Grayton Beach. Just wanted to try and clarify for those who don't know.


Was this measurement from say Miss Lucille's Gossip Parlor on 30A at Gulf Place to Grayton; and the Village Market on 395/30A in Old Seagrove to Grayton? Thanks for the center point. That is fun and useful to know. It may help define for some the "difference" between one place or another - or not. ;-)
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#18
Was this measurement from say Miss Lucille's Gossip Parlor on 30A at Gulf Place to Grayton; and the Village Market on 395/30A in Old Seagrove to Grayton? Thanks for the center point. That is fun and useful to know. It may help define for some the "difference" between one place or another - or not. ;-)

measurements by road:
From Hwy 83 (Blue Mtn Beach) to Hwy 283 (Grayton) -- 11,000ft
From Hwy 393 (Gulf Place) to Hwy 283 (Grayton) -- 4.3 miles

From Hwy 395 (Seagrove Market) to Hwy 283 (Grayton) -- 14,500 ft
From Flip Flops (Eastern Lake area of Seagrove) to Hwy 283 (Grayton) -- 4.4 miles

There really isn't much difference as far as proximity to the center of 30A, and being able to quickly jump onto Hwy 98, with only a couple of extra traffic signals, there won't be much difference in time when traveling to Panama City Beach from either locations.

********
I did read someone write that the area between Blue Mtn Beach and Gulf Place was rather quiet with uncrowded beaches. For the most part, I agree with that statement, with the exception being that beach from Hwy 83 to The Retreat. In the peak season, that particular stretch has been shoulder to shoulder, literally, mostly due to the "private beach" issues with their fun-loving neighbors.
Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#19
Was this measurement from say Miss Lucille's Gossip Parlor on 30A at Gulf Place to Grayton; and the Village Market on 395/30A in Old Seagrove to Grayton? Thanks for the center point. That is fun and useful to know. It may help define for some the "difference" between one place or another - or not. ;-)
I wasn't talking about the center in terms of half the distance between the two ends of the highway. I'm just going by what a friend who has a home in Santa Rosa Beach says. He is tired of driving so far to go to restaurants, shop, etc., on 30A and thus has his house on the market. He doesn't like Sandestin/Destin. He wants to be in Seagrove so that he'd be closer to the centers of activity, Grayton, Seaside, and Rosemary, as well as what Seagrove has to offer.

But then on the other had I have other friends who have homes in SRB. They don't shop a lot, dine out are lot, and are happy hanging out at Stinky's (which is a place I recommend). Different strokes for different folks. It's all good down here.
Lake View Too avatar
SoWal Insider
#20
Center?

If you think about it historically, wherever the first settlers discovered, and started to name things in this area, they came up with "Eastern Lake" and "Western Lake". Therefore Seagrove was likely the first "settlement" and therefore, I vote for it to be considered the "center". Try to imagine what this land was like before 30-A was completed in the 60's. There were a series of small roads coming from 98 which simply dead-ended into each "town". One into Seagrove. One into Grayton. One into Dune Allen. It was a day-long excursion to go from Inlet Beach to Jack Tarr Motel (anyone remember?)and back.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#21
So Seagrove was settled before Grayton Beach, Pt Washington, and Santa Rosa Beach? This is the first I've heard that.
ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#22
Ahem...

These days, there really isn't much cultural difference between the communities. SoWal is basically one big happy family, as far as vacationing at the beach goes.

But if you are talking history, and not referring to the Native Americans who made their home here long before we did, Point Washington and old-town Santa Rosa were the first settlements. The two towns did not get along particularly well - especially around 1938 or so, when the old Santa Rosa school was closed in favor of the bright, shiny new Bay School in Point Washington. There were still hard feelings about that when I was a child and my mom was running all over SoWal trying to get enough parents to commit to Bay in order to keep it open. And my mom, bless her heart, REFUSED to use Santa Rosa Beach on her mail, except for that which pertained to our store in SRB. She often stated that if she wanted SRB as her address, she would move there.

As for the beach...Grayton was first. Seagrove was more or less settled and named by the McGee family. Dune-Allen was, of course, Eric and Jeanne Allen. Blue Mountain was named before either Seagrove or Dune-Allen, but I'm not sure of the details. And everything else just kind of filled in as the years went by. :D
Lake View Too avatar
SoWal Insider
#23
Guessing

I'm only guessing about Seagrove. Why would they be called "Eastern Lake" and "Western Lake"? The settlers I'm picturing would probably be the first surveyors or perhaps native americans. Genereally speaking, I thought Grayton was the first lasting settlement, but I think there were some folks here(Seagrove) before C.H. McGee. Does anybody know?
DuneLaker avatar
Beach Fanatic
#24
Sorry I don't have time to answer in more detail. Here are a few primary source documents I have. I'm busy preparing for Chautauqua and library talk, so further comments will probably have to wait. Maybe I'll start a history blog next month and use that for my book draft. A new thread will certainly be needed. The following is original research and notes by Dunelaker.

John Wesley received a land grant from the United States in 1895 for 100 acres in the Pt. Washington area. (South Walton was in Walton County when it was formed in 1824, but was part of Washington County from 1825 until 1913.)

William B. Butler's grant in what I believe is Grayton was in 1896 and was for 160 acres and "eighteen hundredths of an acre."

John Wesley's son, William H. Wesley and wife Katie, received grant in 1903 in the Eastern Lake area of SoWal for 160 acres.

Mickey (youngest of 9 Wesley children) Wesley's surviving husband wrote me that he remembers Mickey telling him of holding her mother's and brothers' hands as they walked down to the beach at Eastern Lake from their home which is now known as the Wesley House at Eden State Gardens. They came down a sand road and crossed a bridge on the north end of Eastern Lake. They had homes on this beach property at Eastern Lake.

I have a picture of Mr. Wesley on Eastern Lake in 1930.

I have a 1931 county map that shows the area of Wesley Eastern Lake grant called "Miramar" (which I was told was what Wesley earlier wanted to call EL community)

The 1939 plat of Eastern Lake Estates by William and Katie Wesley has a Pt. Washington address. (So is it really Pt. Washington Beach?? or maybe Eastern Lake Beach)

Further research in Spanish and other Land Grants would be interesting to me. A number of European countries claimed various parts of Florida during the heavy exploration and colonization years.

I enjoy reading Cabeza de Vaca's 1528 account when he passed by these shores and mentioned native peoples who were living in the area. It has been translated.

I am excited about the not yet announced and official findings of native peoples in Northwest Florida about 20,000 years ago. It is my understanding that the official announcement and papers will be published sometime this year. This particular spot is not in SoWal, though not too far as the canoe paddles. But, who knows, such ancient remains may one day be found here.

Does anyone know what year Grayton had an official plat filed with Walton County or Washington County? An official record of a map or plat with date would be helpful.

Extensive research will be required, imho.

Happy hunting and discussing until then.

The differences and common history of our wonderful SoWal communities are fabulous.

Later.

Edited

ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#25
I'd have to look for the first plat of Grayton, though I don't think it was "platted," initially.

The oldest plat we frequently see is Map of Santa Rosa, which was first filed in Washington County. Lord knows our local surveyors wish someone had platted Point Washington.
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#26
Blue Mountain Beach got it's name from sailors and was probably the first "named" area of South Walton. Thanks to the blue flowers covering the area pre-development and it's height above sea level it was a common geographical marker used by sailors. The name stuck and today we have the community of Blue Mountain Beach.

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