As for places to go that are very close, Fonville Press, the coffee shop at Alys beach is VERY nice and has wireless access if you have a laptop. It is a little over half a mile from Monterey. There's a lot of construction around the coffee shop since they're building Alys beach, so I like to go early in the morning (though there may be construction then, too). I think it opens around 7:30 AM and is a nice walk. Villages of South Walton about 1 - 1.5 miles away toward Rosemary has little shops and a nice deli and carvel ice cream place. We go there regularly. The desserts are wonderful and you can sit inside or outside. Then Rosemary Beach is about 2 miles away. And we LOVE Shades by the Loop right past Rosemary Beach on the right. Very good food (excellent oyster po'boy) and reasonable prices. It has an upscale sports bar atmosphere and has wireless as well (doesn't open until around 11:00 AM I think and stays open late at night). I think we're going to see many nice new places on that part of town but much of the Seacrest area (e.g., near Monterey) will stay pretty peaceful because I don't think the restaurants, etc., will be right in that area). Seagrove is about 4 miles away to the west and we like Old Florida Fish House (with adults-expensive) and Angelinas (relatively inexpensive and good for families with kids -- we like to get take out from there and just eat it on our porch -- seafood linguini is very good).
