Living at the Beach RSS Feed

From plays to movies, and football, to farmers' markets there's plenty to do along 30A this weekend!   Check out our list of just a few fun things going on here at the beach!

International Ocean Film Tour at Watersound Origins

Date:                 Friday Sept 17 – Saturday Sept 18th

Time:                7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Where:             Watersound Origins Village Commons Lawn  - Event Details & Ticket Info

Moonlight Paddle on Lake Powell

Date:                    Friday Sept 17

Time:                   7:30 – 8:30 pm

Where:                Camp Helen State Park  -  Event Details

Seaside Farmers’ Market

Date:                 Saturday – Sept 18th

Time:                9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Where:             …

When you live along the Gulf Coast, hurricanes, and storms are simply a way of life. As communities both far and near, we always come together to help one another in a time of need. In an effort to assist those who want to help our neighbors in Louisiana who are living through the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we’ve put together a list of relief efforts currently underway by 30A local businesses.  Please consider reaching out to support these local efforts!   

Also please check back often - as we receive additional sources of relief efforts we'll update the list below with new information!

From Seaside FL Facebook Page: Please visit our Stories or Hurricane Relief Story Highlight on our Instagram page @seasidefl to learn more. We will continue…

What areas/beach towns along 30A are experiencing the most activity and interest of buyers so far this year? If you live in or own property in Seagrove Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, or Watercolor then you’re in a very popular location indeed. So, like most property owners, in today's market, you are not only most likely enjoying a significant equity increase, but buyers are actively looking and buying in your Beach Towns the most right now!

Maintaining its #1 ranking as a 30A Favorite Beach Town is Seagrove Beach.  This little town was branded as "The Place Where Mother Nature Did Her Best" by founding developer CH McGee back in the 1920s. and 30s.   Today Seagrove begins on the eastern border of Seaside and extends just beyond the Eastern Lake…

Yesterday in the news, according to NAR (National Assoc of Realtors);  June median home prices nationwide are up by 23.4% compared with the previous year.   But the first rule in real estate is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  Trends in real estate markets are hyper-local.  So, to get a snapshot of what’s happening here along 30A we’ve pulled together some year-to-date trends to share.

In South Walton, specifically, homes located south of Highway 98 and along the 30A corridor are where we focused our info today.  The local median home price here increased this year by 42.5%.  The current median home price in the area is $1,255,000. The trend for the number of homes sold so far this year is up along with the gap between the seller’s asking price compared…

When driving down Scenic 30A in South Walton Florida you’ll no doubt notice a series of lakes along the way.  This unique chain of 15 lakes which is found dotting the 19+ miles of our Northwest Florida coastal highway is not your ordinary lake! They are indeed rare, unique, and found in only 4 places throughout the world!  Because of the combination of fresh water and their close proximity to Gulf waters, the result is the existence of a highly delicate ecosystem.  As such, these special lakes found along Scenic Highway 30A are  also protected to insure their continued health and vitality.    

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, (CBA), Walton Tourist Development Council  (TDC) and the Walton County Board of County Commissions are sponsoring a DIY…

Summer is already here and what’s sure to be a remarkably busy time on South Walton Beaches. Sir Winston Churchill once said: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” And as I think about the record-setting Spring visitor season we’ve just experienced, there’s no denying that the secret is out! Walton County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and folks are flocking here to experience the good things that we   already know and love about it here! 30A’s beautiful beaches, state parks, communities and quality of life are unique, special, and one-of-a-kind!

Those of us who are lucky enough to live here, work here and call this place home, will undoubtedly be presented with both challenges AND opportunities this busy…

SANTA ROSA BEACH FLORIDA -

After three years of anticipation, planning, design, and construction, a brand-new Habitat for Humanity ReStore located at 2260 U.S. Highway 98 West, Santa Rosa Beach, FL is nearing final stages of completion. The group hopes to be open for business sometime in July. The new facility has been in the works since 2018 when Habitat for Humanity Walton County received a grant from IMPACT 100. The grant money allowed for the purchase of the property at their soon-to-be new location in South Walton County.  Once completed, the new, more spacious modern facility will enable the non-profit group the ability to handle more donated items that will be offered for resale to the public.

Proceeds from sales of items through the…

Green Sea Turtles, Loggerheads along with several other species  of turtles have begun    to make their annual trek to the beautiful beaches of South Walton and 30A. Nesting season takes place in Northwest Florida each year between May and October. In early summer, female turtles begin coming onshore to build nests in the sand dunes and lay their eggs. Anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks later, the hatchling turtles will emerge from the nests.  Using the natural light reflections from the surf as a guide, the hatchlings make their way from the nests back into the gulf waters.  Sea Turtles are considered protected species.

The South Walton Turtle Watch is a local volunteer group that monitors the beaches daily during turtle nesting season. They carefully mark…

The Gulf Cemetery Association in conjunction with this year’s Memorial Day ceremony, is sponsoring The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall©  throughout the Memorial Day Weekend 2021. This year’s theme for Memorial Day is “United in Sacrifice, Honored in Remembrance” and what better way to showcase this through the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall© is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, standing six feet tall at the center and nearly 300 feet from end to end. This Traveling Memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their hometown who…

30A local Native Landscape Professional - Jen Jones shares advice on why creating a landscape plan that incorporates native plants is a win-win!

As a local landscaper/gardener, I often get asked “What are the best and lowest maintenance plants to use in my yard?” My answer is always the same; "It is best to leave what is here naturally, if not, then look at the natural area surrounding you and mimic it, that is what works here." I am talking about native trees, shrubs, palmettos, ornamental grasses, perennials and wildflowers that have traits which are uniquely adapted to our local climate, geological, hydrological and biological conditions.  We have sand not soil, salty air, high heat and humidity, floods, droughts, strong wind and the…