Look up on the third floor and then go a little to the right and that would be my ResortQuest balcony overlooking this stretch of white beach that goes on forever and a day…I have a feeling I’m going to be looking in realty offices. This place is gorgeous.
How come no one ever told me about this stretch of Florida?
And let’s talk about the ResortQuest condo…I checked in and wanted to throw a small party for fifty. It’s huge with every dish and accoutrement you could think of and all of it done up in lime and pink and a blue like the Tidy Bowl blue of the sea off the balcony.
Instead I walked directly across the street for a lovely late dinner at the Smiling Fish. I left no evidence of the corn-dusted calamari with a sweet chili glaze or the beet salad, that was fresh and tart with just the right amount of roasted pecans and blue cheese dressing. Of course the pinot grigio was strictly to help take the edge off the cooling night.
I can seriously see myself coming back to a place like this. Flights are cheap out of Seattle…hence the stay the previous night…and a few people could share all this kind of condo magnificence and life would be grand. They rent by the week. I think that would have to be the bare minimum stay to get the hang of this world.
The light is so bright here. Everything looks like it’s glowing. Maybe everything is just in a hyper state of photosynthesis from all the sunshine. I don’t know but I know it feels like a new kind of clarity for me. I think I might have been meant to live at a beach that looks more like this; one that squeaks as you walk, like the fresh shiny sound of dry snow.
There are people cycling and walking and generally just looking kind of happy. This is a good thing.
Please let us know when you can visit our coast again! I’d love to treat you to lunch!
Marilue,
You have no idea how timely your lunch invitation is…my husband and I were just out for a walk, on this grey and stormy West Coast day, and talking about how lovely it would be to be somewhere where wool socks weren’t necessary 🙂 Enjoy that sunshine!
Ssshhh…Santa Rosa Beach is a secret…been staying there for years and bought a condo at the Villa’s at Santa Rosa 2 years ago. That white, white sand and emerald blue Gulf never get old. Can sit on my balcony for hours…just watching the water and the many dolphins that pass by each day. The sunsets are unbelievable. Isn’t it great to just run across 30A to Miss Lucille’s for a latte and the Smiling Fish for lunch. Stinky’s (the food has to be good with a name like Stinky’s) and the Red Bar are favorites. Right down 30A is a hidden little gem called Cafe Tango and on Hwy 98, Louie Louie, Red Bars sister. Thanks for the complimentary article and “ya’ll” come back real soon. By the way, Seattle is not too shabby!
It really did feel like a secret discovery. I’d never really heard of anyone going to that part of Florida, but 30A is a pretty cool stretch of a non-highway. Thanks for sharing your piece of the coast. I’m pretty sure I’ll be back sooner than later.
Colleen, I’ve owned at the Villas of Santa Rosa 301A and it is all you said and more .There is no destresser like watching the dolphins play from that third floor balcony.Next time your in “paradise” you must try Cafe Tango. Many wonderful things but don’t leave without the fudge brownie. Also huevos rancheros a Don Pedro are to die for. Come back soon
I missed the dolphin show…guess that means I’ll have to come back for sure, especially now that you’re talking huevos rancheros. Thanks for the invitation to return. I’ll be taking you up on it 🙂
Colleen, Thank you so much for your kind words about our hidden paradise. We take pride in our way of life here on this coast. It truly is a very special place. Make sure you have breakfast at Stinky’s Liar’s Club down on Oyster Lake. Please make an effort to check out The Red Bar in Grayton Beach. Truly an experience not to miss. I am the team leader for ResortQuest Real Estate on Hwy 30A. We would love to help you find that perfect piece of paradise! Again, thank you for your kind words. At ResortQuest, we like to make sure our guests have fun in an area that we call home!
Namaste! Marilue Mitchell Maris PA Team Leader for ResortQuest Real Estate, Santa Rosa Beach, Seagrove Beach and Seacrest Beach Florida.
Namaste Marilue
Funny you should mention Stinky’s and The Red Bar…After a lovely bike ride I had a fabulous oyster po’ boy sandwich at Stinky’s. And I LOVED the Red Bar. I’ll probably be posting some photos about that experience soon. The music was hot and fast and the crowd was loving it. You really do live in a wonderful part of the world. Thanks for the opportunity to experience it. Cheers, Colleen
This area sounds divine. It’s probably about a days drive from my winter home in southwest Florida, where there are entirely too many people and cars and stores to be anything like this peaceful.
You’re on a writing retreat, aren’t you? What a lovely setting – should be inspiring!
Yes, this is the Write by the Water retreat. We really just started tonight and it’s been great. I’m enjoying the discussions and wine:) I love how it cools off at night and all I hear is the surf and the slight clatter of the palms. It’s a very low-key place…