Our Favorite Grocery Stores at the Beach

Our favorite overall grocery store is the Publix at Ocean Park Pavilion. Publix has fabulous bakery, deli, produce and meat departments. They also have a large selection of wine and beer. I look forward to shopping at Publix for wine and cheese to enjoy on the beach at sunset, scrumptious baked goods to have with my morning coffee and seasonal produce to prepare with grilled fish or sauteed shrimp. Just across the highway from this Publix is a Winn Dixie store. Winn Dixie is also a great grocery, and, in addition to groceries, has a large selection of beach chairs, beach toys, rafts, towels, fishing supplies and just about anything else you might need for a fun day at the beach. To get to these two stores from our house, exit the Seacrest Beach North neighborhood and turn left on 30A, about a half mile away just past Rosemary Beach is a traffic light at the junction of 30A and US 98 (also known as Panama City Beach Pkway), turn right at the light onto US 98, continue over the bridge that crosses Phillips Inlet. Just ahead on the left is Publix and just across the highway is Winn Dixie. There is another Publix west of our house at Watercolor Crossings. Exit the neighborhood and turn right, drive about 7 miles on 30A, turn right on 395 and Water Color Crossings will be on the right side of the road.

12,000 square foot pool at Seacrest, Florida on Scenic 30A

If you have wondered what the pool at Seacrest Beach North is like, take a look at this video from YouTube. As you can see, it has lush landscaping, several seating areas, lap pools, a large central pool, fountains and water falls and three shallow areas for kids. There are several restrooms, showers, vending machines and picnic tables. Behind the pool is a terraced open area for recreation. Frequently during the summer time there are evening concerts in this area. At night time the pool is beautifully lit and the water feels fantastic after a hot day at the beach.

Seacrest Sundries Has What You Need!

Seacrest Sundries Northwest Beaches WCities Travel Guide

While staying with us in Seacrest Beach, make sure to stop in at Seacrest Sundries, a very short walk from the house and facing 30A. Seacrest Sundries has groceries, wine, beer, snacks, tasty sandwiches and a littel bit of everything else. The people who own and operate Seacrest Sundries are extremely friendly and at least one of them is a fan of our beloved Louisville Cardinals, making this store an instant favorite with us. The store also sells 30A logo apparel. Follow Seacrest Sundries on their Facebook page to keep up with news from Seacrest Beach.

Tired of All the Tranquility?

Do you want a break from all that beach relaxation and wish that there was someplace to go for shopping, entertainment, and fun theme restaurants? There is--the new Pier Park at Panama City Beach is just a few miles East on US 98. There you will find the new city pier for fishing, loads of shopping, food, and entertainment for all ages. There is also a huge multi-plex cinema for rainy day movies.

Emmylou Harris~Shores of white sand

Shores of White Sand

The beautiful white sand beaches of the Panhandle have been thousands of years in the making. They are made up of very fine crushed quartz that has washed down from the Appalachian Mountains to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The texture is soft as sugar and it looks like a fresh fall of powdery snow. The dazzling beaches contrast with the emerald green/blue of the Gulf waters and remind me of the song recorded by Emmylou Harris, Shores of White Sand. I wonder if that song was inspired by a visit to the beaches of S. Walton. I know it always makes me think of Seacrest Beach.

Where to Rent Your Beach Bikes on 30A

This is a picture of my sister's Pink Cadillac Beach Cruiser, the ultimate in beach biking comfort and style! Strap on the wicker basket and she is ready for the Farmers Market in Seaside, a little shopping at Rosemary's Wine and Cheese shop or just feeling the wind in her hair and the warm sun on her back as she cruises down the bike bath on 30A.

If you would like to experience this simple pleasure for yourself, there are dozens of bike rental businesses along 30A that have bikes to suit every age group. Many of them will deliver the bikes to your door and pick them up at the end of your vacation. Below is is list of links for a few of them:

Big Fish Bike Rentals: http://www.bigfishbikerentals.com/
Butterfly Bike and Kayak: http://www.butterflybikeandkayakrentals.com/
Sunny Days Bike Rental: http://www.sunnydaysbikes.com/
Big Daddy's Bikes and Beach: http://www.bigdaddysrentals.com/
Bamboo Bicycle Company at Rosemary Beach: http://www.bamboobicyclecompany.com/
Live Well 30A Concierge Services: http://www.livewell30a.com/

Biking Scenic Highway 30A

One of the great pleasures of vacationing in the beach communities of S. Walton is hiking or biking the 30A trail known as the Timpoochee Trail. This is a wide paved trail the runs parallel to Scenic Highway 30A, about 20 miles in length. It is mostly flat and meanders through some of the most stunning scenery in the panhandle. In addition to passing through all of the beach communities of 30A, from Inlet Beach on the East end to Grayton Beach at the West End and continuing to Highway 98, visitors will see rare coastal dune lakes, pine hammocks, secluded beaches, old Florida and new Florida architecture, wild flowers, a large variety of waterfowl, possibly a few alligators, deer and maybe even a black bear. For a preview, visit this link which has a map and photo tour of the trail: http://www.discover30a.com/tour/tour.html?/discover/guideto30a.asp