The Emerald Coast is named for the jewel-toned waters of the crystal clear Gulf of Mexico caused by the sun's reflection of natural microscopic plankton from the sugary white sandy bottom below. Colors range from vibrant emerald green to peridot and turquoise. The pure white quartz crystal sand, which was shaved off the tops of the Appalachian Mountains eons ago during the Ice Age, was pulverized through tidal action into its present shimmering form. Destin, renowned as a premier fishing destination, has flourished for 175 years since its namesake, Captain Leonard Destin, settled here in 1848, pioneering its abundant waters. The near proximity of the 100-fathom deep canyon curve offshore allowed anglers here to have the fastest access to deep sea fishing on the entire Gulf of Mexico. The harbor connects from the Gulf into the wide expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay for other angling adventures. The enterprising Captain Marler went to work for Captain Destin in 1880 and expanded the fishing fleet to over 100 boats in the course of a few years. He realized the tourist potential of this burgeoning operation and established fishing camps on the bay in the 1890s. It's rumored Marler was the first to describe Destin as "the luckiest fishing village in the world." Indeed, since today, Destin is home to the largest private charter fishing fleet in all of North America!

Starting around 1970, these sugary white beaches were discovered by enchanted beachgoers causing it to grow exponentially in development and fame. Ocean Reef Resorts has been providing fine distinctive beach vacation rental properties along the Emerald Coast to literally generations of families since 1982. Today, rentals extend from Destin, all along Scenic 30A, and over to Panama City Beach. These fine, privately owned residences include Gulf-front mansions, charming cottages, luxurious condominiums, and homes located in exclusively gated golf courses or beach resorts. Until recent years, everything from the harbor all the way out to the end of Scenic 30A was considered to be Destin. Today, it is individually personified by a number of marvelous residential settings. Here is a brief look at each community along the Emerald Coast going from west to east.

Destin

Discover Destin, the heart of Florida's Emerald Coast, where the charm of a historic fishing village meets modern luxury and natural splendor. From the island-like allure of Holiday Isle to the vibrant energy of Downtown Destin, this area offers a unique blend of scenic beauty and lively cultural experiences. With its stunning beaches, renowned marinas, and diverse residential communities, Destin embodies the essence of a coastal paradise, inviting visitors to explore its rich history, pristine waters, and exceptional hospitality.

Holiday Isle

Holiday Isle is Destin's version of an island since it is surrounded on three sides by the gorgeous Gulf, the harbor, and the East Pass that connects over to the bay. It sits right across from HarborWalk Village, just a few minutes away by car and even faster by water taxi. Actually, the entirety of Destin resembles an island since the long peninsula sits three to five miles off the mainland, bordered by a big bay to the north, Panama City Beach to the east, the glorious open Gulf towards the south, and the East Pass Bay/Gulf connection on Destin's Harbor. Holiday Isle includes a number of beachfront luxury residential towers, single-family homes, and villas on a myriad of canals connecting to the harbor, as well as gated residential communities. This wonderful world is seemingly remote yet just minutes away from everything Destin has to offer.

Downtown Destin

Downtown Destin is centered around the giant marina and crowned by the golden Americana-styled HarborWalk Village. This wonderful destination includes restaurants, bars with live music, unique family amusements including a long Zip Line, outdoor concerts, fun festivals all year long, and vibrant seasonal firework celebrations. Ocean Reef Resorts guests enjoy special reduced rates there for fishing adventures, pontoon boat rentals out to the frolicking boat party at Crab Island, dolphin sightseeing adventures, sunset dinner cruises, and even a treasure hunt aboard a large sail masted boat with a rollicking crew of pirates.

Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach is east of Downtown Destin on Scenic Highway 98, bordering the expansive pristine shores of Henderson State Beach Park. This residential community is aptly named since sugary dunes with condos and lovely homes overlook the shimmering "crystal beach." This sought-after vacation community includes beachfront mansions, upscale condominiums, and charming cottages. It is very close to Destin Commons, which is an idyllic retail village with Mediterranean-styled turret towers, a classic fountain, a geyser plaza where kids can enjoy some refreshing fun, restaurants with bars, and an AMC Multiplex Theater. Pedestrian and Pet-Friendly avenues lined with Royal Palms meander through the village, connecting to a myriad of fine clothiers, fashion boutiques, shoe stores, jewelers, and many specialty shops.

Destiny

Destiny is a highly privileged collection of mostly gated communities nearby on Scenic Highway 98 centered on a coastal dune lake and the gorgeous Gulf. A long promenade with picnic pavilions provides easy access to the bright beach. The popular Crab Trap Restaurant is anchored there, featuring great seafood, sandwiches, soups, salads, craft cocktails, and tropical drinks. The Destiny East, Destiny West, and Destiny by the Sea neighborhoods include lavish beachfront villas or lakefront mansions along with superb club-like amenities.

Frangista Beach

Frangista Beach is a famous shore-front residential community on Scenic Gulf Drive over in Miramar Beach. It was so splendid that it received acclaim for its community design by being featured in Coastal Living Magazine and shown on HGTV. A row of Royal palms line the main drive beside the Gulf, passing by manicured yards with white picket fences. It includes a mix of homes with columned neoclassical designs, stately Mediterranean styles, and nostalgic 'Old Florida' reproductions, many of which are adorned with wrap-around verandas. Besides the beautiful beach, which is within easy walking distance of all the properties, this residential enclave has a tropically landscaped exclusively gated oasis that is centrally located and features a sparkling swimming pool.

Miramar Beach

Miramar Beach is another unincorporated community that extends along Scenic Gulf Drive over to Emerald Coast Parkway out towards Scenic 30A. It includes a number of championship golf courses, including one at the Seascape Resort, which also has a pro tennis center and beach recreation rentals. Ocean Reef Resorts guests receive complimentary discounts for each fun activity. Seascape features luxury residential condo towers that overlook the Gulf with 2,000 linear feet of shimmering beach and include lavish amenities with giant swimming pools. They include the magnificent Majestic Sun, which resembles a sandcastle with a soaring arch right through its center; Ariel Dunes I & Ariel Dunes II, and Empress. Other beach resorts nearby include Amalfi Coast, Edgewater, Mainsail, and Windancer. Miramar Beach also includes amazing beachfront villas and cozy cottages.

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort is also in Miramar Beach and spans 2,400 acres of lush forested grounds dotted with lagoons from the bright, beautiful shoreline over the bay. This exclusive guard-gated resort is a world-class destination with four championship golf courses, a tennis club, a yacht marina, and a fitness center. Regal residential towers with swimming pools overlook the glowing jeweled Gulf while sensational villas and townhomes face golf course fairways. The bayside also offers deluxe condos or townhome residences with great amenities. Guests have access to complimentary seasonal trams, which go everywhere on the grand resort grounds. The tropically urbane town center of Sandestin, known as Grand Boulevard, features great restaurants with friendly bars, fine clothiers, boutiques, specialty shops, galleries, a Publix grocery store, and a liquor wine shop. A state-of-the-art Multiplex Theater features a unique VIP Observation lounge to dine and drink while viewing new film releases. The Village of Baytowne Wharf is also on the grounds with a beguiling design inspired by architecture in the French Quarter of New Orleans and straddles a lagoon with a long wharf out into the beautiful bay. It includes restaurants, bars with live music, outdoor concerts, fun year-round festivals, family amusements, and exciting seasonal firework displays.

30A

Embark on a journey along Scenic 30A, the center of Florida's Emerald Coast, where each mile reveals a tapestry of stunning seascapes, award-winning beaches, and enchanting coastal villages. This twenty-four-mile stretch is not just a drive but a discovery of diverse ecosystems, from preserved forests to rare coastal dune lakes, each fostering an abundance of wildlife. Every village along 30A, from Dune Allen Beach to Inlet Beach, offers its unique personality and charm, inviting you to explore and experience the idyllic beauty and vibrant community life that define this beloved part of the Emerald Coast.

Dune Allen Beach

Dune Allen Beach is the western gateway into this privileged world located beside the expanse of Topsail State Beach Park. It features three forested coastal dune lakes and towering white dunes that resemble the topsails of ships from far out into the Gulf. They overlook a long remote beach that spans miles across to Sandestin. This place, which became a vacation destination many years ago, has classic Vintage Modern beach homes, opulent newer homes, villas, and condominiums. This community includes some great local restaurants with beach bars like whimsically named Stinky's which is actually known for fresh Gulf-caught seafood and gourmet Gulf-front dining with panoramic vistas atop a dune at the Vue on 30A.

Santa Rosa Beach

Santa Rosa Beach is right next door to Dune Allen and has a nationally acclaimed coastal village center known as Gulf Place. This tropically landscaped setting sits high upon a dune with gulf access from townhomes, condominiums, and palatial beachfront residences. It features fun seasonal festivals and outdoor concerts around a palm-lined amphitheater, casual restaurants with bars, art galleries, specialty shops, along with fashion boutiques. Amenities for many residences include swimming pools, tennis courts, and hot tubs.

Blue Mountain Beach

Blue Mountain Beach is nearby towards the east on forested dune bluffs around a coastal dune lake and boasts having the highest elevation on the entire Gulf of Mexico. This somewhat Bohemian village includes art galleries, specialty shops, the oldest Health Food Store in Walton County, a few restaurants with bars, an ice cream parlor, and a bakery. Upscale condominiums, townhomes, cottages, and beachfront villas provide deluxe creature comfort amenities. The sensational 180-degree views of the Gulf from this elevation are truly spectacular, and community access conveniently leads down to the beautiful beach below.

Grayton Beach

Grayton Beach is one of the oldest Gulf-front communities and was established here in the 1880s as a shore-front summer cottage destination. It is nestled beside a coastal dune lake treasure with an estuary that flows both ways with the tides and the open Gulf. It adjoins almost 2,000 forested acres of the Grayton Beach State Park, which was reported in Forbes Magazine as having one of the most Beautiful Beaches in America. Accommodations here include charming cottages, big beach homes, condominiums, and townhomes. The intimate old historic village center has been restored and features the famous Red Bar, offering great food, craft cocktails, and live music nightly. The Zoo Gallery across the street features a vibrant array of decorative art, jewelry, and unique beach-inspired furnishings created by select artists. The Tribe Kelley Surf Post next door offers a wide array of chic, fashionable coastal clothing along with handpicked beach-styled accessories. The Chiringo's features tapas, seafood, favorite drinks, and seasonal entertainment. The popular AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar is minutes away, featuring delicious seafood and rollicking dance bands that play there nightly.

WaterColor

WaterColor is a newly created coastal village with Old Florida styling for private residences and a few condominiums. This serene community spans almost 500 acres of lushly landscaped grounds bordering the glowing jewel-toned Gulf, the heavenly shores of precious Western Lake, and the forested dunes of Grayton Beach State Park. Six community swimming pools are available to guests, and "The Boat House" provides rentals on paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes so you may try your luck fishing or exploring the lovely lake. The award-winning Watercolor Inn Restaurant (FOOW) faces the crystalline white shoreline while offering gourmet meals, appetizers, and favorite drinks. You may also luxuriate here in the emerald-toned Gulf.

Seaside

Seaside is an iconic piece of village design and received international architectural fame for its pedestrian-friendly coastal setting when created in the 1980s. It includes a village lawn amphitheater lined with towering palm trees, restaurants with bars, art galleries, boutiques, specialty shops, fun festivals, and colorful seasonal fireworks celebrations. It received national fame in 1998 when "The Truman Show" with Jim Carry and Laura Linney was filmed here on location.

Seagrove Beach

Seagrove Beach borders the east side of Seaside and was established back in the 1940s as a summer vacation destination. It includes some classic beach cottages along with newer villas, glorious Gulf-front mansions, townhomes, and condominiums. Newly designed neighborhoods a close distance away from the beach include charming single-family residences in nostalgic Americana-styled settings with stellar amenities. Seagrove Beach has a famed gourmet seafood restaurant called Café Thirty-A, which is famous for Martini Nights. There are also other delightful local restaurants located here, including family Italian, authentic Mexican, and unique tasty barbeque offerings.

WaterSound

WaterSound is a privileged Gulf-front community that sit on dunes overlooking the emerald-hued Gulf with sugary white beaches and a large precious coastal dune lake, which includes the Deer Lake State Park. This is an absolutely heavenly setting. Residences include magnificent 'Old Florida' or 'Cape Cod' style homes and condos along with lavish amenities that include four large community swimming pools. Ramps near the pools meander across the dunes, connecting easily to their own private beach and sensational seascape.

Seacrest Beach

Seacrest Beach provides laid-back residential beach living at its best. Here, Scenic Highway 30A is lined with two rows of palm trees, and a lifeguard tower centers the village welcomes visitors. The glistening Gulf, which it borders, can be seen easily since this community sits on the crest of a dune. The architecture varies between charming Old Florida-styled designs with wrap-around verandas along with breezy balconies, European, Mediterranean, and modern contemporarily styled condominiums. A jungle of palm trees and other tropical plantings accentuate the beautiful surroundings throughout the community. Seacrest Beach North is centered by one of the largest community swimming pools in northwest Florida, which provides an awesome setting. The 14,000 square feet of interconnected pools flow from one to another on multiple levels, with a large fountain on top of one that cascades down onto delighted children splashing around in the pool. Lush tropical landscaping, picnic pavilion, and lovely garden walkways surround this sumptuous oasis. The village center includes restaurants, beach bars, specialty shops, and boutiques.

Rosemary Beach

Rosemary Beach is the coastal village next door to Seacrest and features a captivating Dutch Colonial West Indies-styled setting. It includes beachfront mansions, townhomes, cottages, and supreme amenities with multiple swimming pools. This ideal coastal village features extraordinary restaurants, friendly bars, specialty shops, galleries, boutiques, outdoor concerts, family lawn games, fun festivals, and holiday firework celebrations.

Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach is a stylish, wealthy nouveau residential enclave at the far eastern end of Scenic 30A. It provides five-star accommodations in upscale single-family homes to the lucky guests who stay here. This lovely laid-back residential enclave has quiet streets and golden sea oat-studded sand dunes bordering a beach, which reflects a natural, serene ambiance. Inlet Beach borders Camp Helen State Park, which spans 180 acres towards the east, offering an amazing abundance of natural wildlife and some great fishing. It sits on a rounded peninsula that is surrounded on three sides by water, including the open Gulf, the Philips Inlet estuary, and Lake Powell, which is one of the largest Coastal Dune Lakes in the world. It is minutes away from the fashionable 30Avenue, which provides a lavish tropical setting adorned with palm trees for shopping adventures, dining, drinks and fun.

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, a gem on Florida's Emerald Coast, offers a dynamic blend of family-friendly charm and lively entertainment. Known for its bustling beach bars, diverse dining options, and an array of shopping and amusement opportunities, this destination captivates visitors with its vibrant atmosphere. Bordered by the open Gulf and the serene estuary leading to Lake Powell, Panama City Beach encompasses three distinct vacation communities - Carillon Beach, Sunnyside, and Laguna Beach. Each area boasts its unique appeal, from enchanting coastal village settings to exhilarating water parks and tranquil beachfronts, making Panama City Beach an unforgettable coastal retreat for all ages.

Carillon Beach

Carillon Beach is a perfect coastal village created to provide an enchanting golden Americana setting. It is quite stunning and the first place you see when you cross over a long bridge from Inlet Beach into Panama City Beach. It adjoins the glittering Gulf with an estuary that connects over to Lake Powell, which provides an abundant habitat for wildlife and fish. The village marketplace is centered upon a classic fountain courtyard with a Bell Tower, specialty shops, restaurants, and bistros. A lush Village Green hosts outdoor concerts and festivals. Many homes and a few condos are located on the beautiful beach or facing a giant lagoon as well as elsewhere around the lushly landscaped grounds. Abundant amenities throughout this privileged world include the bright beach, which spans across 3,900 linear feet beside the glowing jewel-toned Gulf. This coastal village resort also features three palatial swimming pools, tennis courts, a basketball court, and a playground for kids. Residents also enjoy fishing, bird watching, and paddle boarding or kayak exploration of the awesome coastal dune lake. The expansive tropically landscaped grounds include garden promenades that showcase sculpture, charming pavilions, and eight classically columned pergola dune walkovers that provide gracious access to the beautiful beach.

Sunnyside

Sunnyside is further east along the coast with a community of homes and condominiums. A long, wide beach park right across from it provides easy access to a pristine setting that includes sugary dunes, a shimmering shoreline, and the gleaming Gulf. This awesome location is minutes away from the popular Pier Park. It features a pedestrian-friendly boulevard adorned with tropical plantings, a wide array of specialty shops, restaurants, and friendly beach bars that have live bands. It is anchored by one of the longest piers located on the Gulf of Mexico, and for a nominal charge, you may fish there all day or take a stroll to enjoy the spectacular views. Pier Park features lively, fun festivals throughout the year with food, drinks, and live music, which are often accompanied by exciting fireworks extravaganzas.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is a beachfront neighborhood in Panama City Beach consisting of Gulf-front luxury residential towers, townhomes, and condos. This location is even closer to the aforementioned Pier Park as well as other delightful diversions. They include popular restaurants with beach bars, grocery stores, and liquor wine outlets. Fantastic amusements include The Hidden Lagoon Race Track & Tropical Miniature Golf Course, The pirate-themed Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and The Gulf World Marine Park. Gulf World features fun dolphin shows along with over 200 exotic animals which can be seen. Ship Wreck Island spans across fifteen tropical grounds with river rides, slides, flumes, and a wave pool.

Now that you have an all-inclusive Emerald Coast preview of beach vacation destinations, enjoy choosing your favorites from our wide inventory of fine privately owned vacation rentals. You are able to pick those that best suit your needs for a magical family vacation or a fun, memorable beach reunion with friends. These vacation homes are also perfect for Hallmark Events like honeymoons, romantic getaways, special birthdays, or anniversaries. Our acclaimed Ocean Reef Resorts website will show you vivid property images, detailed descriptions, aerial views of each location, seasonal rental rates, and calendar dates still available for reservations. We are blessed to live in a place that has not only "the most beautiful beaches in the world" but also such dazzling diversity, beautiful surroundings, and abundant fun. It's our great pleasure to share this with all of our special Ocean Reef guests.