Many of our esteemed Ocean Reef Resorts guests are familiar with old Grayton Beach, which is a laid-back enchanting historic village located south of Scenic 30A. However, two vacation rental destinations in Grayton sometimes get confused with one another due to their similar names. They are Grayton Beach Cottages and Grayton Beach Villas, which are actually very different from one another. However, they share one thing in common: having a premier locale steps away from an award-winning South Walton beach!

This outstanding Grayton Beach location borders the jeweled waters of the glittering gulf and the precious setting of Western Lake. Coastal Dune Lakes of this kind are rare natural treasures that are found hardly anywhere else in the entire world. In fact, such bodies of water are only found in only four other places on the planet, which are Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the Pacific Northwest. Meandering creek-like tributaries flow across the sandy dunes from the lake into the gulf. They actually flow in two opposite directions related to high tides coming in and the low tides going out. This ever-changing flow creates an exotic mixture of artisan spring-fed salted water, which supports a thriving habitat for wildlife, a wide variety of fish, lots of waterfowl, and plants. A village dock is conveniently nearby, so you may launch a paddleboard or kayak to explore the lovely lake and try your luck fishing. You can easily walk the short distance to the sugary shoreline and shallow creek-like connection into the glittering emerald-toned gulf.

This coastal dune lake and shimmering shoreline borders nearly 2,000 acres of the highly acclaimed Grayton Beach State Park. It was recently reported to be one of the best beaches in America  after the completion of an extensive environmental study of the nation’s coastline. This is not surprising since the pure crystalline white beach, sugary dunes, and forested shoreline provide a kind of heavenly setting that can be found hardly anywhere else. The beach park is connected to around 15,000 acres of protected woodlands which feature nature trails where you may see Great Blue Herons, Snowy White Egrets, Pelicans, and American Bald Eagles that nest here. You can also see deer, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, and an occasional bear.

Both Grayton Beach Cottages and Grayton Beach Villas are a short stroll away from the charming historic village center, which features a setting of wonderful golden years gone by. The famous iconic Red Bar is there serving great food, craft cocktails, wine, and beer while providing live musical entertainment every night. The one-of-a-kind Zoo Gallery is right across the street with a vibrant, colorful array of decorative art, jewelry, and unique beach-inspired furnishings, which are created by select artists nationwide. The Tribe Kelley Surf Post, right next door to it, offers an awesome wide array of chic, fashionable coastal clothing along with handpicked shore-styled accouterments. Chiringo is a short stroll away, serving small plates along with seafood and favorite drinks while featuring seasonal entertainment. Destin’s famous AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar opened a Grayton Beach location only about a minute away by car. They feature delicious oysters, fresh gulf-caught entrees,and have rollicking bands that play every night.

This location is also a short distance away from many other restaurants, beach bars, fashion boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops in other picture-perfect coastal villages. Nearby Seaside and Santa Rosa Beach village center at Gulf Place also feature outdoor amphitheater concerts as well as fun festivals throughout the year. Now that you know how the Grayton Beach cottages and the villas are the same, here is how they are different.

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Grayton Beach Cottages

Grayton Beach Cottages should be called villas since they are large. There are only ten of these homes, and they are all aptly located on Cottage Street, so they bear this name. This short street boasts a phenomenal location since it is crowned at the end by the lovely tributary that meanders across the dunes from Western Lake into the open gulf. The sensational seascape views are stunning, and you can’t wait to splash around in the creek-like water or take a plunge into the gorgeous gulf. These gracious, spacious homes have an ‘Old Florida” architectural style with breezy columned verandas that wrap around the lower level. Upper-level verandas or balconies complement them since these homes stand two and three stories high. They include between three to five bedrooms with the ability to sleep nine to fourteen fortunate guests with multiple bedding accommodations. Besides the beautiful beach, a neighborhood swimming pool is just a stone’s throw away, and it is heated during the cooler times of the year.

Grayton Beach Villas

Ironically enough, the Grayton Beach Villas are more like cottages than the other property. This low-density two-story building has a nice nautical look with blue exteriors trimmed in white blue and accented with cheerful yellow doors. Each vacation rental includes two bedrooms with two full baths and an upper-level balcony or first-floor patio, which is accessed by sliding glass doors. They all accommodate up to six beach-going guests with the use of a queen-sized sleeper sofa. These vacation residences include comfortable upscale coastal-styled furnishings with tropical flourishes. Open living and dining areas include a wide portal pass-through that conveniently connects to the kitchen. Some feature an ensuite bath for the Primary Bedroom with a full hall bath for the other bedroom, which also serves as a powder room. Others share a full connected bath and have a half bath off the hallway that is a powder room. It should be noted that all the Primary Bedrooms have direct access to an upper balcony or lower level patio. The Grayton Beach Villas are a very short distance away from the bright shimmering beach with a raised ramp that crosses over the dunes to provide convenient access to the growing gulf.

Now that you know which Grayton Beach vacation rental property is which, enjoy taking some time to pick the one that will serve your needs best. Our state-of-the-art website is very user-friendly and will show you vivid property images, detailed descriptions, aerial views of each locale, seasonal rental rates, and calendar dates that are still available so you can make your own reservation.

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