Posted on 2/26/2011
Rosemary Beach is a radiant European styled, jewel of a village that sits at the far eastern end of famed Scenic Highway 30A, above one of the pristine Beaches of South Walton. In a way it could be described as a "Nouveau" Old World styled village because it is new but looks centuries old. This preplanned community was designed to look like a 300 year old Dutch colonial town that you might find somewhere in the Caribbean. The village was named after the indigenous, fragrant rosemary spice that flourishes naturally along the coast. Rosemary Beach was designed in the mid 1990s by the world renowned architectural team of Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. They introduced the New Urban Design concept one decade earlier with the successful completion of Seaside which is west of Rosemary Beach. Their conceptual design, which has achieved beautiful realization, provides friendly pedestrian landscapes with long grassy public lawns, mini parks and interconnecting trails around cloistered neighborhoods. The vast majority of homes here have unique custom designs so it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any two that are the same. It is an architectural treasure house of "old world" charm. A stroll down the hill from the Town Hall to the lush wide lawn leading to the beach definitely has a European feel. The specialty boutiques, wine bistros and sidewalk cafes may have you wondering if you need a passport. Paths, lanes and even secluded pathways weave throughout all sections of the village connecting everyone to the swimming pools, tennis courts and of course the beach. There is also a two and one half mile Fitness Trail with four work stations for strength training, stretching and agility exercises. The open public spaces and lawns are perfect settings for Frisbee tosses, picnics or simply for reading a good book. There is a colorful Butterfly Garden and interactive fountain which is quite a treat for kids of all ages. However, the number one attraction in Rosemary is the Beach!
On the second floor there is the main living area which includes an open, earth toned kitchen that looks out into the Great Room. Golden colored Heart of Pine wood flooring is accented by a matching wood ceiling that soars high overhead. Built-in cabinets and shelving flank each side of the floor to ceiling fireplace at one end of the room with an ample dining table at the other. Across the southern wall of the Great Room are long, window paned French doors with transom windows above which provide sunny, gulf views. These doors lead to the long covered porch which runs along the beach side of the house. Rich looking teak chairs, bar seats, a table and even a grill make this a wonderful place to listen to the surf while enjoying the spectacular views. Upstairs from the second level is a third floor loft complete with a sitting area and trundle beds. This area almost resembles a Crow's Nest on a big ship. Giant beams with open railings surround this special spot where you can look way down to the Great Room and stairwell below.
On the side of the house is a cozy guest cottage which is tastefully and comfortably furnished. This space is like a small apartment in itself with a full kitchen tucked under the loft above. The main room includes a king sized bed with a ladder that leads up to the open loft which has both a queen and twin sized bed. The full bath is off the main room across from the breakfast bar that has two seats facing into the kitchen.
One of the great things about Oli-Ash besides it's ideal beach front location in a picture perfect place filled with old world charm, is the design of the home itself. It can easily accommodate ten guests with up to twelve if you pull out the double sofa bed that sits in front of the fireplace. What's more, you can split it up since sleeping quarters are in three separate sections of the house and there are two kitchens. This could accommodate three groups of friends, three families and even three generations of the same family!
Besides Oli-Ash in Rosemary Beach, Ocean Reef Resorts has many wonderful properties available right next door in Seacrest Beach. This residential community is quiet and laid back which is very obvious when you enter town. The eastern and western borders of Seacrest are marked by tall decorative Lifeguard Towers that bid welcome! It is located near Camp Creek and Deer Lake State Park with over 1,700 acres of forest preserve which adjoin both of these rare, natural dune lakes. There is an abundance of wild life, water fowl, natural local vegetation and scores of old live oak trees. Seacrest Beach is also home to the largest and most popular community pools along this entire stretch of Scenic Highway 30A. This 12,000 square foot multilevel pool is a refreshing paradise with waterfalls and splashing fountains. There's a lot to tell you about since Seacrest is another whole world of its own, so we will save that for another day. If you are in the area, our 30A office is nearby so drop in for a visit and have a cold beverage on us. It gives us great pleasure at Ocean Reef to provide our guests with the kind of Southern Hospitality and top-notch Vacation Rentals that characterizes our service. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
