Seagrove Beach vs. Seacrest Beach

Know the Difference

Posted on 2/6/2015

Some of our new Ocean Reef Resorts guests may be unfamiliar with the difference between Seagrove Beach and Seacrest Beach on South Walton's Scenic 30A. Both are located on this gorgeous road that runs eighteen miles along the Emerald Coast. The views are dazzling since this route is nestled along the shore between thousands of acres of preserved woodlands that border the sugary white beaches of the glistening jewel toned waters of the gulf. The beaches themselves are so pristine, clean and beautiful they have received the nation's highest honor with a Blue Wave Beach designation. Both Seagrove and Seacrest Beach share this enviable locale but the difference between the two of them is basically that one has been established for years and the other is a relative "new comer!"

Seagrove Beach borders Seaside (which was founded in 1981) and is the oldest established town along Scenic 30A. It was developed many years ago and became a popular place to have a beach house after WW II in the late 1940s. Until about twenty-five years there were no other towns on Scenic 30A except for Seagrove Beach so it has the distinction of being the original. Today properties include everything from the charming old Florida styled nostalgic homes from yesteryear to big newly constructed opulent beachfront mansions and luxurious condominiums. Many of these sit among mini forests of live oak trees above the water's edge since most of this community sits above the gorgeous gulf on a sandy dune.  Seagrove Beach is the halfway point on Scenic Highway 30A in between Dune Allen Beach at one end and Rosemary Beach at the other. This makes it a conveniently centered location for mini day trips to other picture perfect towns like Seaside, Watercolor and Grayton Beach. These delightful preplanned communities are a lot of fun to explore since they have art galleries, specialty boutiques, restaurants, bars and delightful seasonal festivals that often provide free musical concerts.

Angelina's Seagrove Beach

For those who want to dine out there are three great restaurants just minutes away in Seagrove Beach itself. If you are in the mood for Italian, you should definitely go to Angelina's Pizzeria and Pasta Restaurant. You will fall in love with this place as soon as you walk in the door and catch the savory aromas in the air. Angelina's is a local family business and specializes in pizza and pasta dishes. Pizzas come in sizes from eight to sixteen inches with a wonderful choice of toppings. They also have Calzones and Stromboli.  About a dozen wonderful pasta dishes are available and another dozen house specialties many of which feature fresh seafood dishes. 

Cafe 30A

Another restaurant close by is Cafe 30A, a top gourmet destination that features grilled and fire roasted seafood, meats and poultry. They also have decidedly decadent desserts for those of you with a sweet tooth. They serve a number of fine wines and are locally known for their Martinis which are quite popular. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant in a beachy kind of way.  Open vaulted ceilings, hand painted chairs, intimate lighting and half wall dividers create a fun atmosphere. Besides the awesome culinary creations, the service is impeccable, unpretentious and friendly. Cafe 30A has received many impressive awards over the years.

Whiskey Bravo Seagrove Beach

A new popular spot in Seagrove Beach that opened in 2013 is 723 Whiskey Bravo which is also located right on Scenic 30A. They have mouth watering food entrees and a myriad of delicious appetizers, many of which define the meaning of "comfort food!" Appetizers include such offerings as Fried Mac n Cheese Sticks, Whiskey Bravo Nachos, White Truffle Parmesan Fries and Crispy Fried Grouper Bites with Remoulade Sauce. You can get just about everything as an entrée here from Shrimp & Grits to BBQ Atlantic Salmon; Crispy Duck to Fried Chicken, Braised Short Ribs to Pasta Bolognese and from a Fried Seafood Trio to Grilled Pork Chops. This restaurant has both the main dining room downstairs as well as an open deck patio on the roof where you may enjoy viewing the glistening gulf in the distance. Happy Hours here are a popular attraction with discounted drinks and appetizers featured.

Seacrest Beach

Towards the east is the new comer community of Seacrest Beach which was first established in 1996. It sits on Scenic 30A directly between Alys Beach on its western border and Rosemary Beach to the east. This area has a fairly high elevation by Florida standards so the gorgeous gulf may be easily seen from the highway. Sometimes you may even see pods of dolphin frolicking in the distance. The laid back atmosphere is apparent as soon as you arrive since palms line each side of Scenic 30A and white wooden life guard towers labeled "Seacrest Beach" welcome you to town. This "town" is primarily a very upscale residential community comprised of many beautiful homes and a few luxury condominiums. The architecture ranges from chic contemporary designs to charming old Florida styles with wrap around porches, breezy balconies and soaring ceilings. A virtual forest of palm trees and indigenous tropical plantings accentuate the beauty of this place. Seacrest Beach North has the distinction of having the largest community pool along the entire corridor which may be used by many of our Ocean Reef Resorts visitors who stay here. This 14,000 square foot watery oasis located in the heart the community is actually a number of interconnecting pools on multiple levels complete with waterfalls and a fountain which is centered upon one of them. The waterfalls which flow from one pool down into another provide a luxurious lagoon type setting. On hot summer days children and adults enjoy splashing around underneath a spray that mists down from fountain pool. In addition to separate kid and adult areas, there are also two designated lap pools available for avid swimmers. Surrounding this part of paradise are walkways, gardens, picnic pavilions, BBQ grills and even an amphitheater that stages occasional concerts. Although Seacrest Beach mostly residential it is just a minute or two away from Rosemary Beach and its fine assortment of specialty shops, restaurants and some fun wine bars.

Ocean Reef Seacrest

If you are planning to stay in or near Seacrest Beach at one of our fine vacation rental properties feel free to drop by to see us. The Ocean Reef Seacrest Beach Office is on the north side of Scenic 30A in between Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach near The Alexander. You should feel right at home since our friendly office has a real down home feel that is simultaneously laid back and professional. Your visit to paradise may encourage you to think about buying a place down here. We have very comfortable tastefully furnished private conference rooms with giant flat screen TVs that show satellite views of all property selections. It's fun just to look since everything can be viewed from a virtual hot air balloon on these big screens in order to check out all of the wonderfully varied neighborhoods that comprise this region. You are also free to grab a soda, ice cold water or a bottle of beer from our antique Coca-Cola cooler. Since all Ocean Reef Resorts South Walton Vacation Rentals are also featured on the big screen you might even want to choose your next favorite vacation spot for next year. It is always our pleasure to serve you and hope to see you soon!

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