Once an off-the-radar beachside retreat reachable only by boat or down a long unpaved, sandy road through a dense, longleaf pine forest off the main highway, today's Seagrove is much more accessible. Also called Seagrove Beach, the community is now part of a chain of beach communities in the northwest Florida Panhandle collectively known as South Walton, which is part of an even longer strand generally referred to as the Emerald Coast. While other parts of the Emerald Coast may contain rampant development, Seagrove is devoid of condo highrises adjacent to its sands. Traffic may have increased a lot since its early days, but Seagrove still retains its sleepy, old-school, beach-cottage vibe.
Play on the Beach
- Seagrove is a beach community through and through. If you're not staying directly on the beach, your accommodations are likely just across the road from it. Easy beach access is available at multiple public access points, with walkways crossing through the scrub trees and over the protected dunes. The silky white sand is so fine it squeaks underneath your bare feet. The multi-hued water ranges from calm, with gently lapping waves, to a frothy, pounding surf, so mind the tides and beware the undertow, which can be strong at times. If you see red flags flying, don't get in the water.
Cruise Scenic Highway 30-A
- Scenic Highway 30-A is the main thoroughfare through Seagrove and South Walton. Many refer to the entire South Walton area simply as "30-A," and sport circular 30-A bumper stickers on their vehicles. While the highway is indeed scenic, winding through forests, past state parks, beaches, dunes and lakes, traffic slows to a crawl through the 16 beach communities along its route. In Seagrove, you'll find a handful of boutique shops, a couple of small markets and plenty of dining options, most of them beach-casual. You can also explore the highway by foot or bicycle on the paved multi-use trail that runs alongside most of 30-A's length.
Explore Natural Treasures
- Coastal Dune Lakes exist in only a few places on earth, and South Walton is one of them. Eastern Lake on the eastern side of Seagrove is one of 15 coastal dune lakes in the area. The best way to explore this protected body of water bounded by sand dunes on one side and a forest on the other is by kayak or on a stand up paddle board. Stand up paddle boarding (aka SUPing) is a popular sport in this section of the Panhandle. A few businesses in the Seagove area will rent you a board or a kayak; some provide guided tours. The forest on the north side of Eastern Lake is part of 15,000-acre Point Washington State Forest, which contains miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The Eastern Lake Trail System inside the forest is a series of three loop trails ranging from 3.5 to 10 miles.
Nearby
- Though Seagrove is one of the older beach communities along this stretch of the coast, in the modern age it has been eclipsed by its newer next door neighbor immediately to the west, Seaside. Wildly popular, and widely considered the birthplace of the New Urbanism movement, Seaside is a master-planned resort community built in the early 1980s. Seaside quickly became the vanguard for the way development proceeded in South Walton -- low rise, walkable, and easy on the eyes. If Seaside looks familiar when you first see it, it's probably because you've seen it before in the movies and on TV; the hit 1998 film "The Truman Show" was filmed there. A visit to Seaside is a must when staying in Seagrove. In fact, it's almost unavoidable - that's how close and intertwined the two communities have become.
