spring break 2008

[Krista]

Hi! several years ago I visited this beautiful area of our country, stayed in Carillon Village, Panama City Beach...I drove along the beaches nearby, each more enchanting than the next, all so incredible. Grayton Beach really caught my attention. I want to go back, and plan an amazing vacation for my family, this coming spring break 2008. when we go on vacation, the main goal is to decompress, to pack a small bag with the basics, swim gear, teeshirts and shorts---casual, relaxation, all the way. I am looking for a cottage/condo etc..that would sleep 6 very close to beach access. Is there anyone out there that can help a girl from Cincinnati? thanks much, Krista :cool:

[Cobia Cottage]

Hi Krista- Please take a look at my place in Blue Mountain Beach at www.vrbo.com/100470 and see if it meets your needs.

[Gypsea]

:welcome: Krista! I'm sure you'll find something wonderful.

[seacrestkristi]

:welcome:Krista :wave:
Beach access right across the street. :D www.seacrestinsouthwalton.com (http://www.seacrestinsouthwalton.com)

[Smiling JOe]

It sounds like Krista isn't very familiar with our area so you guys are probably confusing Krista, since your homes are not in Grayton Beach, where Krista states she wants to be.

[seacrestkristi]

I bet Krista is a good map reader though. :D Seacrest is right down the road just a hop, skip and a jump from Grayton, Krista, maybe 3 or 4 miles. She also said she wanted real close beach access. :cool: Don't you have to walk a ways to get on to Grayton Beach? :idontno:Isn't that where the local cars ride on to the beach because it's such a walk? IJS...I'd be :D to help out a gull from Cincinnati. :wave:

[InletBchDweller]

Krista,

I would go and look on the vacation rentals on SOWAL. http://www.sowal.com/rentals.html

Also you could go to here. (http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/panhandle-south-walton-beach#2768)

SeacrestKristi, I also have rentals on your end of 30-A, and would love to get a renter, but it does seem to me that she wants Grayton and our end of 30-A is certainly no where close.....

[Smiling JOe]

What IBD said. I will add that the beach is right there at Grayton. Many rental homes are a short walk away. You are right about the locals wanting to ride to the water at Grayton, but that particular access has a lot of beach between it and the Gulf. That is also a draw for some people, as is the calmer outflow at Western Lake. The other end of Grayton has a much shorter length of beach between the homes and the Gulf.

Maybe Krista would be fine with Seacrest Beach, but she past right by it saying that it got better the farther she went towards Grayton.

[seacrestkristi]

Thanks for all the info IBD, SJ. I guess I need to check out the area a little better myself. Wasn't trying to confuse or con anyone just trying to be friendly. Thanks for all your input. :wave: I happen to :wub: Seacrest as does my family. To say it is no where close to Grayton, IBD, I had no idea the area differed so greatly. :idontno:

[jdarg]

Seacrest is verrrry different than Grayton. Night and day. Before we moved here, we favored Grayton over any other area. I think many returning vacationers favor one area of 30A and return to that area year after year.

[seacrestkristi]

How do they differ exactly? :cool:

[30A Skunkape]

How do they differ exactly? :cool:

I live in one and not the other:ninja:

[peapod1980]

Krista, we have become repeat renters of a place in Grayton that may work for you. We have stayed in more luxurious accommodations, but the location honestly can't be beat. jdarg and some others here should be able to vouch for me. PM me if you want further details.
http://rivardnet.com/RNS/search/propertydetail.aspx?ID=102

[Ocean Lover]

Seacrest is verrrry different than Grayton. Night and day. Before we moved here, we favored Grayton over any other area. I think many returning vacationers favor one area of 30A and return to that area year after year.

I agree. Seacrest has very tall dunes and either steep walkovers or long walkovers. On our very first trip to the area we stayed beachfront in a house in Seacrest right next to RB. It was actually quite a hull down to the beach. We visited Grayton and fell in :wub:. I'd love to stay in Grayton sometime but it's hard to find a house we can afford if just the 4 of us come. We settle on Seagrove and visit Grayton. It's a good location to be in the middle of it all.

[seacrestkristi]

There are 3 flights of stairs, about a good 30 stairs probably to get down to the beach by our place but I could use the exercise. :wub: Seacrest beach looks like heaven to me. :cool: $900/week in spring. ;-)

[jdarg]

Krista, we have become repeat renters of a place in Grayton that may work for you. We have stayed in more luxurious accommodations, but the location honestly can't be beat. jdarg and some others here should be able to vouch for me. PM me if you want further details.
http://rivardnet.com/RNS/search/propertydetail.aspx?ID=102

OL- y'all need to check into this place. The view is great- the Gulf, all the action on Hotz Ave., the people coming and going from the beach. And lots of room- it is very deceiving how spacious it is.

There is just something magical about walking around Grayton at night, and that huge expanse of beach during the day AND at night.

[seacrestkristi]

Is that by The Red Bar, jdarg? :D

[Ocean Lover]

OL- y'all need to check into this place. The view is great- the Gulf, all the action on Hotz Ave., the people coming and going from the beach. And lots of room- it is very deceiving how spacious it is.

There is just something magical about walking around Grayton at night, and that huge expanse of beach during the day AND at night.

We've always wanted a pool before but now I think we could do without. I'd love to stay there someday!

[peapod1980]

We've always wanted a pool before but now I think we could do without. I'd love to stay there someday!
OL, we never stay anywhere with a pool, and the kids don't seem to miss it. I bet you'd like it there.
P.S. Just because you don't have official access to a pool doesn't mean you can't swim in one. :cool:

[Smiling JOe]

Is that by The Red Bar, jdarg? :D
It is located just down the street. You can see the Red Bar from the house, directly across from D&K's.

I'm really surprised at the number of people whom I encounter down here, who've been coming to the beach for years, but never turned south from CR 283/30A. Grayton is of a world all by itself compared to the rest of SoWal, and is the only place bordered to the east and west by State Park Beach.

[seacrestkristi]

Hubba and I have been all up and down 30-A and the red bar and the restaurant upstairs across the street(OMG, was that D&K? It was grayt :wave:), and probably all the roads around several of the bays in the area.:cool: area but a lot of traffic if you have little kids or animals right by the bar. If you and like to stay up late still, well hail yeah. Well, at least that's what I thought when I was there. :blush: Ah each to their own. It does look funn by the bar.

Is there a public beach access there besides at the big park entrance with the gate with the long walk out? I would :wub: to check out this Western Lake outflow you speak of, SJ. Is it walkable with little kids, like 2 yr. olds, or do you have to drive? :confused: I have never got a beach permit. I bet my nieces and nephews would :wub: it.

[peapod1980]

kristi, we have a whole collection of "little" kids, and there is no danger to them there from Grayton traffic. Traffic in Grayton is a term that should be used loosely; it's really more about standstill gridlock there by the Red Bar. It's not loud at night, and there's a beach access literally out the front door. Wait a minute, I think I should shut up. I don't want the rental competition. Sounds like it wouldn't suit your needs anyway. ;-)

[Smiling JOe]

SeacrestKristi,
Grayton has a noise ordinance, I believe the only one in SoWal, which shuts down all restaurants and bars at 10pm, so late night noise isn't an issue. In Grayton, I believe there are three or maybe four public beach accesses, and no, you don't have to drive onto the beach to get to the Gulf. At the eastern most access, there is even a boardwalk to get you to the flagpole, and then it isn't much of a walk on the sand to the boardwalk or Gulf, but you will be walking in soft sand, which seems to exhaust some people.

[seacrestkristi]

kristi, we have a whole collection of "little" kids, and there is no danger to them there from Grayton traffic. Traffic in Grayton is a term that should be used loosely; it's really more about standstill gridlock there by the Red Bar. It's not loud at night, and there's a beach access literally out the front door. Wait a minute, I think I should shut up. I don't want the rental competition. Sounds like it wouldn't suit your needs anyway. ;-)

:idontno::idontno::idontno:Uh, I'm not the one with the need, Krista is, :cool: ?
What's up with all the hate anyhow? :confused: Your 'tar brags about 'One Love' ? Where is this :wub:?

[Bob]

Krista, Make your choice Grayton, because it has the lowest elevation to the Gulf. Should you bake brownies, the reduced altitude will enhance your oven yield, and produce a more fudgy brownie.

[Smiling JOe]

Krista, Make your choice Grayton, because it has the lowest elevation to the Gulf. Should you bake brownies, the reduced altitude will enhance your oven yield, and produce a more fudgy brownie.I'd like to nominate this post for Post of the Year. :floor:

[jessifunn]

I'd like to nominate this post for Post of the Year. :floor:

you can only pick one for post of the year and i think you used that up yesterday (maybe) :funn:

[Smiling JOe]

you can only pick one for post of the year and i think you used that up yesterday (maybe) :funn:I'm just nominating candidates for the award. Not actually selecting the winner.

[jessifunn]

I'd like to nominate this post for Post of the Year. :floor:

I'm just nominating candidates for the award. Not actually selecting the winner.

well then...when will the winner be picked? i can't wait :clap:

[seacrestkristi]

Krista, Make your choice Grayton, because it has the lowest elevation to the Gulf. Should you bake brownies, the reduced altitude will enhance your oven yield, and produce a more fudgy brownie.

Well in that case I'm packin' up and movin' down to Grayton. :funn:

[Smiling JOe]

well then...when will the winner be picked? i can't wait :clap:First, we will need someone to keep the list of nominees, and I think everyone should be able to add a nominee, then we can put them in a poll and allow everyone to vote. Want to volunteer to keep up with the nominees?

[peapod1980]

[/b]

:idontno::idontno::idontno:Uh, I'm not the one with the need, Krista is, :cool: ?
What's up with all the hate anyhow? :confused: Your 'tar brags about 'One Love' ? Where is this :wub:?
Huh? Whachu talkin' 'bout, Willis?
Looks like you missed my winking smiley. I use them sparingly, but I did use that one.
From all the cons you listed, I meant that it sounds like it wouldn't suit you as a hypothetical renter (since you're a homeowner in Seacrest), but it sounds like a place that might work for Krista. I was telling myself to shut up because I'm selling it too hard and may end up having to compete for a week myself. I have nothing personal to gain from recommending Grayton as a great place to stay, just like it the best of anywhere I've stayed up and down 30A.

[jdarg]

Dear Krista,

We have "tangentized" your thread. It happens a lot, but overall you got lucky because you now have a good bit of the info you were looking for on Grayton Beach!

If you look on the real estate section of this website, Kurt has some beautiful virtual tours of properties in Grayton too- even though I live here, I love to look at them often!

If you have kids, I would suggest a rental near Western Lake (Grayton) or Eastern Lake (Seagrove), because the kids can play in the lake outflows on days with rough surf, jellyfish, or cold temperatures. It is a no-brainer for a parent- much easier than contending with the waves/small children combo, whcih means no relaxing for the parent! Ask any of the "Lake Mamas" on this board- there are many whose children have grown up and/or vacationed playing in these 2 spots!

Another advantage is not having to cross 30A to go to the beach- and I feel safe with the kids riding their bikes around town too. Everything you want to do is safely away from 30A traffic!

When we vacationed here, one of our favorite things to do was stroll around on a summer night, watch the people waiting to eat at the Red Bar, stop in the shops, and of course spend as much time as possible on the big wide beach. Early mornings are really special here too with lots of birds around the lake.

[Miss Kitty]

Thanks jdarg. I always wonder what happens to some of these people that post for renting info and we never hear back what they did. Do they just forget or do they get scared away? ;-)

[peapod1980]

Thanks jdarg. I always wonder what happens to some of these people that post for renting info and we never hear back what they did. Do they just forget or do they get scared away? ;-)
Well, I did post a specific link to a specific property and encouraged Krista to PM me, so surely that counts for something. :floor:
Don't be skeered, Krista.

[BottleBlonde82]

Hi! several years ago I visited this beautiful area of our country, stayed in Carillon Village, Panama City Beach...I drove along the beaches nearby, each more enchanting than the next, all so incredible. Grayton Beach really caught my attention. I want to go back, and plan an amazing vacation for my family, this coming spring break 2008. when we go on vacation, the main goal is to decompress, to pack a small bag with the basics, swim gear, teeshirts and shorts---casual, relaxation, all the way. I am looking for a cottage/condo etc..that would sleep 6 very close to beach access. Is there anyone out there that can help a girl from Cincinnati? thanks much, Krista :cool:
hey there! i live in sowal in blue mountain beach...which is only about 2-3 miles down 30A from grayton. i like it here much better! my best friend has a condo here where i live and here is the link.
http://www.vrbo.com/136026 (http://www.vrbo.com/136026)
we have a 24 hr pool, 24 hour fitness center, beach access, shuffleboard, and cabana, right on 30A!
plus i had to help a girl out from cincy seein as though im from middletown!!! :yikes:We just moved here last feb and let me tell ya i never looked back!!! hope youfind what you are looking for!

[lindakedy]

I have a 3-bed 3 1/2 bath house in Sandestin for rent. Beautiful resort area just few minutes from the beach! Photos and details at http://www.vrbo.com/113024
Let me know if you're still looking :D