SHELLY

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30A's lazy days are gone
Scenic route tries to hang on to its identity during growth



SANTA ROSA BEACH — As a child in the early 1960s, Brenda Rees could walk down the yellow line in the center of Walton County Road 30A and not give a thought to traffic.

Rees, whose father built her family’s first beach house on Eastern Lake in the late 1950s out of the wood from his father’s barn, walked on the yellow line the nearly three miles to a small country market in Seagrove Beach because the black asphalt was too hot on her bare feet.

Cars rarely drove by. Rees, now 54, didn’t have to worry about crowded beaches, either.

“I could go to the beach all day long and would not see another person,” she said.

That was decades before the planned communities of Seaside, WaterColor and Rosemary Beach sprouted along CR 30A in South Walton. Back then, the live oaks and scrub brush along the road was sparsely dotted with one-story concrete Florida cottages splashed in pastel hues.

These days CR 30A isn’t so quiet. Development has obscured much of the view of the Gulf of Mexico with multi-million dollar homes and created traffic congestion along the road.

Residents along CR 30A believe the area has maintained a special character despite development. But some worry that traffic and development could negatively affect the area’s future.................

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/12474

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But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Pirate

You can still head down to Alligator Point or Indian Pass if you want the old days experience.

full time

I read a recent article from a Minneapolis/St Paul Magazine that called the communities along 30-A the best family vacation spots in the United States. It was a very generous portrayal of the area. The writer raved about the architecture in Rosemary Beach, the friendliness of Watercolor and the topography of Watersound. If I can find it online, I'll post it.

elgordoboy

Alligator Point..is that below Tallahassee? If it is the same place there was a restaraunt called Posey's or something that had amazing spicy sausage links if I am remembering correctly (been 15 years).

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goodwitch58

Posey's is up the road a ways...near St Marks.

elgordoboy

Thanks..am I remembering the sausage correctly? It was before I truly appreciated good food when I last had the links.

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Haters gonna hate, Ballers gonna ball

Bobby J

Growth... Its all about perspective.

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goodwitch58

not sure about that, but the oysters and beer are always good.

aggieb

don't tell all you know.

Tootsie

aggieb, I was just going to say to pirate: did you have to say that out loud? geeeesh.


yes, 30A has changed so much its just amazing. it has developed beautifully in most ways, but not in all ways. overall, can't complain - we do have some beach preservation areas, height limits, and some really beautiful resort and neighborhood developments. not to mention some really great food joints.

some of the development over the years - well - let's just say poor taste and/or out of character. we learn to try to tolerate and accept because its just part of the deal. done is done. i.e., grayton corners was a real controversey - it could have been a very nice development, but it did not turn out that way for a number of reasons.

the numbers of people on the beach all winter long is an indication of what we're in store for this summer. we did enjoy private beaches a few times. but only a few times.

things seem to kind of stay the same in the old residential bay areas though. thank goodness for this blessing.

jamnolfin

I remember 10 years ago when we would ride past Seaside, put it in 4 wheel drive and cross the dunes where Watercolors hotel is at. We would go down on the beach and have bonfires and sometimes sleep on the beach. Man we had fun out there, there was no light and the stars would look like they were 10 miles away. My buddy had a 4 wheel drive van and a generator, we would set up camp.

DuneLaker

Well, the lazy days are still around at the right house at the right time on the right beach. But, if you don't know already, we're not telling.

goodwitch58

I miss the gnarled oak trees that used to be in Blue Mountain....

Miss Kitty

Yep, and then I came along and ruined your life!

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SWGB

Wouldn't it look goofy to have the "F" balcony just propped up in the woods?

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DD

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I love Jesus, but I drink a little. ~Gladys




DD, I toad you it was pucking hot.~~Kitty

Pirate

MMMMMMMMMMM.... Poseys. I wonder if it is still there? I haven't been down in a few years. I used to fish from Panacea, FL every year and stay in Alligator Point and we ate almost every meal there. Those fine people in Panacea know how to fish. Last time I was in the area I just drove through. That was a few years ago and it was still relatively unspoiled. It isn't too far from Cape San Blas. I apologize to the areas current fans for letting this out One bad thing about Indian Pass is the bugs will carry you away of you aren't chained to something. Also, I wouldn't swim out too far at Alligator Point because those pesky sharks sure like to feed in this area The stars still look like you can reach up and touch them in Alligator Point as you sit around a bonfire

cp

That was a grayt spot!!!!!!!!!!! I had some great times right there.

goofer44

exactly

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Tootsie

well, there was a big treehouse right in the middle of the massive dunes in grayton (state park) in a great tree - can't remember if it was a huge oak or magnolia all gnarly and twisted, and very big canopy so it was hidden. very cool. we probably did some f bombs there long ago.

Chickpea

Growth is inevitable - one just has to be very smart about planning for new growth and development!

ShallowsNole

The dunes in that area were a particular favorite for clandestine activities 20 - 30 years ago.

At least that's what I always heard

goodwitch58

I "heard" it was true 40 years ago too

joho

We used to have bonfires in the front yard on 30A. Some of the biggest sand dunes use to be at Ed Walline.
We would sit on the front porch and the only traffic you might see on 30
A would be a Gatlin lumber truck go by.