Come discover the true art of vacationing in Gulf Place.
There’s a quaint little beach community along the Emerald Coast in South Walton that, if you blink, you just might miss, which would be a shame. At the junction of 393 and 30A is Gulf Place, officially formed in 1994, just east of the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club. It has a town center and the Gulley Amphitheater that is used for concerts and arts events. In 2012 the Walton County Board of Commissioners added Gulf Place to the list of beach neighborhoods in South Walton.
This small town is chock-full of shops, restaurants, public access to the beach, and is a haven for artists with many colorful shops along 30A within walking distance to most of the local lodging. Eight artist shops named The Artists of Gulf Place proudly display their local one-of-a-kind art. You can find paintings, pottery, sculptures, and other creative forms of art to purchase. Some artists also offer opportunities to learn a new skill with an interactive experience, a wonderful way to make memories and something special to remember your vacation by.
Gulf Place is on the west end of 30A, where the pace seems a little slower. It’s only 25 acres in size, but with a perfect location where 393 meets 30A at the water. If you’re driving south on 393 from US 98, your first glimpse of the sparkling Gulf straight ahead of you will take your breath away. You can’t see 30A from the height of the road, and it looks like you’re driving right into the Gulf. Quite a memorable sight. The Ed Walline beach access is right at the junction of these two roads and is one of the nicest public accesses along 30A offering parking, bathrooms, and pavilions.
There’s also plenty of dining options within walking distance of either the beach access or your vacation condo. Pizza by the Sea offers many tasty topping combinations, taking your mouth on a flavor journey of epic proportions. But maybe you’re not in the mood for pizza. From mouth-watering pulled pork sandwiches to chicken and ham pot pie to something as simple as a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, The Perfect Pig is, well, the perfect place for not just pork. Shunk Gulley, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, is a newer restaurant in Gulf Place offering daily live music while you enjoy your Gulf oysters and other coastal cuisine menu items. For dessert, you have to let Pecan Jack’s Candy & Ice Cream fix you up with a cone while you decide which of the mouth watering candies you’re going to take with you for later snacking.
Far and away the biggest draw of this area in South Walton has always been the beach. The water and sand and sun has a magnetism to it that the human heart has a difficult time ignoring. The white quartz sand squeaking as you walk across it and the shimmering turquoise green water glittering and winking in the sunshine and the salt smell of the Gulf, and the whispering waves bring vacationers back year after year, and sometimes, they decide to stay in paradise.
Visiting Gulf Place for the first time? CLICK HERE to check out Visit South Walton’s First Timer’s Guide.