Santa Rosa Beach stretches from the Choctawhatchee Bay on the north, to the Gulf on the south, from Miramar Beach on the west to Inlet Beach on the east in the Panhandle of Florida. It contains all of the beach neighborhoods along Scenic Highway 30A: Alys Beach, Blue Mountain, Dune Allen, Grayton Beach, Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seacrest, Seagrove, Seaside, Watercolor and Watersound, and the area north of the beaches to the bay.
Travel + Leisure named Santa Rosa Beach as one of its top five favorite towns in America. The view of the turquoise Gulf water as you stand on the white sugar-sand beaches, listening to the low and soothing roar of the waves and watching the sun gradually descend to the horizon is a magical experience. Visitors come back again and again.
Whether you want to hang out on the beach or shop, eat, paddleboard, fish, hike or bike, you’ll find plenty to do in Santa Rosa Beach. The area also has a lively art scene. Foodies will enjoy fresh Gulf seafood and all types of delicious offerings from hot dogs to fine dining. Catch the sunset at many of the waterfront restaurants on the Gulf or Bay. Just exploring the unique 30A beach neighborhoods is a perfect way to spend the day.
State Parks
Within Santa Rosa Beach you’ll find Grayton Beach State Park, Deer Lake State Park, Eden Gardens State Park and Point Washington State Forest. If you love doing things outdoors like biking, hiking and exploring, you’ll love these beautiful parks and forests containing miles and miles of meandering trails through long leaf pines that allow you to explore to your heart’s content.
Eden Gardens State Park is home to the historic Wesley House, and is a beautiful backdrop with koi ponds, a rose garden and a butterfly garden.
In these preserved areas you can also get glimpses of bald eagles, deer, wild hogs, turkeys, alligators, gopher tortoises and more.
History
South Walton County was an important Native American settlement as indicated by European artifacts that were found at the site, indicating the first meeting between early explorers and Native Americans. The area was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. In the late 1800s, towns began to form south of Choctawhatchee Bay.
The First recorded cabin was in the late 1860s, but it became a major bay community in the early 1900s. As a major steamboat landing, the Town of Santa Rosa boasted a population from 850 to 1,200 people at its height. However, a crop disaster and vicious hurricane devastated the town. The town eventually took on a sinister “Wild West” tone after a recorded posse chase took place and a murderous feud caused division in the settlement. Shortly after these events the residents requested three or four steamboats from Mobile and then left en masse. The empty town hotels, churches, stores, café, and cottages turned Santa Rosa into a true ghost town. The remaining locals and North Bay Shore residents eventually dismantled the town for lumber.
(History source: https://friendsofscenic30a.com/history-and-culture.)
Visiting Santa Rosa Beach for the first time? CLICK HERE to check out Visit South Walton’s First Timer’s Guide.