Escape to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort and 30-A

Alys Beach

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On a recent trip to Northwest Florida and the Beaches of South Walton, I had a chance to visit the famed scenic 30-A, the19-mile stretch along the coastline that my colleagues at FT+L traveled and loved. It’s here where one town after another reflects a relaxed lifestyle, including Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Seagrove, Grayton Beach and Alys Beach. On a foggy morning as I waited for the sun to burn through the mist, I captured the image shown here of an organic sculpture seated in a yard in the New Urbanist pristine white enclave of Alys Beach. It spoke to me of the earthiness of the area and its natural beauty.

I would soon learn that each community is alluring in its own right thanks to architecture and location. I’d have to say that this part of the state tugged at me for any number of reasons — from the inherent feeling of peace and calm to amazing spots to dine (“V,” Finz Beachside Grille, Fish Out of Water, among others) and to breathtaking sandy dunes and loads of friendly people.

Staying at the Sandenstin Golf and Beach Resort was pure pleasure, not only was my room comfy and had terrific Choctawhatchee Bay views, but when I walked out the door, I made my way on the pedestrian only path embedded with pink and white seashells to the Village of Baytowne Wharf.  In just seconds I was surrounded by  shops, eateries and a slew of kid-friendly adventure zone activities with ziplines and more. Hungry upon arrival (after flying in to the new spotless and convenient Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City Beach), I checked out a brand new burger place called Shake Shanty. An extra pale ale from Pensacola Bay Brewery by the name of DeLuna hit the spot. Shake Shanty's owner, Tom Rice, chatted me up about his 100 percent black Angus beef burgers with “Shanty Sauce” (think Thousand Island dressing but better) and how they used a specialized tool called a “wallpaper spatula” to ensure the burger retained lots of fat, and thus flavor. Served on a fresh potato bun, I devoured the whole thing. When he insisted I taste a chocolate/coffee concrete, a cross between a milkshake and an ultra-thick serving of frozen custard blended at high speed, I spooned into it greedily. Told that it contained 10 percent milk (nothing non-fat here), I didn’t miss a beat. Heck, I was on a long weekend getaway and calories simply don’t count on vacation. More of my travels to Northwest Florida to come.

Tags: 30A | Alys Beach | beaches | Choctawhatchee Bay | Destin | dining | food | Northwest | Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport | Rosemary Beach | Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort | Scenic 30A | Seaside | Shake Shanty