Tales from the Road: Discovering New and Old Places in WaterColor and Seaside, along 30-A
I love to go exploring when I’m away, yet really don’t want to explore by car. So, I will walk or find another means of transportation. You can’t imagine how happy I was to find out that Redfish Village offers complimentary bike rentals.
So braving the cold and donning a stylish gray bike hat, it was time to hit the bike paths.
For those who aren’t familiar with the area, 30-A is about 20-miles long. At first, that may seem like a lot, but since the communities are close to each other and there is always something new to see, it’s not that bad at all (even in the cold.)
From Redfish Village, I took a left and headed toward WaterColor. This community is perhaps best known for WaterColor Inn and Resort (home to Fish Out of Water restaurant.) The AAA four diamond property has received many accolades and is a great place for families. Actually, this whole area is. In addition to the resort, there are also vacation property rentals available. WaterColor is home to the Telluride MountainFilm tour that happens typically around the first of November, coinciding with Beaches of South Walton’s AutumnTides celebration. Also at WaterColor, you’ll find a small shopping area with shops, boutiques and eateries. It’s a fun place to spend a couple of hours just wandering around.
And wandering around was just what I had in mind, which I glad I did. If I hadn’t park my bike, 
I wouldn’t have discovered the Odgen Satellite Museum. Now this is an offshoot of Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans that opened in July 2008. Here, you’ll find changing exhibits that highlight southern artists and their works.
Returning back to my bike (and helmet), it was time to go to Seaside. 
You probably best know Seaside from Jim Carrey’s movie, The Truman Show. It heralded as the first of New Urbanism – the sense of community and the ability to get anyway via foot or bike.
Seaside’s shopping area is larger than WaterColor’s, and includes places like the Sundog Books & Central Square Records
, the Seaside Store and more. A must visit is Modica Market, which is quaint, family-owned gourmet grocery store filled with all types of treats and necessary items.
Across the street, you’ll find Pickle’s Beachside Grill, 
which is a great place to have lunch. I recommend the burgers. If you are still in the shopping mood, something a little unique is Perspicacity, a open-air style market. 
Of course, no visit to Seaside is complete without eating at Bud and Alley’s (highly recommend the grilled shrimp and grits.) Now, if you can’t make it for a meal, be sure to join them for a sunset cocktail of your choice and the “ringing of the bell.”
At Seaside, rentals are available or you can stay at the Inn by the Sea and indulge in with their breakfast (PDF file).
Hopefully this give you a taste, well, enough to whet your appetite to come and explore the Beaches of South Walton’s communities on your own. You never know what you might discover.
photo credits: personal collection
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