Seagrove Beach beach vacation rentals

Two miles of silky white sand and abundant outdoor wonders await you in tiny Seagrove. The town is located on a ribbon of Florida Panhandle highway known by locals as 30A, which traces the Emerald Coast, so named for its jewel-toned waters. Seagrove is one in a cluster of 16 idyllic beach towns in South Walton County, and makes an ideal base for quick trips to places like Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, and Seaside. Although it will be tempting to plunk yourself down on the town’s eponymous beach — so named for the stand of magnolia, oak, and sand pine that surrounds it — and never leave, there’s lots more to do in and around Seagrove Beach.

March through May, expect temperatures in the low 70s to low 80 degrees Fahrenheit. June through September, things heat up with weather in the high 80s and even 90 degrees. October and November dip into the low 70s and 80s, and December through February cools further into the 60s. March and April climb back to the 70s. If you book one of the area’s vacation rentals for June through September, it’s possible to get caught in the rain, so bring an umbrella and rain shoes.

Timpoochee Trail

You can rent bikes and hop on the 18.6-mile Timpoochee Trail, which cuts through Seagrove, connecting it to other beach communities to the east and west. Running along 30A, the trail winds past state parks and the Gulf of Mexico, across lakes, and through a photogenic covered bridge. On the way, stop to explore nearby towns and refuel at the local eateries, or on the shores of freshwater Eastern Lake, which is ringed by sand dunes.

Grayton Beach State Park

A stretch of pristine beach, hiking trails though coastal scrub oaks and magnolia stands, and a rare coastal dune lake where you can kayak and fish can all be found within the 2,000 acres of Grayton Beach State Park. Snowy plovers and other shorebirds live here, and sea turtles climb onto the shore to lay their eggs in the soft white sand. About 350 feet from the shoreline is Sea Turtle Reef, an artificial reef in the shape of a turtle constructed from steel, concrete, and Florida limestone, where snorkelers may encounter sea anemone, colorful fish, rays, and even dolphins.

Deer Lake State Park

Coastal dune lakes — freshwater lakes found in dune ecosystems alongside bodies of saltwater — are found here in South Walton and only four other regions on earth. This park takes its name from the body of water you’ll find here, but the main attractions are the dunes. You can traverse the ancient, powdery landscape via a boardwalk which will take you through the pretty and otherworldly grounds. These dunes are home to the endangered (and adorable) Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse and rare plants like the Gulf coast lupine, whose lofty stems explode with blue flowers every year. The boardwalk ends at — what else? — a splendid white sand beach.