Grayton Beach beach vacation rentals

Established in 1890, Grayton Beach is the oldest village in South Walton, and it’s full of Old Florida charm. Here you’ll find weathered wooden homes and oyster shell roads shaded by magnolias and oaks, as well as funky galleries offering interactive workshops and exhibiting the work of local artists. Stroll by the Grayt Wall of Art, a wooden fence turned ever-changing open-air gallery. Scuba divers can visit the Underwater Museum of Art, a permanent, submerged sculpture park a mile off the coast of the gulf-front Grayton Beach State Park.

This area, known as the Emerald Coast, also boasts large tracts of protected landscape, startlingly clear blue waters, and sugar-sand beaches. When you’ve had your fill of sunbathing, round out your beach getaway by hiking through inland pine and hardwood forests, exploring the rare dune lakes in the area, or heading out to sea to fish, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, or parasail.

Grayton Beach is especially popular between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend, when the weather is hot and humid. During July and August, temperatures hover around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but ocean breezes and regular afternoon thunderstorms temper the high humidity. You may want to bring a packable rain jacket or poncho in case you get stuck in a downpour, but summer storms are reliable, so you can usually head inside when you see the clouds gathering. Spring and fall are increasingly popular seasons here, with warm weather in the 60s and 70s, little humidity, and less insect activity than you’ll see in the summer months. Snowbirds love Grayton Beach in the winter months, which are dry and sunny but can get cold with high temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Grayton Beach State Park

Grayton Beach State Park features 2,000 acres of salt marshes, pine flatwoods, dunes, and a mile-long stretch of pristine white-sand beach. A haven for birders, who come to spot bald eagles and shorebirds, the park has hiking and mountain biking trails and facilities for swimming and boating at Western Lake. Western is one of the area’s coastal dune lakes, a rare geographic feature that’s also found in Australia, New Zealand, and Madagascar.

Red Bar

Eclectic Red Bar is a Grayton Beach institution and perennial gathering place — you may run into a celebrity or two here. Recently rebuilt after a fire, it’s known for an unfussy menu, great drinks, and live music.

Drive Highway 30A

Highway 30A follows the Gulf Coast for 28.5 scenic miles, connecting state parks and quaint beach villages such as Blue Mountain Beach, the resort community of WaterColor, idyllic Seaside, and newer planned communities like Rosemary Beach. Stick around for sunset — it’s particularly stunning here.