Check out Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Seaside. We’ve only stayed at Alys, but there are all there together so we saw them all. Lovely, lovely small beach towns. Very different feel than HHI, though…not as much vegetation.

For more of a resort feel, it would be Seaside or Watercolor. There are other small communities scattered along 39A that are lovely, walkable with bikeways and nice restaurants and shops. Blue Mountain Beach is a favorite.

I have never been to HH, so can only comment on our area. Watercolor will be less crowded than Seaside, Alys or Rosemary. Watersound neighborhoods are another option that is less crowded. There is little elbow room in these communities. All are located on 30a and some areas are more crowded than others during the tourist season. 30a is 26 miles of beach, sidewalks that switch sides of the road in places for walking and biking. Loads of parks to walk or bike. Most of these comminities are too crowded and too busy for us, so we are south of 30a in an older neighborhood. No HOA, no noise unless you count construction (which is everywhere). There are SO many little communities that I would suggest you come for a vacation and drive around during the busy season. Whereever you decide to rent or own, be sure to look at beach access, as Walton County beaches are owned by the houses and condos on the beach. There are public beach access points, but not always a large place for tourists to place chairs, umbrellas, etc. If you are not withing walking distance, parking is available in several areas, but they are small and fill up fast. I see a lot of complaints on NextDoor and the SoWal forum about this. Walton County is trying to better the situation, recently purchasing a lot next to the Eastern Lake outfall for 9.5M and buying to lots on the other side of Eastern Lake for parking. Walking the beach is not a problem or restricted. Only full time residents are allowed to take dogs on the beach during restricted hours and with an annual license. My sister takes her dog and is often stopped by the beach patrol.

All of these things might sound like negatives, and maybe some are, but they have not been a problem or a downside for us. The 30a area and its dune lakes are just gorgeous.

If you decide to buy in the area, I highly recommend our RE agent. We narrowed down houses to view in two days, came and made an offer. My sister bought a place after we did, and purchased hers without seeing in person, although we did see it in person before her closing. Listings 2M and under go fast, and are often put on the MLS just for comps and already pending.

You can message me if you'd like.

The 30A area of Florida's panhandle is a gorgeous stretch of beach! I always recommend Watersound as it is an area that is more manageable to me than the very busy Seaside and Rosemary. Most rentals come with bikes/golf carts and the homes are lovely. There is also Watersound Inn and the rooms are quite spacious and, I believe, include access to the Beach Club. Might be a good option for a visit to the area.

https://www.watersoundinn.com/accommodations/resort-suite 

Recently visited the Freeport area where my son just built a new home. The panhandle areas are a refreshing change from more commercial beach areas. We loved the old style quaintness of the beach areas near there and Panama City. Since there are state parks in this area, residential and commercial growth is more restricted and this leads to less traffic, commercialism and quiet beaches with tropical color. Seaside and areas close to there were absolutlely lovely, and after living next door to Hilton Head Island for 30 years, I relished the simplicity, quiet and lack of highrise condominiums!

"At this time, no golf cart rentals are allowed in Seaside, WaterColor, WaterSound, WaterSound West, Seacrest Proper, or Rosemary Beach."

Rosemary doesn't allow them at all. Not even for owners. I don't think Seaside does either but you can drive a SLV to Seaside and park in the parking area designated for them. Car parking is going up in Seaside for the summer for those visiting but not renting there.

Watersound West Beach only allows SLV for owners and they cannot be used by guests.

Every community HOA has their own rules.

Hmm - what's a SLV? I tried to guess, then looked it up and only came up with "Satelitte Launch Vehicle". Pretty sure that's overkill to get around Seaside :)

Did you mean LSV instead of SLV? LSV is a street legal golf car. https://carolinagolfcars.com/cart-sales/street-legal-lsvs/

Street Legal Vehicle/Legal Street Vehicle/Low Speed Vehicle. Potato/Potato. It has headlights, tail lights, rear view mirror, side mirrors, horn, blinkers, windshield, wipers, seat belts and is registered and has a state tag.

No matter what you call them, they are for the most part banned in Seaside and a few other neighborhoods along 30a. Read linked article and/or Google.

Ok, unpopular opinion here, I don't love the 30A area. We spent a week there at Santa Rosa Beach last April. We went to Miramar Beach for many years while the kids were middle/high schoolish and that area was great for that time in our lives (Also before we discovered HHI)

We went to Seaside a few nights and ate in other little "towns" the other nights. We spent time driving and trying to find a parking space whereas in HHI we would have walked or biked to dinner. General feeling in Seaside on the green was that most of them spent hours primping and picked out their most expensive vacation outfit and jewels to show off in. Perhaps this area has a younger crowd that makes me feel this way? While we shower and look decent for dinner, I do not feel the need to keep up with the Jones while eating out on vacation.

That area has a different feel than HHI, high density housing, little greenery, limited biking, most housing not ocean front, not bad just different.

My DH and I will try the areas again without DD, DSIL and grand. They had been to the area before and perhaps limited our exposure to things. It just may take a few trips to find our places.

Any other ideas perhaps farther south?

I removed my earlier post. I would definitrly suggest the Nokomis / Venice Beach area. After spending more than a month there last year for April, we went early before our rental and camped at the State Park, I wasn’t the least bit hesitant about getting a house this April. We are a mile from the beach and a mile from the Legacy Bike path. Everyone is out riding and walking and enjoying the very very laid back area. Please give it a try. Casey Key is beautiful and the beaches and sunsets are excellent. c

You can PM me if you want .

I would not want too near or in Seaside either, or Rosemary and probably Alys. We rented during the school yea/not holiday in Rosemary several years ago. Our girls and grandson went too. Parking is bad - no way to get either of our vehicles inside the garage, and the unassigned street parking has to be a nightmare in the summer. Houses too close. Watersound had two large house fires in the past 10 months.

Many of the owners and renters at Seaside come from the wealthier Bham and ATL suburbs, so they are dressing as they do at home. I don't spend hours primping or buy expensive outfits, but I do wear nice jewelry when we go out because if I didn't, I wouldn't be wearing since I don't put it on when staying home. Just like decorating our home, jewelry is for me, not for showing off. But I get what you're saying.

If you don't want to be around the little towns, then you need to go South. DH actually wanted to go a few hours more South, or even Key West, but I wanted our famly to be able to arrive under five hours. I also think you are seeing the area during peak season. It is very different when tourist are not here. Our neighborhod is more FT owners than renters.

Cape San Blas is a nice area, but not resort-like IMO. Same with St George Island. But if you love HHI maybe that's the place. What about Captiva, Sanibel or Anna Marie Island? A barrier island might be what you are looking for.

Allison, I am sure you are right that many of these people do dress like this most days. Call me a country bumpkin (not quite but live in the Midwest!) but I would not see someone eating at a casual restaurant here dressed like these people are. It's all what you are used to.

Funny story--last year I had on a nice linen top, slacks, jewelry, looked pretty put together. My DH and I are posing for pics for with 10 week old GS when he has his first blow out, up the back, everywhere mess. I hand him back to mom and she asks what did I get on me? We look at him in his nice little RL outfit and me and just about die laughing.

We will try the area again because we really do prefer the Gulf water. Trail, I will look into the Venice Beach area also along with Sanibel, Captiva, etc.

It's a 13 hour drive for us down 65 to get to the 30A area. We have been breaking into 2 days lately so adding more hours on doesn't really matter.

Thanks all!