Curious about Watercolor Florida? Today I'm sharing more about this charming 30A beach community and all the best things to do when you get there. This picturesque, upscale community has everything from breathtaking beaches that rival the Caribbean, plus upscale amenities like a beach club and waterpark, Camp Watercolor, for the kids. This guide covers Watercolor and the nearby town of Seaside too!
Planning a trip to Watercolor or a nearby town? Also check out my Top 20 Favorite Moments from Watercolor and Seaside, Florida.
Watercolor Florida
Watercolor Florida is a charming 500-acre community on Florida's 30 Emerald Coast in South Walton County right along the Gulf of Mexico's famous white sand beaches. It's located in Northwest Florida between Destin and Panama City Beach. It sits in between the more famous Seaside, Florida from The Truman Show and Grayton Beach State Park.
It's a master-planned community where the houses are all wood with wide wraparound porches and gorgeous dense trees lining the roads. Unlike some of the nearby towns in Florida, there are only houses, no high rises on the beach. It oozes small-town charm and is the perfect place to consider staying if you want to explore the 30A area, without staying in some of the larger cities like nearby Destin.
The community has panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico and also sits along the beach and a stunning coastal Dune Lake called Western Lake, so you are never far from a pretty body of water. Golf carts and bikes outnumber cars for the primary mode of transportation.
What Makes Watercolor Florida Unique?
One of the main attractions for Watercolor Florida is the gorgeous Emerald blue water and white powder sand that truly rivals Caribbean beaches. In the summer the warm waters are super inviting and the perfect playground. Any visitor will love it!
The Watercolor community combines this gorgeous natural attraction with two amenities for folks staying in the community. Staying in a vacation rental here is unique because you have access to high-end resort style community amenities like a beach club and Camp Watercolor. They have a fabulous three-level beach club with swimming pools and a restaurant, plus a kid's waterpark area, Camp Watercolor with water slides, and a lazy river. It is truly one of the more magical places I've stayed with small kids! It's the best at staying in a vacation rental and resort, rolled up into one charming place.
Do I have your interest? When I heard about this place, I knew I had to visit it! Keep reading to find out all of the best things to do in Watercolor Florida.
Watercolor Florida Logistics
Watercolor Florida doesn't have an airport. You will need to fly into nearby Destin, Florida, or Panama City Beach Florida and rent a car and drive. If driving, you can get to the community by accessing Scenic Highway 30A from Highway Route 98.
Watercolor has a busy spring break and summer high season where you will find crowds and lines for things. Visiting in the off-season is a great way to save money and beat the crowds.
There is a small Inn called the Watercolor Inn, but most people who visit, stay in vacation rentals through different vacation rental companies that are listed on VRBO or AirBNB. There are everything from a few low-profile condo buildings, and small single-family cottages to massive large-family homes, making this a perfect place for a family vacation.
Watercolor Florida Top Things to Do
Beach
Visiting the gorgeous beach is one of the top things to do in Watercolor Florida. The beaches in this area of the country are truly special, with white powder sand and Emerald-blue waters. They can easily be mistaken for the Caribbean.
The clear water is perfect for kids and adults to play in! Make sure to grab a raft or boogie board too.
The community offers chair and umbrella set-ups that are rented beforehand, especially in high season. You can bring your chairs, but the chair rentals get prime beach spots, so be aware of that. If you are used to carrying your own chairs to the beach there isn't a lot of room for that and it is also a private beach. If you want the good seats, make sure to book your chair rentals as soon as you book your vacation.
You can also sign up to have beach bonfires set up by the resort seasonally.
Watercolor Beach Club
A huge perk and another top thing to do in Watercolor Florida is to visit the included Watercolor Beach Club with amazing gulf views. The beach club has three levels of pools including one adult pool, plus restaurants and a bar. There is even a bar on the boardwalk heading out out to the beach.
The Beach Club is available to residents and their guests, including vacation rental guests. It's such a nice perk for staying in this 30A community! Make sure you get your wristband which allows access to the Beach Club and Camp Watercolor. It will even get you beach towels to use.
It has a lovely high-end feel including chair service for food, with some great options like this fish sandwich. There are even nice bathrooms.
Visiting the Watercolor Beach Club is a must for your Watercolor Florida trip.
Camp Watercolor
The other huge perk of a Watercolor Florida vacation is access to Camp Watercolor, which is a pool area perfectly designed for kids.
The complex features two large pools with slides, including one zero-entry pool.
There is also a lazy river. Camp Watercolor even has a restaurant with casual food and a very nice beach bar-style bar for drinks! You can't go wrong with spending time here on your trip, especially with kids! They also have towel service for guests.
Watercolor Florida BoatHouse
Another fun thing to do in Watercolor Florida is visit the BoatHouse which is on Western Lake, a coastal dune lake, which is very unique. They have canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards available for rent, for all your boating and water needs.
They even have a paddle club, which offers paddleboard workouts and SUP.
Ride in a Golf Cart
One of the best things to do in Watercolor Florida for our family was riding around in a golf cart! Our rental house came with one and skipping the car for the golf cart was a highlight of the trip. The community is large and sprawling and it's the best way to get around. The beach club and Camp Watercolor are on opposite sides of the property, so walking would take a while.
There are rules about how many golf carts can be used at a time in the resort, plus they recently changed the parking in front of the beach club and Camp Watercolor for paid golf cart parking, so just be aware of that before you head out though. The Electric Cart Company is the group that rents the carts in Watercolor.
Bike
Another fabulous thing to do in Watercolor Florida is bike the roads or trails. The shaded roads are great for bike riding, and they also have an extensive woodland trail system. There are miles of charming bridges and paths along the coastal dune lake.
We rented through this company and they do have kids-size bikes.
It's a great way to explore or just get around. Rent your bike from the Watercolor Bike Barn or Bumble Bee Bike Rentals.
Explore By Foot
If biking is not your thing, you can easily walk or hike in these same areas. We went on walks to explore daily and uncovered all sorts of hidden gems. The trail system around the neighborhood is a fabulous perk in Watercolor Florida.
A hidden gem that is best explored on foot is Cerulean Park. It's behind the shopping district in Watercolor. There is a gorgeous cascading founding that runs through the park and an amazing collection of flowers.
Visit Seaside
No Watercolor Florida vacation is complete without spending some time in Seaside. Seaside Florida is just next door to Watercolor and you can easily walk or take your bike there. While Watercolor has more of a low-key quiet vibe, Seaside is busier and more active.
It's incredibly charming filled with a huge palm tree that lines the city center, an old-school beachfront boardwalk with restaurants, and an entire row of food trucks.
There are dozens of places to eat, shops, and things to explore. We hopped over to Seaside several times during our trip and always loved it.
The town was designed and built in the 1980s with a type of urban planning called New Urbanism where the entire community is walkable with pretty streets and pathways. It's a super interesting a unique place to explore.
Watercolor Florida Shopping
Looking for more things to do in Watercolor Florida? Visit the local shops. In the front of the community, near the beach club, there is a collection of cute, high-end shops and boutiques that make up Watercolor's town center that have everything from designer merchandise to watercolor-branded items. If you are looking for a unique souvenir, this is a great place to look. Make sure to check out Old Florida Outfitters for some fun old-school Florida merchandise.
You can even visit The Candy Bar with kids.
If shopping is your thing, nearby Seaside is filled with adorable shops and boutiques.
Seaside Farmer's Market
The Seaside Farmer's Market is another must on your list of things to do in Watercolor Florida. The farmers market is held every Tuesday and Saturday from 9-1 at the Seaside Amphitheater.
They have everything from freshly grown vegetables to prepared foods like bagels, baked items, cookies, and more.
Playgrounds
If you have kids visiting the playgrounds are a must on your list of things to do in Watercolor Florida. There is a nice playground right next to Camp Watercolor and Seaside has this playground just next door.
Play Sports
Watercolor has sports amenities like basketball courts and a large tennis center with tennis courts. There are also fields with soccer nets.
Watch the Sunset
You have to watch the sunset in Watercolor Florida! It's not a true over-the-water sunset, but from the beach, you can watch the sun drop below the horizon and you get to see the outline of the tall buildings lining the Destin beach. The best place to see the sunset is either on the beach itself or on the boardwalk from the beach club.
Visit the Other 30A Towns
Watercolor and Seaside are just two of the communities that make up the 30A section of Florida. Get in the car and drive the other 19 miles and explore the other charming towns including Grayton Beach, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seacrest, Watersound, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach. Each townhas it's own town center with a set of restaurants, and shops. Make sure to check out Alys Beach with its stark white buildings and perfectly manicured lawns, which look right out of a movie!
Do be aware that the beaches in this part of Florida can be private, so some of the towns have no public beach access.
Dine Out
Watercolor Florida and the surrounding 30A communities are filled with fabulous restaurants and dining experiences. Make sure to book some fabulous meals as part of your trip. One of our favorite dining experiences is Old Florida Fish House, which sits on a gorgeous tropical plant-filled property with the most amazing sunset.
I'll be sharing all of my favorite Watercolor, Seaside, and 30A restaurants in a post next week.
Watercoler Florida FAQ
Are you considering a trip to Watercolor Florida? Here are a few FAQ that might help with your planning.
What is Watercolor known for?
Watercolor is known for being a charming, low-key planned community along the 30A coast of Florida. It is known for its upscale wooden homes with large porches plus access to amazing amenities like a beach club, Camp Watercolor, tennis, and golf.
Can you live in Watercolor Florida?
Yes! The houses in the neighborhood are individually owned and many have full-time residents. Many of the houses are also vacation rentals though with the owners using them part-time.
How far is Watercolor from Seaside?
Watercolor and Seaside and just adjacent to each other. It's easy to bike or walk from one to another. They are often bundled together but are two very different communities with different vibes. Seaside is a bit busier with more restaurants and shops.
Watercolor Florida is the Perfect Family Vacation
Watercolor Florida is such a fun and unique family vacation spot in northwest Florida that brings together the best of staying in a vacation rental while still giving you access to resort-style amenities like a beach club, restaurants, bars, and even a kid's waterpark. It's super family-friendly while still feeling upscale and charming. If you are traveling with extended families and want a large rental, this is a great place to find it.
We loved our trip there and thought it was the perfect home base for visiting this part of Florida! I hope this guide will help you plan your trip and figure out all the best things to do while you are there.
More About Watercolor Florida & the Panhandle
- Best Watercolor Restaurants (Publishing next week!)
- Top 20 Favorite Moments from Watercolor Florida
- Destin Travel Guide
- Best Destin Restaurants
- Top 20 Favorite Moments from Destin Florida
- Destin Weekend Trip
More Florida Beach Towns Travel Guides:
- Amelia Island Travel Guide
- Sanibel Island Travel Guide
- Anna Maria Island Travel Guide
- Marco Island Travel Guide
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