Between the crowds of Seaside and the polish of Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach, 30A has a calmer middle. WaterColor, Florida, Seagrove Beach and WaterSound are where many families come back year after year: lake paddling, a quiet state park beach, good dinners and fewer people on the sand. Each one has its own personality, and they sit close enough to explore in one trip.
Here is how they fit together. WaterColor sits on Western Lake, just west of Seaside. Seagrove Beach starts east of Seaside and runs toward Deer Lake. WaterSound is a set of St. Joe communities, with a gated beach neighborhood on 30A and a busy town center up on Highway 98. This guide covers what to do in each, where to eat and how to get to the beach.
Quick answer
- Best paddle: rent a board or kayak on Western Lake from Boathouse Paddle Club in WaterColor. It is open to the public.
- Best quiet beach: Deer Lake State Park, with a boardwalk over the dunes and a rare coastal dune lake ($3 per vehicle as of November 2026).
- Best old-school lunch: the grouper sandwich at Seagrove Village Market Cafe, in business since 1949.
- Best sunset dinner: Fish Out of Water at WaterColor Inn, with a second-floor dining room over the Gulf.
- Best free activity: walk the Watersound Monarch Art Trail, eight sculptures along a mile-long path.
WaterColor, Florida
WaterColor is a St. Joe resort community wrapped around Western Lake, one of South Walton’s coastal dune lakes. It is walkable, leafy and full of bike paths, with a small town center and a beach club. Seaside is right next door, close enough to walk.
Things to do in WaterColor
- Paddle Western Lake: Boathouse Paddle Club rents stand-up paddleboards and kayaks on calm, flat water with no surf or boat wake. It also offers fitness classes and guided fishing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily as of November 2026.
- Shop for fishing gear: Old Florida Outfitters is an Orvis retail partner with fly and conventional tackle, outdoor clothing and guided fishing charters. It has been in WaterColor since 2010.
- Bike to Seaside: WaterColor has bike racks and a network of paths. Ride over to Seaside for the shops and the town green, then come back for a quieter dinner.
- Time it with an event: WaterColor hosts the Harvest Wine & Food Festival each October and Mountainfilm on Tour, a two-night outdoor documentary festival.
If you stay at WaterColor Inn, a Gulf-front boutique hotel designed by David Rockwell, you also get Camp WaterColor. It has two pools, water slides, a lazy river and a playground, with a lifeguard on duty.
Where to eat in WaterColor
- Fish Out of Water: the inn’s restaurant, with Gulf views from the second floor. It does not take reservations, so arrive early for a balcony seat near sunset.
- WaterColor Grill: the beach club’s all-day spot for seafood, salads and sandwiches, with a poolside window and a daily happy hour.
- Beach Happy Cafe: coffee, wraps, pastries and plant-based options in WaterColor Town Center, open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Seagrove Beach
Seagrove Beach is one of 30A’s older beach communities, and it feels that way. You will find a mix of classic cottages, condos and newer homes, with small plazas instead of a planned town center. It is the least fussy part of this stretch and a good base for families who want space and simple beach days.
Things to do in Seagrove Beach
- Go to Deer Lake State Park: Deer Lake State Park protects a coastal dune lake, a habitat found in only a few places in the world. An accessible boardwalk crosses the dunes to about half a mile of beach, and a 1.5-mile nature trail leads through the pines. Entry is $3 per vehicle or $2 for walkers and cyclists, paid at the honor box with exact change (as of November 2026). The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset. On busy days it can close to new visitors for a few hours.
- Look for Eastern Lake: another dune lake sits on the Seagrove side, and Old Florida Fish House sits right on its shore.
- Use the public accesses: Seagrove has several county beach accesses, which makes it easier to reach the sand here than in many 30A towns. See the parking table below.
Seagrove Beach restaurants
- Seagrove Village Market Cafe: a casual market and cafe operating since 1949, known for its grouper sandwich. First-come, first-served, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Seagrove Coffee & Donuts: espresso, doughnuts, boba tea and a breakfast and lunch menu in Seagrove Plaza, open 7 a.m. to noon.
- Coastal Steamer & Cafe: a counter in the same plaza for Maine-style lobster rolls and lump crab cakes. Hours are seasonal, so call first.
- Surfing Deer: seafood-forward New American dinners Monday to Saturday from 4:30 p.m., with a shaded patio and a kids menu. Book on Resy.
- Café Thirty-A: a 30A dinner spot open nightly from 4:30 p.m. Martinis are $6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (as of November 2026). Reserve ahead on weekends.
- Old Florida Fish House: a family-owned spot on Eastern Lake since 2005, with sushi, wagyu and dueling pianos Thursday to Saturday.
For a place to sleep, The Lodge 30A has kitchenette suites and free parking, which is rare on 30A.
WaterSound
WaterSound is less a single town than a family of St. Joe communities. WaterSound Beach, on 30A east of Seagrove, is a gated neighborhood with maritime-style cottages and boardwalks over the dunes. Most visitors spend their time north of it, around Watersound Origins and Watersound Town Center near Highway 98. These addresses are technically in Inlet Beach.
Things to do in WaterSound
- Walk the art trail: the Watersound Monarch Art Trail places eight sculptures inspired by the monarch butterfly migration along the paved path on South Watersound Parkway, which links Highway 98 and 30A. It is about a mile long and free. The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County created it, and the Otocast app has audio for each piece.
- See glass art: Fusion Art Glass & Fine Jewelry carries work from more than 150 North American studio artists. It was founded in 1996 and marks 30 years in 2026.
- Browse the town center: Watersound Town Center is an open-air center with about 150,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and offices at the entrance to Origins. Art of Fact(s) is a local favorite for vintage objects, antiquities and home decor (in-store only, no online shop).
- Catch live music: The Big Chill 30A is WaterSound’s social hub, with an open lawn facing a stage for live music and movies.
Where to eat in WaterSound
- Ambrosia Prime Seafood & Steaks: Gulf seafood and prime and wagyu steaks with an in-house butcher. Dinner from 4 p.m. daily, with a daily happy hour.
- Village Market at Watersound Town Center: a seafood and Southern restaurant with a take-away market and Sunday brunch.
- Friends 30A Burger Bar: smash burgers and shakes, open late, with discounted combos from 9 to 11 p.m.
- Sweet Henrietta’s: a custom bakery and coffee shop on Origins Main Street, closed Sundays.
- Nigel’s Bananas: dipped frozen bananas, gelato and key lime pie at the entrance to Origins, with vegan and gluten-free options.
Staying here? Camp Creek Inn is a 75-room inn inside the Watersound community, with a daily shuttle to the private Watersound Beach Club.
Parking and beach access
Parking is the main headache on this part of 30A. The good news is that Seagrove has more public access than most neighborhoods. Spaces below come from Visit South Walton (as of November 2026).
| Access or lot | Area | Parking |
|---|---|---|
| WaterColor public lot, 20 Western Lake Dr | WaterColor | Paid: $5 per hour or $15 per day |
| Santa Clara Beach Access, 3468 E Scenic Hwy 30A | Seagrove | About 30 spaces |
| Eastern Lake Municipal Parking, 400 Eastern Lake Rd | Seagrove | 16 standard and 18 low-speed vehicle spaces |
| Walton Dunes, 258 Beachfront Trail | Seagrove | About 13 spaces |
| San Juan Beach Access | Seagrove | About 13 spaces |
| Deer Lake State Park | Seagrove | Park lot, $3 per vehicle |
Seaside sells paid parking on Smolian Circle, and a free Seaside Shuttle runs daily from 6 a.m. to midnight from a lot near Highway 331. Bikes are the easiest way to move between these towns. For every public access on the road, see our 30A beaches guide.
Before you go
- Storm recovery: Hurricane Isaias brought down trees and debris across South Walton on October 9, 2026. The St. Joe hotels here, including WaterColor Inn, Camp Creek Inn and The Lodge 30A, reopened by October 12, and beaches reopened soon after. Some beach accesses stayed closed for repairs into late October, so follow posted signs.
- Trails: the 30A bike path was cleared through this stretch by mid-October. Point Washington State Forest, north of WaterColor, closed its recreation areas after the storm and we could not confirm a reopening date. Check with the Florida Forest Service before you plan a ride there.
- Deer Lake: the park showed no storm alert as of November 11, 2026, but it can close temporarily when the lot fills. Go early.
- Call ahead: restaurant hours change by season, and a few spots ran shorter hours after the storm.
- Beach flags: check the flag before you swim. Our beach flags guide explains each color.
Comparing towns along the road? Our 30A towns guide covers every community, and the best restaurants on 30A goes deeper on dinner. Browse places by area on the WaterColor, Seagrove Beach and WaterSound pages, or see all of 30A.
WaterColor, Seagrove and WaterSound FAQ
Where is WaterColor, Florida? WaterColor is on Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton, between Grayton Beach and Seaside, wrapped around Western Lake. Seaside is close enough to walk.
Is WaterColor open to the public? Yes for the restaurants, shops, town center and Boathouse Paddle Club. Camp WaterColor’s pools are for WaterColor Inn guests. Public parking is in a paid lot on Western Lake Drive.
What is Seagrove Beach, Florida known for? A relaxed, older 30A community with several public beach accesses, Deer Lake State Park and local restaurants like Seagrove Village Market Cafe and Café Thirty-A.
What are the best Seagrove Beach restaurants? Surfing Deer and Café Thirty-A for dinner, Old Florida Fish House for sushi on Eastern Lake, and Seagrove Village Market Cafe for a casual grouper sandwich.
Is WaterSound, Florida a town? It is a group of St. Joe communities rather than one town. WaterSound Beach is gated, while Watersound Town Center and Watersound Origins near Highway 98 are open to visitors.
Can you go to the beach in WaterSound? The WaterSound Beach Club is private. The closest public options are Deer Lake State Park and the Seagrove public accesses a short drive west.