My Travels to Grayton Beach, FL

I have been going to Grayton Beach for years. Most people don't really know about it except people who are very familiar with the Destin, FL panhandle area. Even then, some just pass it by because it is not on the main beach road, Highway 98. But that's why I like it. Grayton's an older town as Gulf coast towns go. It's not as old as Pensacola or Panama City, but it is not in the same category either. Those towns, now cities, had commerce and business centers. Grayton was begun as a small community right on the Gulf of Mexico, about 30 miles east of Destin, Florida. It was and has always been a community of homes and residents and there is no commerce except for Rivard Rentals and maybe one other Real Estate business. Other than the few shops and a couple of restaurants, Grayton is a place to go rent a home, and to relax.

Grayton Beach is a public beach. Anyone can drive into the town and down to the public beach and swim to their heart's content. You get to this town by travelling east or west down Highway 98 and going south from there on state road 337. When it reaches highway 30A, in about 4 miles, you'll be at the entrance to the town. Rivard Realty is just on the right past the crossroads. Driving down the narrow roads takes you into Florida somewhat as it used to be, with many of the simple one and two-story cottages from 50 years ago, still there. There has been development. Where in Florida isn't there any? The last time I was there it hadn't gotten bad, though. Grayton has some restrictions built into its covenants and they prevent any high-rises. What you see, though, is some houses of three and even four stories that are strictly for rental.

The architecture of even the new taller buildings is very tasteful. I would call it typical Florida style condos--some of it has a Mediterranean touch, but most is very understated and tasteful. All the homes and buildings are painted pale grays or beige and balconies encase almost every one. It's an overall peaceful, unobtrusive landscape. If there's a center of town it would have to be the last road that parallels the beach. There you'll see two restaurants, a few shops under the overhang of balconies, and that's about it.

http://graytonbeach.com/redbar.html
One of the restaurants everyone goes to is the legendary Red Bar. You can possibly see Cheryl Crow there, or maybe even Jim Carrey. Cheryl owns a home on the west side of town. Their food is really delicious, but what people come for from Destin and all up and down the coast is the wonderful crab cakes. They're only served on Wednesdays, if that hasn't changed, but check it out. The crawfish with pasta and the stuffed eggplant are wonderful, but do try to get there when they serve the crab cakes. Take a look at the web site. There are lots of photos to give you an idea of the atmosphere of this place.

People should definitely go to the website for porch-front tours and click on any number of them to get an idea of just what this place looks like and how it may be a lot more appealing than many of the younger communities that truly are commercial.
http://www.emeraldcoasttours.com/grayton-porches.html

Western Lake is on the east edge of Grayton and it's a saltwater lake with a deep shady overhang of spanish moss, pine trees and palmettos. Tall grasses line the muddy edge of the lake. It is the place I would most like to live. The tall pines and deep shade along the unpaved road make it seem as if this place is from another century. Even the large homes that have been built along the lake are understated and seem to blend into the folliage and landscape. They mostly have larger lots, too, with a lot of plantings at the edge of the road. This is a wonderful place to walk in the afternoon.

Rental links can be ford on the main web site. We have always liked to rent in late April, before the crowds get to Destin and flood the Highway. This time or in October, rates are less expensive, so I'd try to make reservations in either of these two months. I'd expect a two bedroom cottage or condo to rent for around $900, but it may have gone up in the past two years. Grayton is a good place to get away from crowds, generally, but there will be heavy traffic going to and from other places on the highway in the late spring and summer.