Watercolor
"To travel is to live." - Hans Christian Anderson
I have heard so many good things about the 30A area on the gulf side of Florida over the years and how it’s a great spot for families to vacation so Spring Break 2025 seemed like the perfect time to see for ourselves. We heard from locals that Spring weather can be unpredictable but we lucked out and the weather was perfection! Chilly mornings that gave way to afternoons in the mid 70s with bright blue and sunny skies.
A super easy flight direct from DC via Reagan National to Panama City got us to our destination in around 2 hours. The Panama City airport is quite small and efficient and super easy to navigate rental car pickup. We drove just under 30 minutes and hopped on 30A to explore the various beach towns along the way and stopped in Rosemary Beach for a quick lunch. Don’t miss a stop here, tons of cute restaurants with outdoor seating, shops, and beach access. We ate at Summer Kitchen which I wouldn’t recommend for its food, but the setting was great for people-watching and taking in the town.
We ultimately made our way to Watercolor and checked into the Watercolor Inn. We found the accommodations quaint and comfortable and convenient to lots of amenities within the community. Their rooms recently underwent a renovation and they did a great job adding tasteful coastal finishings and décor. The staff was attentive and the housekeeping service kept our room immaculate. Our room had a king and a queen pullout that the two girls shared. It was pretty tight for 6 nights but we managed. What stood out for us were the amenities available to us as guests of the Inn. The highlight for the girls were the treat suites found on each floor with complimentary hot chocolate, sodas, snacks, and ice cream novelties. Nothing fancy and limited selection, but the girls loved that they could visit on their own and get snacks and treats multiple times a day - ha! We enjoyed the access to multiple pools both beach-side and throughout the community, easy and direct beach access, access to complimentary bike cruisers for biking the many trails throughout the community and neighboring areas, access to tennis and pickleball, and its easy walking distance to Seaside which is home to lots of cute coffee shops, restaurants, and retail stores. Do not miss the classic Seaside swag found at Seaside Style, quilted bags from Poeta, books from the most charming bookstore Sundog, a cheeseburger from Pickles, and the best latte and breakfast in town at Black Bear Bread Company!!
Once we were checked in, we had the opportunity to walk the beach and WOW. We knew instantly we had found a special place and that this trip would be memorable. We felt like we had landed in the Caribbean - the sand is powder soft and the turquoise waters are right up there with the prettiest I've seen.
Our first night we had dinner at Fish Out of Water, the Inn’s onsite restaurant. We witnessed an incredible sunset but found the food just okay. Highly recommend it for happy hour drinks though!
We found our morning rhythm quickly and after a quick workout at the fitness center we walked into Seaside for breakfast and discovered the not-so-hidden gem Black Bear Bread Company. One hundred percent worth the long line each morning (25-30 mins) for the best lattes in 30A. Also, don’t sleep on the food – the breakfast sandwiches, bowls, and pastries are amazing. We also did breakfast one morning at Crackings in Grayton Beach (cute vibe and decent diner-style food) and breakfast sandwiches at Modica Market in Seaside but Black Bear stole the breakfast show. Modica Market is a convenient option for groceries, wine, beer and other supplies though.
Our most memorable meal was dinner at Surfing Deer. The food and service was excellent. The seafood acadiana and the banana pudding cheesecake are not to be missed! We also had a great casual evening walking to Seaside where we ordered burgers and drinks from Pickles and hung out watching the sunset – the burgers and truffle fries are yummy and the swag is great too!! We enjoyed the vibe at Pickles so much we went there on our last night too. I wish we could’ve made it to Old Florida Fish House, Wild Olive, and Café 30A as we heard good things but we just ran out of nights.
Our most memorable activity was renting paddle-boards from the Watercolor Boathouse and paddle-boarding early one morning on the lake. We had the lake to ourselves and it was so much fun being together enjoying the quiet calm waters. We also really enjoyed biking and exploring around the community and into the neighboring areas. Most afternoons were usually spent by one of the ten pools scattered throughout the resort. Camp Watercolor, which offers three pools and a waterslide, lazy river, and a zero-entry children's area is super fun for families (and had good lunch offerings). We also loved the (very quiet and relaxing) pool adjacent to the Boathouse.
I say this whenever we take a trip, but as a family we really are at our best when we travel and visit new places together and this trip was no different. We are reminded just how much we all like to be together. When we go back to Watercolor someday, I'd rent a house and use it as our home base rather than the Inn. The community is huge and has lots of different pools,
I can’t emphasize enough just how easy and convenient and beautiful the Watercolor community is and how accessible lots of fun activities are. We can’t wait to go back!