Grayton BeachTrue Chattanoogans know where their local hot spots are. We’ve found the best places to grab a cup of coffee, jive to live music and take in the loveliest views.
We pride ourselves in this coveted local knowledge, having spent years ferreting out the secrets of the Scenic City. But as we trickle down south for some fun and sun, we transform into tourists with limited time to experience the true character of our temporary summer homes.
Fortunately, a visit to Grayton Beach, Florida, will reveal that the whole town is a local hotspot-in this beach town, you really can’t go wrong.
Hidden discreetly between Panama City and Destin, which welcome massive amounts of tourists during the
summer season, Grayton Beach embodies old-Florida charm. “Grayton Beach is a place to unwind and not have to go, go, go,” says Travis Currie, communications coordinator with South Walton Tourism Development Committee. “It will give you a great sense of that old-time beach town atmosphere.”
One of 16 South Walton communities, Currie says a great thing about Grayton is the fact that after the six-hour drive to get there from Chattanooga, visitors can virtually avoid their car for the rest of the trip. “It’s that sense of community where you don’t have to drive everywhere; that’s something our area really embraces,” he says. Guests to the coastal town can meander around to locate food, shopping, sand and surf. Everyday worries like traffic jams are far away in the real world.
And, just like in any other quintessential beach town, newcomers will find themselves meandering toward the shoreline. A gem in the Gulf of Mexico, emerald waves hug the white sands of Grayton Beach, and sand dunes rise lightly into the landscape. Dune lakes spring up away from the roar of the ocean and make for the perfect play space for younger children who may not be able to handle the larger waves. The beach is actually a part of Grayton Beach State Park, a nearly 2,000-acre park with 10-plus miles of biking and walking trails, as well as opportunities for camping and glimpsing wildlife.
Heavy traffic isn’t the only thing missing from Grayton’s landscape. Visitors may notice the lack of towering chain hotels on the shore. This is because most guests rent from the smattering of summer houses located near the Emerald Coast. “Grayton Beach is mostly just homes,” says Currie. “It’s an old neighborhood. It’s quiet and I think people who come here appreciate that.”
Another lodging option is the historical Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse, one of the oldest of its kind in the community. Hibiscus manager Stephanie Vantassell says the coffee and guesthouse is a family business-her aunt and uncle turned the house into a coffee shop nearly 20 years ago. They eventually started renting out the rooms and adding more property, resulting in a charming bedand- breakfast-style establishment.
“It kind of grew into its own destination,” she says. “I’ve heard some people say it’s Miami and New Orleans mixed together.”
For more information:visitsouthwalton.comhibiscusflorida.comtheredbar.comCheck out these other local favorites while at Grayton Beach:Shorty’s Surfside and Topsideshortyssurfside.comThe Zoo Galleryfacebook.com/ thezoogalleryGrayt Coffee Housegraytcoffeehouse.comDistance from Chattanooga:390 miles, 6.5 hours by car
Each of the 12 rooms- from the Funky Bird Room to the Art Deco Room to the Romance Room-has its own flair, named for the unique decorations the owners chose to fit into their vision of old Florida. The coffeehouse is open each morning and sometimes into the early afternoon serving up fresh fare created by New Orleans native and café operator Colin Smith, including Mediterranean frittatas, Mexican quiches and cinnamon roll French toast topped with cinnamon buttered pecans. Vantassell says everything is served with fresh fruit picked out each morning. The Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse as well as local favorite The Red Bar host live music regularly. “Something catching on down here is the music scene,” says Currie.
“We have a lot of great local artists.” And, Currie says, a visit to The Red Bar is a must. “The Red Bar is an experience,” he says. “If you don’t check it out for at least one meal you are missing out. There’s a lot of local love there.” The menu, scrawled on a blackboard displayed prominently in the restaurant, is comprised of everything from shrimp and crawfish to baked eggplant to manicotti to the bar’s famous crab cakes. Whether exploring the shoreline or roaming through town, Grayton Beach is a place where guests can live like locals. “It’s an iconic place,” describes Currie. “Grayton Beach really has something for everybody.”