neighborhood
Alys Beach
Alys Beach is the all-white town on 30A, between Seaside and Rosemary Beach, built since 2004 around courtyard houses and quiet pedestrian lanes.
White walls and a walkable center in Walton County, west of Rosemary.
Alys Beach covers about 158 acres on both sides of 30A, just west of Rosemary Beach. The Stephens family of Birmingham bought the land at auction in the 1970s. Elton B. Stephens Sr. named it for his wife, Alys. Building began in 2004, led by the family company EBSCO.
The look
Duany Plater-Zyberk, the same planners behind Seaside and Rosemary Beach, laid out the town. The architecture borrows from Bermuda and Antigua, Guatemala: thick white walls, walled courtyards and roofs designed to stay cool. Every house is white, which makes the whole town look like it was carved out of one piece of stone.
Around town
Caliza Pool opened in November 2008. It's built like a Roman piazza, with colonnades and a terrace overlooking the Gulf, and it's for residents and guests. Fonville Press, on North Somerset Street, is the town's coffee shop and market. A footbridge crosses Lake Marilyn, and the Gulf Green runs down to the beach.
Before you go
Parking is limited and the town is built for walking, so plan to arrive on foot or by bike from nearby, or come early. The Alys Beach website lists current dining and events.
Explore nearby
Community in Walton County