The best beach towns give us deep-down good feelings. Every stretch of waterfront has its own character and each of the communities along Scenic Highway 30A has a personality to match.

Florida boasts thousands of miles of tidal shoreline, yet Northwest Florida and its beaches aren’t like the rest of the state. And the twenty miles of coast that parrellels a modest county road known as Scenic Highway 30A, isn’t like the rest of the Panhandle. There are no incorporated towns, and for a long time it was barely indicated on the map. Yet this string of beach communities nestled along the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City flourished in their relative obscurity. Over the years, the area evolved and grew interesting enough to be a real place.

Take a journey with Eleanor Lynn Nesmith and photographer Jean Allsopp along Scenic Highway 30A, for their words and images illustrate why this vivacious, pristine stretch of coastline is so special. Decades before Seaside drew national attention in the 1980s, generations of Southerners flocked to South Walton’s pristine beaches for summer holidays. Santa Rosa was a thriving town and Grayton was emerging as a coastal resort a hundred years ago. From Seagrove to Seaside to Alys Beach, 30A Style opens the doors of twenty-two homes within historical villages and vibrant new towns. Along the way, discover the rich traditions of the region and pioneers who saw the potential in protecting the natural landscapes of our corner of Northwest Florida. Explore New Urbanist towns that prompted the unofficial title of “The Design Coast” for these twenty miles of Scenic Highway.

30A Style is a full-color, 192-page coffee table book showcasing diverse communities and individual houses, as well as the homeowners who share a role in this unique architectural proving ground. Each home featured in 30A Style is a distinctive expression of the personality of its inhabitents and the characteristics of the terrain. The book offers both the novice and aficionado of architecture, an engaging take on why homes matter to a community, and how communities come together. Whether the owners are born-and-bred locals or loving transplants, doesn't matter. They share a passion for the locale and belief in a broader purpose. 30A Style is a celebration of a unique way of life along the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a book worth going back to again and again.

Author Bio:
Eleanor Lynn Nesmith
A Carolina native who now calls 30A home, Lynn spent her childhood summers in Sunset Beach and graduated from the University of North Carolina. She started her career with Architecture Magazine and later served as architecture editor of Southern Living. Lynn is the author of Instant Architecture and Seaside Style. Her words have appeared in Architectural Record, Better Homes & Gardens, The Washington Post, House Beautiful, Traditional Home and Coastal Living. She lives in Seagrove and writes from a third-story home office with a glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico.

Photographer Bio:
Jean Allsopp
Jean Allsopp is a nationally acclaimed photographer, best known for her images of architecture, interiors and gardens. With a BFA in photography from SMU and training at California’s Art Center College of Design, Jean worked for more than ten years as senior photographer for Southern Living and Coastal Living. Her images have appeared in Southern Accents, Birmingham Home & Garden, Country Living and Food & Wine. A native of Dallas, Jean lives in Birmingham, Alabama.