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Need to get away this summer? Escape here along Florida’s Emerald Coast.

Need to get away this summer? Escape here on Florida’s Emerald Coast.

By CultureMap Create

May 17, 2016, 12:45 pm

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Enjoy coastal cuisine flavored with an amazing view of the Gulf of Mexico at the area’s only Forbes 4-Star and AAA 4-Diamond restaurant, located beachside at WaterColor Inn. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

The 60-room WaterColor Inn & Resort is a family-friendly resort featuring six pools, four restaurants, a kids' camp, and more. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

WaterColor, a 499-acre coastal community nestled between the shores of Florida’s Emerald Coast and the banks of Western Lake, offers the best of the state’s Southern hospitality. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

At WaterColor Inn & Resort, most guest rooms have a view of the Gulf of Mexico and a pair of Adirondack chairs on the patio. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

At St. Joe Clubs & Resorts, vacation rentals are available with one to six bedrooms, ranging in size from condos with Gulf views to luxury mansions. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

SJCR guests receive complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to enjoy Western Lake — the most explored coastal dune lake in Walton County. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

Available to SJCR resort members and guests only, the WaterSound Beach Club is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

Tucked among the oaks and pines along the shores of the historical lake, which has been designated an outstanding inland Florida waterway, Shark's Tooth is a challenging routing. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

Located just off of Scenic Highway 30A, Camp Creek Golf Club opened in May 2001 and features a pure golf experience accentuated by a significant wetland system. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

Bikes are one of the most popular modes of transportation in WaterColor and along Scenic Highway 30-A. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

SJCR features a diverse array of lodging options, all located along a 26-mile stretch of beach in northwest Florida. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

The award-winning Pearl Hotel is an intimate, 55-room boutique property that opened in August 2013. Photo courtesy of St. Joe Club & Resorts

Miles of sugar-white sand beaches, turquoise Gulf waters, the warmth of the sun on your skin. Are you booking your ticket yet? Escape the concrete jungle for a getaway to northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, along the picturesque 26-mile stretch of Highway 30A.

St. Joe Club & Resorts streamlines your vacation, offering a collection of more than 300 first-class — yet unpretentious — experiences for couples, families, groups, wedding parties, and more.

For a boutique experience, book a stay at The Pearl Hotel, one of only two Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond hotels in the area. (Keep reading for the other honoree.) Relax by the adults-only pool by day and imbibe on the rooftop lounge at night. The intimate hotel boasts 55 upscale guestrooms, house-baked turndown treats, and an adults-only pool. Did we mention that already?

If you’re traveling with little ones, the WaterColor Inn & Resort offers a luxe family-friendly experience. Beach-facing rooms, four onsite restaurants, six pools, and a private beach club are among the highlights. And then, of course, there are hundreds of vacation homes to accommodate families of all sizes and ages, many boasting gourmet kitchens, private pools, complimentary bikes, and many other perks.

Wherever you choose to stay, you’ll have access to myriad amenities available only to members and guests of St. Joe Club & Resorts. Beach clubs? Check. Tennis facilities? Check. Kids’ camps and bike and kayak rentals? Check. Check. Check.

For the golfer, St. Joe Clubs & Resorts also owns and operates three 18-hole championship courses — Shark’s Tooth Golf Club, Camp Creek Golf Club, SouthWood Golf Club — and Origins Golf Club, a six-hole executive course. Pro tip: Watch for alligators and other wildlife on the courses; properties are located near an array of state parks, 15 rare and naturally occurring dune lakes, and coastal forests.

Consider yourself a foodie? Home to nine of the area’s best restaurants and watering holes, St. Joe Clubs & Resorts touts itself as a the Emerald Coast dining destination. An added bonus: seasonal dishes prepared with fresh ingredients. Nearby produce purveyors provide much of the restaurants’ supplies, allowing for a true farm-to-table experience.

Whatever your speed, St. Joe Club & Resorts is ready and waiting to customize an experience for you.

“Our team is dedicated to excellent service, and making sure that each and every guest has a memorable vacation,” says managing director Andrew Czarnecki.

Psst. Insiders tell us it’s best to book accommodations at least 30 days out and, if possible, to plan a visit between August and October for fewer crowds and milder weather. But there’s really no bad time for a beach vacay, is there?