A New Tradition in Coastal Living
Panama City Beach, FL -As you drive or bike along scenic Highway 30-A just a couple of miles west of Panama City Beach you'll come upon one of the newest of the Gulf Coast developments gaining international recognition. Rising from the surrounding sand dunes, scrub pines and moss-draped oaks, Rosemary Beach captures the eye with its signature architectural style and balanced town plan. The homes are designed in the manner of those in St. Augustine, the West Indies, New Orleans, and Charleston, presenting a varied yet coherent whole. Rosemary Beach is a pedestrian's paradise, with many small lanes and footpaths connecting homes, businesses and amenities.
In fact, this pedestrian-centered planning reflects a dedication to creating a harmonious living environment that's human-scaled, yet meets the requirements of upscale homeowners for elegance and exclusivity. The town is laid out around parks and plazas that draw residents together, while maintaining their privacy. At its center stands the town hall, itself surrounded by shops and a U.S. Post Office. One interesting feature of this area are the "live and work" buildings whose lower floors house businesses, while above, living space allows owners to keep a close eye on their businesses.
The town is laid out around parks and plazas that draw residents together, while maintaining their privacy.
Many residents are second-homeowners and retirees, and befitting its Gulf-front setting, Rosemary Beach provides ample opportunities for leisure fun. First and foremost, of course, are the beaches.
Accessible from stunning grassy malls, the beaches are the famed sugar-white sands familiar to visitors to Panama City Beach and Destin.
They and the emerald green waters of the Gulf are perfect for a wide range of activities - strolling, beach volleyball, swimming, boating, or fishing. Great care was taken to ensure that the beaches remain in pristine condition.
This commitment means that the beaches of Rosemary Beach are among the most beautiful along the entire length of Gulf Coast.
Tennis courts, neighborhood pools (one is completed, with several more planned), and bike trails encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoor splendor that surrounds Rosemary Beach.
As part of the over-all vision of the town, provisions were made for the development of shops and other retail businesses. The town center - bordered by long, landscaped parks - is gradually acquiring a variety of small businesses, including The Pensione Bed & Breakfast, Sapristi!, the Pensione's neighborhood bistro and wine bar, Bamboo Beach & Bicycle Company, snack shops and retail outlets.
One of the most distinctive features of Rosemary Beach are the homes and other buildings themselves.
Designed in what's described as a "Pan-Caribbean" style, they reflect elements of homes in other coastal communities, especially St. Augustine and the West Indies.
The most spectacular are the Beach Cottages, one-to-three story homes ranged along the Rosemary Beach's Gulf frontage. Don't let the name fool you - these are exquisite homes starting in the mid-three hundreds.
Large, impressive and stately manor homes anchor street corners, while courtyard houses are positioned along shady plazas. Sidewalk houses, in contrast, face the sun. Smaller houses line the boardwalks and greens.
Owning a home in Rosemary Beach isn't the only way to enjoy the town's unique charm. Rentals are available throughout the year... and each is a privately owned residence with its own charm and distinctive decor. For information, contact the Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company at 850-278-2100.
Rosemary Beach, set amid a vanishing natural environment of monumental beauty, is a unique addition to the Emerald Coast's burgeoning coastal townscape... and one certain to have its imitators! 
