The top places people choose to vacation are usually gorgeous beaches, majestic mountains and colorful, exotic cities. Wouldn’t that also make them ideal places to live? The Sunshine State of Florida’s Panhandle, in particular Walton and Okaloosa Counties along the Emerald Coast are home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches covered in sugar white sand deposited from the Appalachian Mountains. These beaches have been consistently voted among the top beaches to visit.

The sun dancing in glittering diamonds on the warm Gulf water, the heat kissing your face, day in and day out, can be more than a vacation. It can be your home. Walking along the edge of the emerald green water, letting the white froth tickle your toes can be your daily routine. Wouldn’t you love to experience this all through the year instead of one or two weeks a year? Time to leave your stressful life behind and embrace the slower pace of people who have learned to appreciate each warm, sunny day.

This unique area, dotted with small luxury communities, both on the beach and close by, offer much more than sunbathing and swimming. If the warm Gulf water is what you love, you can snorkel, scuba-dive, parasail, or charter a fishing boat.

Scenic 30-A, the highway that snakes along the Gulf coastline for miles, offers luxury living at its finest. You can purchase a single-family home, townhome, or condominium, depending on your desires. Enjoy the unparalleled beauty of your own private beach, as you watch the waves crash on the shore, from your floor to ceiling windows, or your outdoor kitchen complete with private pool and extensive deck. The high-end homes along Scenic 30-A come with plenty of amenities, from master chef kitchens to spa-like master baths and home theater systems. Some of these inviting communities have renowned striking architecture with custom designs and professional decorating in every room. Each community was designed for living and playing without the need to drive far, if at all.

If you’re more interested in condominium living, the options are numerous. The high-rise condos along the Emerald Coast are built to withstand hurricane force winds, and come with a plethora of amenities, from custom pools, game rooms, and photo-perfect golf courses, to shopping and fine dining. Spend your time sunbathing, fishing, or shopping without the worry of outside maintenance.

In addition to the breathtaking scenery and highest quality construction, you’ll love the sense of community with hiking, nature walks, golfing, bicycling, shopping in cozy one-of-a-kind boutiques, and restaurants serving the freshest just-caught seafood, coupled with the finest Southern hospitality.

The Sunshine State enjoys over 235 days of sunshine each year with temperatures warm enough most months for wearing t-shirts and flip flops. You can dress up or down, plan cocktail parties or lay around on the beach or go sailing or fishing.

Life in paradise is heavenly. No one chooses to vacation in Detroit or Chicago. Move where you now vacation. It’s time to enjoy a slower life filled with warmth and sunshine and soft, salty breezes.

By Victoria Ostrosky