WaterColor—Perfection in the Panhandle

by Teri E. Popp, Tastemaker in Residence

Nestled along the coast of Florida in the “Panhandle,” WaterColor is a planned community located near Seaside Beach about 1 1/2 hours east of Pensacola.  All of the homes in this lovely neighborhood are made of wood, with large, wrap-around porches and metal roofs.  Guests can walk down quiet, tree-lined streets or meander along the various walking paths found in WaterColor.

We decided to spend a long weekend during this past February and visit long time friends who spend part of their winter in this picture perfect town.  It was our first visit to Florida’s panhandle and it proved a welcome reprieve from Minnesota’s harsh winter landscape. 

Nearby Santa Rosa Beach boasts a bustling artist colony, as well as long stretches of silky white sand.  We spent some time touring through Justin Gaffrey Gallery admiring the coastal landscapes, waves and floral motifs.  While Mr. Gaffrey works in a vast array of mediums, his work predominantly consists of gorgeous acrylic paintings, made up of paints of his own design. To visit his gallery on line, please visit https://justingaffrey.com/

In addition to Mr. Gaffrey’s studio, many other artists’ lofts and small boutiques dot the coastline and the small towns in the vicinity of WaterColor.  We spent a few hours (and dollars!) wandering through Seaside Beach’s shops and the byways of the area, with a stop to see the breathtaking vista of the Gulf shore.

We ended each day enjoying sumptuous cuisine prepared by our hosts by the side of a roaring fire.  We will fondly remember our time spent in picture-perfect WaterColor!