Waking up is easy at WaterColor--they serve a great breakfast that is included in your room charge. After our hearty feast, we explored the other side of WaterColor--Western Lake. This lush coastal dune lake affords a welcome contrast to beach life. At the WaterColor community BoatHouse, you can use canoes or kayaks to paddle around or fish. Also at the lake, the BaitHouse Restaurant serves casual family fare such as grouper po'boys ($8.95) and fried-shrimp baskets ($9.25). Or you can pack a picnic filled with gourmet treats from the WaterColor Market in the town square.

All this style and variety are on the pricey side--rooms start at $275 per night during the summer season, dropping to $245 after Labor Day. WaterColor also offers a variety of cottage rentals. Still, this is an ideal place for a special celebration. Plus, it's entirely possible that you'll become so enamored that you spend the last day of your visit in the WaterColor real estate office, putting down a deposit for a lot.

WaterColor Inn: 34 Goldenrod Circle, Seagrove Beach, FL 32459; (850) 534-5000, toll free 1-866-426-2656, or www.watercolorinn.com.

This article is from the September 2002 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.