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☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch

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Heron's Watch
Heron's Watch Back patio
Boardwalk to beach
Community pool
Relax on the front porch

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61155 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Pool
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
  • Grayton Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Grayton Beach State Park
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Seaside Beach
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Destin, FL (DSI-Destin-Fort Walton Beach)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Guest Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Guest Bedroom

1 Double Bed

Livingroom

1 Double Sofa Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Full Bathroom

Full Bathroom

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony

About this property

☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch

Top Reasons to Book this Lovely home:

* 100 Yards to beach and 100 Yards to Western Lake

* Steps from Community Pool!

* Just a block from the Zoo Gallery

* Snorkel the Sea Turtle Reef-more info under Area Attractions below

* Gulf Fishing Charters right from the beach! 

* Chiringo, Hibiscus and Hurricane Oyster Bar Nearby

* Professionally Managed; 24/7 Service

*This property is not available to adults Under the age of 25. No Exceptions.*

*We LOVE Snowbirds! Low Monthly Winter Rates*
Snowbird Season runs January thru February, on a monthly basis. To prepare a qualified quote, select your arrival date (must be the 1st day of the month) and the departure date (must be the 1st day of the month). Alternate dates must be pre-approved. All monthly rentals are subject to an additional $150 cleaning fee. Please contact us with your interest and to further assist!

Heron 's Watch is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms 1,155 SQFT cottage that is beautifully furnished; complete with a full galley kitchen, French doors leading to the deck, a master bedroom with a private bathroom, and a dining and living room areas perfectly sized for entertaining. With a king bed in the master bedroom, a queen bed in the second bedroom, a full bed in the third bedroom, and a sleeper sofa in the living room this home sleeps 8 comfortably. Enjoy the easy access to the beach, 100 yards away, or relax and enjoy the sounds of the gulf as you lounge on the front porch swing. With all the nearby amenities and the sparkling community pool just a few steps away, this location is sure to give you the perfect beach experience!

Bed Setup:

Master bedroom: King Bed

Guest room #1: Queen Bed

Guest room #2: Full Bed

Living room: Sleeper Sofa

AREA ATTRACTIONS: 

30A is a fantastic destination, the beaches are some of the world’s best with sugar white sand and emerald green waters. You will find plenty of beach accesses along a 17 mile stretch of Santa Rosa Beach. It boasts unique shopping, fantastic cuisine and the incredible architecture that makes 30A famous. Grayton Beach not only provides you with stunning views, it provides you with activities for everyone; kayak rentals, bike rentals, paragliding, fishing, golfing, hiking, swimming, tennis -- you'll find it all right here!

Enjoy this Funky, Free-spirited town where you will find quaint historic cottages next to modern beach homes.  You’ll enjoy the many shopping and dining options such as ‘Another Broken Egg’. This is much more than a cool beach town, this location is the best of both worlds, enjoy a quiet relaxing getaway while still having a lot of action packed activities at your fingertips. 

The snorkelers in your group will love the new artificial reef called Sea Turtle Reef, deployed in 2017. Located just 783 feet out from the Grayton Beach State Park access, it is becoming a haven for sea life. Each of the 4 snorkeling reefs comprises 40 acres of permitted sea bottom. The Sea Turtle Reef is at a depth of 12-19 feet. We strongly recommend that snorkelers use a kayak, paddleboard, or other flotation device when visiting the snorkel reefs. Sea conditions can and do change quickly and often. Enjoy!

Property manager

RealJoy Vacations
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Santa Rosa Beach

Located in Santa Rosa Beach, this holiday home is near theme parks and by the sea. Shoppers can check out Silver Sands Premium Outlets, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Grayton Beach State Park and Seaside Beach. Sundog Books and Eden Gardens State Park are also worth visiting. With kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
View more Holiday homes in Santa Rosa BeachOpens in a new window
Map
Santa Rosa Beach, FL

What's nearby

  • Grayton Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Grayton Beach State Park - 1 min drive - 0.3 km
  • Seaside Beach - 6 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Blue Mountain Beach - 7 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Santa Rosa Beach - 11 min drive - 7.5 km

Getting around

  • Panama City, FL (ECP-Northwest Florida Beaches Intl.) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Blue Mountain Beach Creamery - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Amavida Coffee Roasters - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Pickle's Snack Station - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Surfing Deer - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Bud & Alley's Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does ☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is ☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at ☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is ☀️Steps to Beach-Pool-Grayton Beach-30A-Heron's Watch located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from South Walton Beaches and 2.6 mi (4.2 km) from Seaside Beach. Grayton Beach and Seagrove Beach West are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 49 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 49 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 49 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 49 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 49 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

shannon s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little beach house

We had a great time staying at this house in Grayton beach. It was easy steps from the beach and some amazing food and stores. Very easy to get around and great location. We would totally come back and stay again.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

kevin h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fam Favorite

This is the 2nd time we've stayed here. We enjoy the cottage feel, the location to the beach, and activities. It's not new and modern but our family likes that.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claudia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We Love Heron’s Watch

This is our second stay at Heron’s Watch and it checks every box for us at Grayton Beach. Walking distance to the beach and Red Bar/shops, clean and cozy home with everything we need to feel comfortable while on vacation. The proximity to the beach is perfect with little children, as well as having access to the pool. We love Heron’s Watch and will be back again!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carrie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location

We enjoyed our few nights in Grayton. We loved the front porch and it was just a short walk to the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kim F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved It!!

Wonderful house and great location. Highly recommended!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The perfect spot!

The location was wonderful, the hosts were attentive & Grayton was as GRAYT as always!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ian C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay steps from the beach

We loved this property tucked in the heart of Grayton Beach. The beach is only steps away along with Red Bar, Hotz, and Chiringo around the corner. West Lake is close by as well. The house has everything you would want for a classic beach house. Two showers, 3 bedrooms, a large common area, and large porches front and back. Great parking attached to the property.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Simone F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

foreman

great stay, amazing location,
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Todd A., Mukilteo, WA

Quaint and Lovely, a great beach getaway

We loved Heron's Watch. Great location and family friendly. Thank you.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Elena B.

Vacation was perfect!

Convenient and cozy. Would definitely recommend it to others!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

Caroline T.

Perfect location

We had a wonderful stay at herons watch, the location was perfect and the house fit the 4 of us perfectly! Will definitely look into coming back next year
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Brooke S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Family Vacation

This was hands down one of our best family vacations. The location is ideal for getting to and from the beach with beautiful views of the lake and the gulf. The porch was the best for coffee, in the morning, lunch at the picnic table, and wine at night. We cannot wait to go back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jane H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location!

We love Grayton Beach! This is one of the older, small houses - a bit quirky and cool. So close to the beach and the lake —and The Red Bar! Community pool is excellent. Furniture is comfortable. TV is very small, but was rarely on anyway. Front porch is very nice. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for a small group

Had a small issue with the dryer when we arrived. They were very responsive and fixed within an hour of my call.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Greaton Week!

Katheryn was a hard worker. We ran into a problem with our original rental days before arrival. Katheryn helped us find an appropriate alternative. The communication during our stay was a real bonus. Will be back. Will recommend RealJoy to others.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Penny L.

Perfect cottage by the beach

We absolutely loved this cottage and hope to stay at Heron's Watch again. The house looked exactly as these pictures show. It is very thoughtfully decorated and appointed with many little conveniences such as shelving for your things. Lots of art everywhere which is nice. It is small yet spacious. It is a block from the Red Bar and yet quiet at night. It was closer to the beach than I had realized! You just walk down the short street to the board walk and you're there! The property managers were excellent to work with too. When we emailed questions, they responded immediately. We were extremely pleased with our entire experience.

6/10 Okay

Sheryl L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Dirty and in disrepair

The home had bugs and was dirty. The bathtub is an unsafe place to shower as it is a slipping hazard, very odd set up. Looks nice in photos but the house in in disrepair. Floors are soft in areas, found bugs on the floors and overall appearance is not very tidy and clean. Needs a major overhaul at the prices being charged. Plugs in both bathrooms did not work. The stay was mediocre at best. I would not recommend booking this property until they get rid of some of the old non-functional furnishings, update and do a deep clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Jane H.

Rough around the edges; way more shabby than chic!

Love the area, the beach, The Red Bar, proximity to Sea Side and Destin. This property, however, has seen better days. The furniture is shabby, a broken ottoman was noted as broken weeks ago in the guest book. I reported it as broken, too. No bed skirts on the beds - bare box springs, both bathrooms are stand alone (photos look like one is attached to a bedroom to me). Strange tub/ shower in one bathroom; just odd. Kitchen is tiny, few spoons and other utensils. Definitely rough.... it's a tear down waiting to happen. Great location, though.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Amanda D.

Cute Cottage- Could use some updates

Our stay was great. The location was perfect and the cottage is very cute. There are some cosmetic issues that could be fixed to ensure a better stay. The chairs outside where we sat, were all broken and we all enjoyed sitting outside, so it made it a little uncomfortable. The ottoman inside's leg was broken off so it looked a little janky and did not work, so we had to move it aside. The bathroom rug was completely molded and smelled awful, so we had to keep it outside on the porch the entire time. The last thing was our WIFI did not work and I reached out and no one ever got back to me. Other than that, we had a great time and the house is nice and spacious and was comfortable for 5 of us! We would definitely come back. Thanks for having us :)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2017

6/10 Okay

Jules W.

Needs updating!

We stayed (2 peeps) at the Heron's Watch House for a week and had a good vaca. We loved the location, the Grayton vibe and front porch but will choose a different house to stay in for future visits. The house is colorfully decorated with art, has the basic needs and everything worked but this house is showing it's age inside and out. To be fair, we love older homes. We live in a similar small home built in the 1930's so we liked the character in the pictures of Heron's Watch house. In the hopes that Real Joy will update this cute beach house here are a few things to work on... The house looks super bright and clean in the website pic but looked rough when we pulled up. It had an unpleasant musty smell that did not go away, even with the air purifier. The furniture, appliances and dishes are pretty old, very basic and not very clean. I found ants and dried food on some of the dishes in the cabinet when we arrived. We bought 2 coffee mugs because the cups in the cabinet were quite small. The claw foot tub shower is a bit dangerous to get in and out of, the faucet is rickety and the curtain is way too long. We used the stand up shower in the other bathroom which worked perfectly. The wifi works but is weak when you have more than 2 devices online. This was a prob because 4G is also weak in that area. And the kitchen sink could use a scrubby for cleaning dishes. Bottom line - you are paying for the location, which is not beachfront but pretty cool. If I am on vaca I would like to stay in what feels like a step up from my own house and this one did not.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

2/10 Terrible

Amanda K.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

ROACHES IN THIS PROPERTY

BEWARE: NOT A LUXURY RENTAL. We had a MAJOR problem with roaches. There was a roach in my bed. Multiple roaches in the kitchen. Roaches crawling on the walls. There were roach bait stations throughout the house that I noticed upon arrival, indicating there is or has been a problem with roaches. They had someone come professionally spray while we were here and they left a can of Bengal roach spray for us to use that they ended up taking back. Even after this, I saw roaches for the entirety of my stay. I was unable to relax on my vacation due to the constant worrying about if there were roaches crawling on or around me. I got in touch with the rental company RealJoy and they offered me a $100 gift card as compensation. I paid several thousand to stay at this location. I called the office multiple times and was put in touch with Jonathan. This man insulted me, argued with me about what sort of cockroach it was in the house I was renting from them, interrupted me the entire time I tried to speak, and pushed me to my breaking point of yelling. I sent them multiple pictures of the roaches and had several people from RealJoy come out to the property. I was told the would have another professional spraying on the last visit and that never happened. Besides the fact that this rental is costing over $200 a day and there should not be a roach problem, I have a three year old son who’s crawling on the ground and playing constantly. I’m now having to worry about him coming across dead or dying poisoned roaches. I was reassured by them that the pesticide was “all natural” but let’s get real, it’s designed to kill. It’s considered “less toxic” than regular pesticides, still not something I’m wanting my child playing around. RealJoy has the absolute worst customer service I have ever encountered. After googling some reviews, it appears this company has scammed many people out of thousands of dollars. Besides all of that, this rental is nothing like the pictures. There are white patches on the walls where things have been patched. There is dust in the corners and on furniture. There were spiders and spiderwebs throughout the house. The dining room floor is sinking in. The walk in shower leaks water all over the floor and there are brown stained caulk lines on the floor and edge of the shower stall. There was black mold on the curtain and I was told that I would receive another one but that was never given to me.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Artsy cottage in the best location!

Scroll past all those negative reviews. This cottage was just the cutest. It’s an older house. I’m sure the people who only live in new manufactured homes can get prissy. But there is nothing like the charm and character of an old home. The solid wood doors, glass door knobs, claw foot tub, etc all just add to the unique charm of this cottage. Top it off with original artworks in every room (I’m an artist and really appreciated that), artsy paint jobs and matching furniture ALONG WITH the absolute best location, it really is a gem. Maybe add a cushion to the front porch swing. My only critique! We will definitely be staying here with the kids again. They loved it as much as I did!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!!

We loved our stay. House has everything we needed. Best location.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Debra D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Love the location, but needs some updates

We stay in Grayton Beach every year and struggle to find a property of this size to rent that is close to the beach and to other family members staying nearby. This one fits the bill location-wise but feels like it is a slightly neglected rental rather than a well-loved vacation home. For the price, I would prefer some updates - for example, the living room furniture was very well used and in need of replacing, there were spots that seemed to be primed rather than painted on the walls, and the kitchen could have been a little bit better stocked. The beds were okay -but not great. Overall, it just needs an update. At a lower price point, all of these issues would be easier to overlook.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leslie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

We loved the house! It’s in a great location, very close to the beach, well stocked kitchen and access to the heated pool was a plus.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

About the host

Hosted by RealJoy Vacations

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