Imagine closing the front door and strolling on boardwalks past more masterfully designed cottages, gardens and parks on the way to work. No traffic, no highways, no rush hour, no crowds and no stress.

A five minute walk from front door to work, this is just the way Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, the internationally renowned community planners of Rosemary Beach, designed it. The multiple neighborhoods of Rosemary Beach are interconnected by a network of pedestrian footpaths, boardwalks and secret pathways that lead to all public areas, including the beach, the Town Center, tennis courts, swimming pools and other community amenities. Cars are restricted to alleyways behind homes and the community’s pedestrian scale ensures that every place within Rosemary Beach is easily accessible by foot.

Nothing is more than a five minute walk away from the Town Center either, where shops, restaurants, the Town Hall and Post Office beckon residents to gather, work and socialize in a stress-free environment. The Town Center is easily accessible to residents who want to dine at their favorite restaurant, but don’t want to spend the entire evening just getting there; residents who want to do more with their day than spend it in the car running errands to locations that are miles apart; residents who want to plan an event at the Town Hall, the largest indoor venue on Scenic Route 30A, yet don’t want the hassle of huge crowds. The Town Center is just that–the center of Rosemary Beach with everything residents need conveniently located in one area.

It's all here. We mean it. Rosemary Beach® has everything you would want to have a memorable vacation. It's a place your family will beg you to come back and visit year after year, and we're ok with that. The history, parks, shopping and dining, all are inspiring and are unforgettable.

Rosemary Beach’s traditional neighborhood plan is the design of Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, FAIA. Their vision was to create a community that captures the discarded values of 50 years ago, values that have been replaced today by grid-locked, automobile-dependent suburbia. This vision of a new community encourages pedestrian traffic, community interaction and interdependence among neighbors, while relying on strict urban codes and regulations to ensure architectural harmony.

The essence of Rosemary Beach comes from the careful arrangement of its public spaces and private homes. Neighborhoods are interconnected by a network of pedestrian lanes, footpaths, boardwalks. Secret pathways lead to the Town Center, tennis courts, swimming pools and the beach. Parking is restricted to alleyways located behind homes, and the community’s pedestrian scale ensures that everything is within no more than a five minute walk.

The natural topography of Rosemary Beach was not disturbed during development. Instead, roadways were laid to conform to the natural contours of the land. Developers used pervious, or permeable concrete for pavement, which allows water to filter through to the sand below, thereby eliminating the need for unsightly storm water drains or holding ponds.

To establish and preserve the unique vision and character of Rosemary Beach, the urban planners and architects provided guidelines for the placement, design and construction of all homes and buildings in Rosemary Beach. Every home in Rosemary Beach is architecturally unique and is custom designed and built to reflect each owner’s tastes, needs and lifestyle. Yet, every house is an inextricable part of the fabric of the community, reinforcing its coastal character.

With a strict urban code, Rosemary Beach ensures harmony and architectural integrity throughout the community. The use of authentic and time-tested construction materials and techniques relates perfectly to the beach-side environment. Homes, which face pedestrian boardwalks, are finished with wood siding, cedar shingle or stucco (true masonry) with metal or shingle shake roofing. A rich palette of colors in subtle, natural tones distinguishes the houses. The shapes and silhouettes in Rosemary Beach call to mind St. Augustine, the West Indies, New Orleans and Charleston. Deep eaves provide shade from the afternoon sun. High ceilings draw breezes through houses. Gardens, fountain-filled courtyards and porches become outdoor rooms.