Honest Review of WaterColor Inn and Resort in Florida

The WaterColor Inn & Resort sits on a private beach just east of Grayton Beach State Park in the Florida panhandle. This 60-room inn features a accommodations that range from standard hotel rooms to spacious suites. Guests at the WaterColor Inn receive access to private amenities at the hotel as well as use of the exclusive WaterColor Beach Club and Camp WaterColor.

Plus, you’ll find all sorts of amazing restaurants located both on the property and within a short walk of the hotel. If you’re considering a vacation at the WaterColor Inn & Resort, continue reading our family’s full review below for all the information and tips you need for your trip!

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WaterColor Inn Guest Rooms

WaterColor Inn offers multiple styles of guest rooms to meet your needs. And the best thing about the rooms is they all offer outdoor space! Most of the rooms feature balconies with views of the ocean, while the first floor rooms offer walkout patios with views of the sand dunes. These bottom floor rooms also allow easy access to the beach right from the patio.

During our trip, my family and I stayed in a standard room with two queen beds. If you’re looking for extra space, WaterColor Inn has beautiful family suites that include separate sleeping and living areas, multiple bathrooms, and kitchenettes. While these suites come with a hefty price tag, they are definitely worth it if they’re in your budget and if you plan to spend a significant amount of time in your room.

In addition to the family suites, the WaterColor Inn features Rotunda Suites with spectacular views of the gulf from the balcony. My family and I loved the ocean views from our large balcony. You could even see the gulf from the window in the walk-in shower.

Hotel Amenities

The WaterColor Resort is full of amazing amenities for you to enjoy during your stay. One of the best perks to staying at the WaterColor Inn is that you receive access to the WaterColor Beach Club, which sits right next door. The WaterColor Beach Club features multiple pools and restaurants along with convenient beach access.

You can read all about this exclusive spot in our post on the WaterColor Beach Club where we go into detail on all the club has to offer. In addition to the WaterColor Inn Beach Club, guests receive access to Camp WaterColor. This family friendly play area features pools with water slides and a lazy river. Plus, you’ll find a playground right next door. 

If you’re looking for a pool with fewer crowds, you’ll want to check out the WaterColor Inn’s private pool that’s reserved for hotel guests only. This pool was never crowded during our stay. It also offered plenty of seating and the ability to order food and beverages poolside.

Additionally, visitors looking to experience other forms of activities in WaterColor can visit the community’s fitness center and tennis courts. You’ll also have access to bikes, stand-up paddleboards, and use of the complimentary kayaks at the WaterColor Boat House. 

Guests staying at the WaterColor Inn will also enjoy some of the small amenities the resort provides in order to make your stay feel special. In your room, you’ll find a beach bag and an umbrella for you to use throughout your stay. You’ll also receive freshly baked treats like homemade cookies each evening as well as a departing gift.

Restaurants

When staying at the WaterColor Inn, you’ll have easy access to numerous restaurants in the area. The neighboring town of Seaside is located an easy ten-minute walk away and offers several restaurants and food truck style options. Additionally, the WaterColor town center features amazing restaurants, including The Wine Bar and Scratch Biscuit Kitchen.

You’ll also have access to the dining options at the WaterColor Beach Club, which include WaterColor Grill, Beach Cow, and Costa Chica. The popular dining venue, Fish Out of Water, is located at the WaterColor Inn and features beautiful gulf views from the terrace. Finally, Gather Kitchen + Bar is available for hotel guests and offers delicious food and beverages to enjoy both inside and outside by the pool.

WaterColor Inn vs The Pearl: Which is better?

If you’re debating over The Pearl or WaterColor Inn, my family and I stayed at both hotels during the same trip to 30A. There are several important differences between the two resorts that you will want to keep in mind. Both hotels offer beautiful beaches and easy access to their respective town centers.

The Pearl’s guest rooms have a more modern feel as they have been recently updated; however, some of the rooms do not include outdoor space. All of WaterColor Inn’s guest rooms feature balconies or patios, and this hotel also offers large family suites.

WaterColor Inn includes multiple kid-friendly pools along with convenient access to restaurants at the adjacent WaterColor Beach Club. The Pearl has an adults-only pool onsite and one main restaurant. Although, it’s important to note that families staying at The Pearl can take the short drive to WaterSound Beach Club to access the resort style pools there.

Overall, WaterColor Inn and The Pearl both offer amazing accommodations and amenities. If you are planning an adults-only trip, you may prefer to stay at The Pearl. The community of Rosemary Beach features lots of restaurants and bars that sit just a short walk away from the hotel. Additionally, the beach is far less crowded than that at the WaterColor Inn.

If you are traveling with kids, you may want to stick with the WaterColor Inn since it gives you access to so many swimming options. Plus, the neighboring town of Seaside sits just a short walk away and offers lots of family friendly dining options. If you’re still debating between WaterColor Inn and The Pearl, we recommend checking out our full review of the Rosemary Beach resort in our Honest Review of The Pearl Hotel.

Final Review of WaterColor Inn

​If you’re looking for amazing places to stay on Scenic Highway 30A, you really can’t go wrong with WaterColor Inn. From the moment you check in at the front desk, you’ll find that the service at this 30A resort is exemplary. 

​My family and I really love the outdoor balcony (or patio) that’s included with the guests rooms as well as the quiet outdoor pool that sits right onsite. The easy access to neighboring beach towns like Seaside make this resort the perfect spot for the entire family to enjoy.

While the beach can get crowded during peak season, the turquoise waters and white sand are unbelievably beautiful. We hope you have the best time on your beach vacation and that you love the WaterColor Inn and Resort as much as we do! Do you have a WaterColor Inn review? Share your thoughts with us below!