Sweepstakes entry goes here
New York is always looking for its next great neighborhood. The one everyone is talking about. The one that feels slightly insider, deeply livable and just polished enough to show you have taste. Right now, that neighborhood just happens to be in Northwest Florida.
Welcome to NoFlo, a stretch of coastal communities along scenic Highway 30A that has quietly become New York’s easiest winter escape. Think of it as the downtown energy, the Hamptons-level aesthetics and the restaurant-first mindset you already love, simply relocated somewhere warmer.
Thanks to new nonstop Delta flights from LaGuardia to ECP in Panama City Beach, you can land in just two and a half hours and be toes-in-sand before your Slack notifications cool off. From there, everything unfolds along 30A, a 26-mile ribbon of white-sand beaches, walkable town centers, and design-forward hotels anchored by the Watersound collection of properties.
This is not about unplugging completely. It’s about extending the New York lifestyle somewhere sunny. Coffee, coastal architecture, good cocktails, long lunches and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you are exactly where you should be. It has been called the Hamptons of the South. We call it NoFlo.
Before you start planning which part of NoFlo is calling your name, there’s one more reason to keep reading. At the end of this article, you’ll find a sweepstakes offering a chance to experience it firsthand with a two-night stay at Camp Creek Inn, including complimentary breakfast for two and round-trip airfare via Delta. It’s an easy way to turn scrolling into something much better: a warm weather escape, polished accommodations and a front row seat to Northwest Florida’s most in-the-know neighborhood.
WaterColor Inn at WaterColor
WaterColor Inn feels like the kind of place that makes New Yorkers relax. It’s elegant without being precious, refined without being stiff and built entirely around the idea that outdoor living is not a luxury but a baseline. Rooms face the Gulf, mornings start slow and the beach never feels crowded in the way that stresses you out.
The on-site restaurant, Fish Out of Water, understands its audience, with fresh seafood, crisp wines and a dining room that encourages lingering. WaterColor itself is an easygoing community where everything is walkable, bikeable and carefully designed to keep you outside longer than planned. It’s the kind of place where doing less somehow feels like an accomplishment. For travelers who like their beach days balanced with style and substance, this is NoFlo at its most effortless.
The Lodge 30A
The Lodge 30A is the social hub NoFlo needed. Centrally located along 30A, it works perfectly as both a home base and a gathering point, especially if traveling with friends or family who like to mix and mingle without commitment to a full resort experience.
The vibe is relaxed but intentional, with comfortable rooms, plenty of communal space and easy access to everything happening nearby. This is a place where days unfold organically. Coffee turns into errands which turn into lunch which quietly turns into cocktails. The Lodge 30A appeals to New Yorkers who like flexibility and connection over formality. You stay here to feel plugged in, not tucked away.
Watersound Inn
Watersound Inn is designed for travelers who value tranquility but still want access to the best of NoFlo. Located within the private Watersound community, the Inn feels residential in the best way—calm, curated and quietly upscale.
Staying here comes with access to the Watersound Beach Club, where private stretches of sand, pools and dining make the Gulf feel like it was reserved just for you. It is ideal for guests who like structure without schedules. There is a strong sense of privacy and ease, the kind that lets you truly slow down while still feeling connected to a larger experience. For New Yorkers craving peace without boredom, Watersound Inn gets the balance exactly right.
Camp Creek Inn
Camp Creek Inn is NoFlo with a sporty edge. Built around championship golf courses and top-tier tennis facilities, this is where the active set checks in without sacrificing comfort. The atmosphere is upscale but relaxed, with thoughtful details that make even a short stay feel restorative.
Beyond the greens and courts, Camp Creek Inn maintains the same coastal elegance that defines the Watersound properties. After a day spent outdoors, evenings are low-key and social, the kind where conversation matters more than plans. It suits travelers who like structure during the day and freedom at night. New Yorkers who schedule workouts on vacation will feel immediately understood here.
The Pearl Hotel
If NoFlo has a crown jewel, it is The Pearl at Rosemary Beach community. This is where classic coastal style meets a distinctly knowing sensibility. The hotel feels intimate, polished and discreetly luxurious, the kind of place that knows exactly who its guests are.
Havana Beach Bar & Grill anchors the experience with a menu that balances sophistication and approachability. Cocktails are carefully made, the mood is social, and sunsets are treated with proper respect. Rosemary Beach community itself is impeccably designed, walkable and full of small details that reward wandering. The Pearl is for travelers who appreciate rhythm and refinement and know that true luxury is about ease.
Call it the Hamptons of the South or don’t. NoFlo delivers what New Yorkers want now: good design, great food and an effortless escape.
Rosemary Beach® is a registered trademark of Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC
Camp Creek®, Fish Out of Water®, WaterColor®, Watersound®, Watersound Beach Club® and Watersound Inn® are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company