Surf Club I, 1405

A quiet spot by the ocean where you can relax and recharge without distractions. One of the best kept secrets on the Florida coast.

There are miles of walking paths and sidewalks here, which is rare for condos in most places. The amenities are plentiful and top rate, including tennis, pools, clubhouses, a weight room in the condo buildings, and a boat access clubhouse on the back side of the island. The condos are newer than most on the Atlantic coast, with spacious units of 1,400 to 1,650 square feet instead of the 900 to 1,100 common in older places. They’re also well priced for their size and details, like granite counters, tile or wood floors instead of carpet in many units, crown moulding, and other upgrades. Rentals are limited to one month because many owners live here year round, so it’s quieter. Most residents are older people who can retire at the beach full time. This isn’t Myrtle Beach or Panama City beach. Reviews complaining about the quiet or claiming residents are “spying on them” should be viewed in that context. The rules are clear: keep an eye on your kids, don’t yell excitedly after 11 p.m., and don’t treat the elevators like playthings. Beyond that, they don’t have a problem with kids. I suspect the dad who wrote that review was more upset about the lack of eye candy than anything else.

It wasn’t crowded, and everyone was extremely nice to the kids we had with us. The facilities were clean and updated, and the beach was beautiful. Restaurants and shopping are a few miles away, so bring groceries, or use the very nice Publix within a couple of miles of the condos. It’s a wonderful place to book a vacation.

The HOA tries to spend as little as possible on upkeep, and we have four different HOAs to deal with. We’re residents, and though it can seem peaceful at first, loud, disrespectful renters ruin what little ambiance is left. They ignore the few rules posted in the elevators and treat the maintenance staff like this is a resort.