Watercolor, one of the newest planned communities on the Florida Gulf Coast, has done something groundbreaking — it’s designed to look like Florida rather than Cape Cod or the Caribbean, a neighborhood of wide porches and long eaves that are perfect for lounging in the warm afternoons. That doesn’t mean it’s afraid to co-opt the best of other designs, though, and the streets are wide, the landscape is lush, and the amenities are absolutely top-notch. The Watercolor Inn may just be the nicest beach hotel on the Gulf, and that attention to detail carries through the whole community. Building is ongoing so not everything is in place yet, but the retail and restaurant options currently operating are stellar. One place that won’t be developed is Grayton Beach State Park, a stunningly wild and beautiful place full of lakes and wildlife, and an easy stroll or bike ride from the heart of Watercolor.