A Hidden Retreat In An Old-Florida Beach Town

Wake up steps from the Atlantic and join the early-morning photographers waiting for the sunrise around the historic pier, then walk to breakfast at one of the beachside restaurants. In this charming and quiet 'Old Florida' condominium complex, you can park your car and leave it, or drive to larger cities along A1A, America's coastal highway.

You'll probably find you won't want to leave this little oasis. The quiet compound has only 11 units, all circling a lushly landscaped pool in the time-honored courtyard design of the tropics. It's a hidden retreat, reached through a gate on a quiet street. You won't need anything but your swimsuit and toothbrush: the full kitchen has all you'll need for family meals, and linens and small appliances are provided, too, along with cable television, wireless internet access, a fitness room with a sauna and a laundry room free for guests' use. If you'd like to sample the generous produce of the most fertile area on earth, visit the colorful and bustling Friday farmer's market two blocks away.

Flagler Beach has preserved many of the features of beach life that have been sacrificed to developers elsewhere along the coast. There are miles of dunes, public walking trails and parks. You'll find beach life also much as it was a half-century ago, revolving around families, fishing and surfing. There's a cultural life, too, with artists, wine shops, a well-stocked library and musical programs nearby, along with great seafood restaurants featuring the day's catch. Three nationally-published writers produce fiction and non-fiction from their base in the coffee shop across the street.

A well-maintained and comfortable apartment will welcome you at the end of the day, with a newly-installed quiet air-conditioning unit, a state-of-the-art microwave-convection oven and views of both the pool and the oceanfront.