So yesterday was a bit of hell, frankly, what with driving hours in what seemed to be never-ending rain of every sort, from sprinkles to full-out sideways sheets of the stuff.

Normally, that kind of driving is white knuckle time all on it’s own; add in a 15-year old teenager logging some highway time and it becomes reason enough to imbibe an entire bottle of pinot grigio upon arrival.

But then we arrived at our destination: Alys Beach, the latest - and last - beach area to be developed along in south Walton County, along County Road 30A, and all that tension just melted away. Of course the pinot helped but even sans wine our temporary home is enough to melt away any tension.

The small community of whitewashed courtyard and freestanding homes is in the infancy of its development; just about 30 homes are now complete. Over the next few decades, that number will rise to 600. Despite its diminutive stature, there’s nothing lacking here in what’s definitely the ultimate Nirvana in this part of the world.

We’re in a courtyard home, a three-bedroom dream house of luxurious touches. From the marble bathrooms to the Bogey-esque furnishings (that’s Humphrey Bogart - i.e. 40s-era charm, to those of you who have no clue about to what I am referring), the tall ceilings, the courtyard filled with overstuffed loungers and a melodious fountain, down to the huge selection of CDs in rotation on the house-wide sound system, nothing has been overlooked here. (Rates start at $150 per bedroom, per night in the off-season  so the house we are in is $450/night).

I do not plan to use any of the fab kitchen utensils or appliances, save for the toaster, fridge and corkscrew - and obviously the dishwasher upon departure. We’ve hit the pool, the bike trails, the little coffee shop / bookstore called Fonville Press and of course, we’ve hit the beach - the wide, sugary white sand called very early to us.

While Alys is indeed in its early stages, this may be the best stage of all - there are plenty of treasures to discover, plenty of options for dining, and plenty of ways to lose oneself in luxury. But there are no crowds - yet. This little undiscovered bit of heaven in South Walton won’t stay undiscovered for long.

When I snap out of my stupor, I’ll write more and post some photos.