"Caliza is the stuff that dreams are made of," wrote Beth Dunlop, an architecture critic forThe Miami Herald, and indeed, anyone who's witnessed Caliza at Alys Beach instantly recognizes the tranquil pool and restaurant as something extraordinary.

“When designing Caliza, our hope was to provide an experience that would give the beach a run for its money," said Erik Vogt of Khoury & Vogt Architects.

And they hit the mark -- at least, according to Andrés Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, designers of 300 towns around the world (including Seaside, Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach).

"Caliza Pool is so large, beautiful and interesting that it is like having another beach," said Duany. "Actually I prefer it to the sandy one."

The inspired vision of Alys Beach's Town Architects, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt & Erik Vogt, Caliza is something that everyone should experience, if not to gawk at the blindingly serene setting, then perhaps to sample Chef Gaupin's amazing menu.

So, it really shouldn't be any surprise that Alys Beach's Caliza was recently featured as one of seven Posh Pools by Southern Accents magazine, a prestigious and exclusive list which included the most dramatic swimming holes from South Beach to The Biltmore Hotel to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.

Congrats to Erik, Marieanne, Chef Gaupin, the construction teams, the landscapers, the designers and the dozens (if not hundreds) of others who helped craft the uniquely relaxing and rewarding experience known simply as "Caliza." It's now a trademark 30A experience not to be overlooked.