Florida has always been the destination of choice for my family! I have probably been to 30A over 10 times! No exaggeration! And it is still one of my favorite vacations; and that is why I have decided to share the Best of 30A in today’s travel guide!
THE BEST OF 30A – THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE
If you aren’t familiar with 30A, it is a small coastal highway that runs along Florida’s panhandle! There are beach towns with the cutest shops, resort-style condos, not to mention white sands and crystal clear water all along this part of the gulf coast! You might have heard of some of the beaches in this area including Rosemary Beach, Seaside, and WaterColor!
All of the beaches in 30A are very clean, as are the towns. Each beach town has its own charm and there is the perfect destination for all sorts of crowds, whether you are on a couple’s trip, girl’s trip, or family trip! There really is a beach town for everyone!
Airport:
When i lived in Alabama we would just drive because it was only about 4 hours away. But now that I live in LA we had to fly and I had no idea where to fly into. So, I figured I would share in case any of you would need to fly!
So there are 2 options for airports:
Panama City (ECP) – It’s newer and the closest. Only about a 20 min drive to Rosemary Beach.
Ft Walton (VPS) – This is the one we flew into because it was a lot cheaper for the flights we were looking at. It was about a 40 min drive to Rosemary Beach.
The Best of 30A – Our Favorite Areas
There are so many incredible beach towns along this part of the gulf coast that David and I love! Here are some of our favorites:
Alys Beach – This is one of the newer areas along 30A and it is stunning! It is primarily residential, very high-end, and is very quiet and private. The neighborhood offers a 20-acre nature preserve, walking trails, and outdoor sculptures. This is the perfect destination for a couple looking for an intimate, elegant getaway while staying in Florida!
Rosemary – This is where we spent our most recent trip while staying at The Pointe, 30A’s newest luxury resort! There are adorable boutiques, beautiful homes, and cobblestone streets that make you feel like you are in Europe! It is romantic and charming with tons of one of a kind restaurants and open patios to enjoy your time here.
Seaside – This is one of the most well-known areas in 30A with its many pastel-colored cottages that are available for rent along the beach! There are cool retail shops, cozy cafes, and food trucks downtown that make the perfect lunch stop.
WaterColor – This is definitely a resort community! It is extremely walkable and easy to get around. You can enjoy the outdoors by taking a trip to Western Lake or Point Washington State Forest.
The Best of 30A – Where to Stay:
When traveling to 30A you have several options for housing! Here are some of the most popular options:
Rent a House – One of the most popular ways to stay along the coast of 30A is to rent a house! From Seaside’s pastel beach cottages to Water Color’s streamlined white houses, there are lots of options! Rent30A usually has good reviews that can point you in the right direction!
The Pointe in Rosemary Beach – I can’t say enough about this beautiful property where David and I recently stayed! From the huge rooms to the resort-style pool and delicious restaurant on site, their amenities are top notch. For a more detailed review of our experience you can read my review here and watch our YouTube video!
The Pearl Rosemary Beach – I highly recommend this boutique hotel if you are looking for a place that is on the beach but also in walking distance to shops and restaurants. It is perfect for a trip with your significant other or with your best friends with its amenities like a rooftop bar, spa, and complimentary beach chairs! It is less ideal for families since some areas are off-limits to kids.
The Best of 30A – What to Do:
Beach or Pool, of course!
If you are staying at a resort like The Pointe take advantage of their incredible pool with cabanas, pool floats and on site restaurant! The Pointe and The Pearl also offer free beach chair rental which is SO nice when you are traveling from far away and can’t bring your own beach supplies!
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Walk or Bike 30A
All of 30A is designed to be walked or biked! Not only is this convenient, but walking and biking along the fun shops and restaurants is an activity in and of itself!
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The Best of 30 A – Shopping
Outpost -Beautiful store that sells a little bit of everything clothes, accessories, gifts, home decor and so much more. They also have the cutest little coffee shop/wine bar located inside so you can treat yourself to a cup of coffee or glass of wine while you shop!
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OKO Lifestyle – Not only do they have the cutest clothes but a lot of them are hand-sewn and made by women in the Dominican. Their mission is “Equipping people to Overcome, demonstrating acts of Kindness and giving Opportunity to those who need it most.”
Seaside Style – This is where you go to get your seaside t-shirts and baseball hats!
Ophelia Swimwear – Best place in the 30A area to get a new swimsuit.
Destin Commons – It’s like a HUGE outdoor mall! They have 90+ stores and restaurants including: Bass Pro Shops, Belk, H&M, LUSH Cosmetics, Express, Sephora, LOFT, Southern Living, AMC Theaters, Uncle Buck’s FishBowl & Grill, Chipotle, and so much more!
30 Avenue – Gorgeous lifestyle area with lots of restaurants and shops! Great place to walk around, shop and eat!
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Willow + Woods – High end boutique with brands like Rebecca Taylor, Tory Burch, Haute Hippie, Vince and much more!
The Hub
The Hub is a great place to gather with friends and family! They have food, live music, jumbotron for sports & Movies, Shopping and so much more!
The Best of 30A – Photos on the Beach
Take advantage of the beautiful 30A scenery and charm and book some professional photos to commemorate your trip! I have personally worked with the following local photographers, and I would recommend them to anyone!
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- Brenna Kneiss, http://brennakneiss.com/
- Amy Riley, http://amyrileyphotography.com/
Eat!
If you haven’t heard…30A has some of the best restaurants. David and I always plan ahead all of the places we want to stop so that we can fit it all in! Check out our top dining recs below!
The Best of 30A – Where to Eat:
Donuts & Coffee:
Donut Hole – A bakery and diner rolled into one. Not only do they have AMAZING donuts (my fav is the chocolate coconut) but they also serve breakfast. lunch and dinner!
Charlie’s Donut Truck – Charlie’s Donut Truck opens early each morning, serving fresh, handmade donuts and pastries. Get there early because they sell out fast!
Five Daughters Bakery Airstream – They have 100 layer donuts that are to die for! It’s their version of a cronut (hybrid of a croissant and a donut).
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Fonville Press – It’s an all-day café offering breakfast, pressed sandwiches, salads, snacks, and heartier entrées, along with coffee!
Black Bear Bread Co. – Great place for coffee and bakery items. Very instagramable which is always a plus. They also have a few breakfast and lunch items that I have heard were amazing. I’ve only ever tried their coffee and sweet treats/snacks and they were amazing so I’m sure the breakfast and lunch is just as great!
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The Best of 30A – Restaurants:
Seaside Food Trucks – My personal favorite is the grilled cheese sandwiches from Meltdown on 30A.
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Tommy Bahama – Great Lunch spot! Sit on the patio. For an appetizer I love the Duo of dips or the crab cakes and for entree I love the Coconut shrimp or the grilled chicken sandwich.
Bud & Alley’s – Poboys and tuna dip, rooftop bar with view of Seaside! Perfect place to watch the sunset. Great view for any time because they serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The crab cakes are amazing!
Shunk Gully’s Oyster Bar – It’s brand new and I love the interior. Its bright and white and the patio upstairs is gorgeous. Especially at night time because you can watch the sunset and they turn the patio cafe lights on. The oysters are to die for!!
Chiringo – It’s a Spanish-influenced, casual beachside bar and eatery that blends global beach flavors with Southern charm. Their nachos were amazing!
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George’s at Aly’s Beach – I go here every time I go to the 30A area. I have never had anything I didn’t like, but my favorite is the lobster quesadillas. I always sit outside when I go because the atmosphere is amazing.
Cowgirl Kitchen – Affordable for laid-back day dining after a day at the beach and it’s in the heart of Rosemary Beach so it’s fun to walk around the area before and after you eat. The pizza is really good and I loved the drunken cowgirl and southern tacos. I’ve never tried their salads but I have heard they were amazing!
Surfing Deer – It is more of a Fine Dining kind of place especially if you go for dinner. I would recommend getting a reservation. We went for lunch and sat outside on their patio. (Note: they only serve lunch on Thu-Sat from 11:30-2:30pm and they are closed on Sundays) I can not say enough good things about this restaurant. Everything we had was AMAZING and the service is spectacular. My favorite Lunch items are the Southwest Chicken Salad with Avocado Chicken Salad, the french fries, and the crab cake! So yes it’s a little more on the expensive side but the quality of the food and service makes it SO worth it!
La Crema – Romantic spot, string lights, cobblestone walkways, tapas. Paella (feeds 2-3 so bring friends!), empanadas, sangria. Get there early because there is always a long wait!
Neat – A thoughtfully curated bottle shop & tasting room in Alys Beach, FL, featuring artisan spirits, wines, craft beers, seasonal cocktails & small plates.
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Caliza Restaurant – Elegant, poolside, romantic. Seafood, reservation needed.
The Red Bar – It’s a dive bar. I’m not a huge bar person so I have never been but everyone say’s it’s a 30A staple.
Great Southern Cafe – Excellent brunch spot with award-winning shrimp and grits, THEY ARE SO GOOD!
Big Bad Breakfast – Huge selection of options and large portions. This is by far my favorite place to eat breakfast or brunch on 30A. I get the Big Bad breakfast plate with a biscuit for my bread, grits as my side and bacon as my meat. They have the most amazing homemade jam that I put on my biscuit. I also get a side of their brûlée grapefruit because YUM! And I always get their fresh squeezed OJ. I could go on and on about this place. Legit everything on their menu is AMAZING!! They serve all day breakfast and lunch until 2:30 pm. It’s on the property of The Pointe Resort so when you sit outside on the patio it over looks the GORGEOUS pool and resort.
Deserts:
Pecan Jacks Ice Creamery – This is my favorite Ice cream on 30A. The staff is very friendly and all their flavors are homemade. It always takes me forever to decide on a flavor because they’re all so unique and VERY DELICIOUS.
Blue Mountain Beach Creamery – Cute little Ice cream shop with lots of options. They only except cash.
Modica Market – This is the perfect place if you want to grab something sweet to-go. They have lots of great options for dessert like cake by the slice, cookies, muffins, banana pudding, etc.
Sugar Shak – Huge selection of candy, sweets and Ice cream. The only bad thing is it’s always crowded but I guess thats what you get when you go somewhere so yummy!
We always have so much fun in 30A and can’t wait to make more memories in the future! I hope this travel guide featuring the best of 30A answers your questions about this popular beach destination. I would love to hear about your 30A experience and what your favorite places are below!
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4 comments
Great blog! I will definitely be printing this out before our trip to Seagrove next month.
Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it!!
An inspiring blog post! Love these cool ideas for traveling. I am more into a casual look that includes some dress and denim.
Kisses,
Lina
I’m a local and the Red Bar is not properly classified! It has excellent food and is always packed for dinner so dive bar doesn’t really do it justice 😉
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