This upcoming holiday weekend has made me start thinking about the beach, and (PRAISE HANDS) a lot of beaches around the country are beginning to open up. Beach vacations (where everyone on the beach can have their own 6 foot radius of sand, please!) sound amazing right now, and I am so ready to visit our favorite beaches. And I know one that is really, really ridiculously good looking.
My husband, who has been vacationing on Florida’s 30A his whole life, first took me to the area while we were still dating. I think 30A had its intended effect, because I accepted his proposal, and we’ve been going back ever since.
30A can be a bit confusing if you don’t know the ropes. You may have heard of Seaside, the town where The Truman Show was filmed, which is just as charming as it looks in the movie. (And that’s just one of the many amazing towns!)
What is 30A?
30A is a scenic road that stretches along the coast of the Florida panhandle, roughly between Panama City Beach and Destin. 30A is dotted with beach towns, each with their own vibe and character.
Which towns are your favorite on 30A?
My favorites are Rosemary Beach, Alys, Seaside and Watercolor. Grayton Beach is also a favorite for my husband.
Where do you stay on 30A?
This is the tricky part if you are used to mostly staying in hotels, or with big hotel chains! (But it is perfect for social distancing!) We primarily stay in Rosemary Beach, usually renting a house, carriage house, or condo from the Rosemary Beach Cottage Company. Before Bebe, we also stayed at The Pearl Hotel or Rosemary Beach Inn. (The Inn’s rooms are fairly tiny, and I suspect some won’t even fit a pack and play, as an FYI.) We’ve also stayed at the Watercolor Inn, which is a nice property with resort amenities, like multiple pools and restaurant on site. For houses in other towns, I would search on sites like VRBO, 360Blue, and 30AEscapes.
What is there to do on 30A?
There is of course the obvious attraction: the beach! This part of Florida has the most gorgeous sugar sand beaches. If you stay in Rosemary, you will have access to the town’s multiple pools as well (and same goes if you stay at Watercolor Inn regarding their pools). Many houses also have private swimming pools, so you can rent a house with a pool too. There are also beach amenity rentals, so you will be able to rent an umbrella and nice chairs for the beach.
I love popping Bebe in the stroller and spending time browsing in the towns, Rosemary and Seaside in particular. They have adorable shops and restaurants to have a snack or iced coffee while browsing. Every Sunday Rosemary has a farmers market in the center of town. I love The Hidden Lantern in Rosemary, Watercolor’s Barefoot Princess for beach wear brands like Lily Pulitzer, and Bump + Baby in Seaside, which stocks some of our favorite brands like The Beaufort Bonnet Company. Mr. LOTG has browsed Sundog Records and Modica Market since he was a kid and highly recommends both. My mother in law and I have also really enjoyed shopping the Seaside outdoor market and Beau Interiors in Grayton.
There’s tons of green space for kiddos to run and play, like the Eastern and Western Greens in Rosemary and the big amphitheater in the middle of Seaside. The various towns, and also the nearby Hub shopping center, frequently host activities like family concerts, beach bonfires, movie nights, and other fun activities for kids during spring break, summer, and other popular times on 30A. There’s also a cute pétanque park in Seaside if you’re up for a game!
You can rent bikes and bike all along 30A, hire a fishing charter, play tennis at the Rosemary or Watercolor courts, rent kayaks or standup paddle boards, and golf at multiple courses (and if you stay at a St. Joe resort property like The Pearl Hotel or Watercolor Inn, you can get on the St. Joe golf courses, Camp Creek and Shark’s Tooth). There are also local spas, like Spa Pearl, Vivo, and the Watercolor Inn Spa, in case you have time off from parenting duties.
What are the best restaurants?
Even if you stay a week, you will not get to all the great restaurants on 30A! Although this area is relatively small, you are spoiled for choice. (And of course, you can always cook in your rental house. There are 2 Publix grocery stores close by.) While some of these restaurants trend “nicer,” there are so many families on 30A that they all are very family friendly. A round up of my favorites includes:
- La Crema (Rosemary Beach, great menu and wines)
- Restaurant Paradis (Rosemary Beach, upscale but for sure kid friendly, particularly on the patio)
- Havana Beach (Rosemary Beach, breakfast is my favorite meal there)
- The Sugar Shak (Rosemary Beach, a kid’s dream!)
- Edward’s Fine Food and Wine (Rosemary Beach, often has live music)
- George’s (Alys, the cutest)
- Caliza (Alys, upscale pool vibes)
- Old Florida Fish House (Santa Rosa Beach, very casual, northern Florida the way it used to be)
- Bud & Alley’s (Seaside, very popular with amazing views)
- Any of the Seaside food trucks, depending on your mood! (Seaside, barbecue to smoothies to shaved ice)
- Great Southern Cafe (Seaside, Southern comfort food)
- Amavida Coffee and Tea (Rosemary Beach, Seaside, also has breakfast foods)
- The Wine Bar (Watercolor, lovely patio to sit and enjoy a glass, also has food)
- Chiringo (Grayton Beach, casual and a great place to watch a game on the breezy patio)
- The Red Bar (Grayton Beach, more restaurant than bar at mealtimes but iconic 30A. Cash only. Sadly it burned down but is scheduled to re-open in the summer of 2020.)
Being on 30A means vacation to me, and it is so relaxing to have dinner out with the family after a fun day, and stroll back to a little beach house where you have the space to comfortably put your kiddos to bed before hanging out on the porch on a warm night. I love that this is a spot that’s appropriate for so many age levels, and can’t wait for Bebe to get to do more as he gets older!
