30A Travel Guide

Our family has a special love in our hearts for the scenic highway filled with little beach towns along Florida’s gulf coast, referred to as 30A. In 2017, we purchased a vacation home in the area, and since then, we have fallen even more in love with it! It is such a magical place that is hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. All of our worries and troubles seem to melt away when we’re there. Remember the movie the Truman show? Jim Carey lived in that perfect little town? It was filmed on 30A (in Seaside), and it kind of feels like that in real life. It’s so charming, people are friendly, there’s so much good food, shopping, design inspiration and of course the beautiful white sandy beaches! Bikes are the major mode of transportation. It’s hard to narrow down all the things we love about this area, but we definitely have “go to” spots and things we look forward to every time we visit. 30A is 100% our happy place!

Where to Stay

There are so many cute beach towns along 30A , and each of them have their own vibe and are unique architecturally. I think that for families, Rosemary, Seacrest and Watercolor are great choices.  All of the towns are pretty close to each other, so we typically visit all the places and do all the things when we are there.

Rosemary Beach – Feels part European, part southern with a New Orleans flair. Kind of like my own personal style aesthetic! Beautiful established trees drape over the gas lamp lit streets and great shops and restaurants line the plentiful green spaces. There are always family events happening such as movies under the stars, street fairs and children’s theatre performances. The beach is gorgeous here and less crowded than Seacrest Beach but it does get quite busy during peak times.

Alys Beach – The “Fancy Pants” of 30A – it feels like an exotic international destination such as Anguilla or Greece. Everything is bathed in all white, but the cobblestone streets and vines growing up the sides of the shuttered homes add a layer of warmth to its sophisticated coastal vibe. Homes start in the multi-million dollar price range, and are built to very specific architectural guidelines and high-end construction standards. Lots of celebrities are owners here, and it definitely has a more quiet, upscale and glamorous feel. This is my favorite place to go house stalking. The beach is never busy. I like that, but if you like lots of action and families around, this isn’t the beach for you. But, definitely ride your bike through it, get donuts at Charlies and/or grab a meal at George’s.

Watercolor – Nestled among pine and magnolia trees galore, Watercolor feels like a southern lake community but with a beach! It truly is the best of both. You can ride around on a paddle boat, go canoeing on the lakes, or enjoy a homemade popcicle on the pier off the boathouse. Watercolor has a full club house, amenities and an Inn overlooking its pristine beach. The town hosts a variety of summer camps for kids. To me, the whole town is reminiscent of a grown up’s summer camp! Watercolor is full of beautifully decorated, high-end homes with lots of shiplap, front porches and southern charm – in a laid back setting. The town has great eateries and shops too!

Seaside – Seaside is really the town that put 30A on the map, and for years was the most popular and well-known 30A beach town. It’s charm is undeniable and a feeling of summertime nostalgia washes over you as you watch teenagers ride their bikes along the treelined streets filled with charming cottages and waiting in lines at the food trucks for hot dogs, BBQ and grilled cheese sandwiches. It has the cutest little post office in the town square and we often bring our kite to fly on the big green space. The shopping is great here, they have tons of pop-up style shops along the beach and more gift shops and art galleries in the market near the town square. There is also no shortage of great places to grab food and sweet treats. I find that Seaside is a little over crowded during peak times. Although I like to visit there, I am always happy to head back to the less congested parts of 30A.

Grayton – I explored this area more last year when my mom, daughter and I did an art class there. We fell in love with all the funky boutiques, galleries and little cafes. Grayton has a true beachy, surfer, artsy vibe and many of the well-known and sought after local artists have their studios and galleries there. There is also some great home decor shopping, and it was the home to the famous Red Bar that sadly burned down last year. Grayton is known for it’s State Parks and is a hub for beach sports, especially surfers.

The Hub – this is a newer little spot, and it is as cute as it can be. Prominence is the name of the town, and the Hub is the little gathering place within it that plays host to eateries, shops, live music and movies under the stars. It is the perfect place to go with the family at sunset, as the kids can play on the big green grassy area and the adults can enjoy themselves too! Luke Bryan owns a little cigar shop here. I do think that the direct beach access is a little more difficult to get to than some of the other towns, but it’s definitely a great hang out spot!

Seacrest – this is where our home is located and we love this little town because of it’s location on 30A. We are nestled right in between Rosemary and Alys Beach. Seacrest owns the Peddler’s Pavillon, which is a place to rent bikes, get great food, shop, listen to live music and just hang out and play corn hole by the firepit. Seacrest is full of brightly colored homes with front porches and palm trees, and is home to the largest pool in all of Northwest Florida. It’s very family oriented. It’s very easy to access the beach by walking or a complimentary tram will take you down and pick you up with all of your beach gear.

Where to Dine

Brunch/Lunch

• The Great Southern (Seaside) – The name says it all. Delicious southern cuisine with indoor outdoor seating.
• The Pearl Hotel (Rosemary) – Great views for a perfect brunch al fresco
• Cowgirl Kitchen (Rosemary & Seaside) – Their tacos and house salad are delish
• The Shrimp Shack (Seaside) – The perfect lobster roll slathered in butter
• Chicken Salad Chicks (Seacrest) – Different types of chicken salads, an easy fast service dining option
• Black Bear Bread Company (Grayton Beach) – Farm to table, fresh food with unique daily specialties
• Food Trucks (Seaside) – The meltdown does yummy gourmet grill cheese sandwiches

Casual Dinner:

• Ticheli’s Pizza (Seacrest) – We love to grab pizza here and listen to live music in the pavilion
• Southside Slice (Rosemary) – I love their Mediterranean pizza. One pizza can feed a village
• La Cocina (Seacrest) – One of my favorites! Delish Mexican food with a seafood twist – reminds me of Cabo
• La Crema (Rosemary) – Holy fondue. I also love the Brussel sprouts and all the tapas (because I love to share) and the warm gooey chocolate chip cookies! Go early (like 5pm) for a table because they don’t take reservations
• Bud and Alley’s (Seaside) – Great seafood with a view of Seaside Beach

Upscale Dinner:

• George’s (Alys) – A 30A staple and must do.. Go early, they don’t take reservations. I love to eat outside here. Try the seafood platter, key lime pie and fruity pebble ice cream sandwiches
• Caliza (Alys) – Great date night spot and you need a reservation. Overlooking the pool in Alys beach. Inventive cuisine
• Pescado (Rosemary) – One of the best experiences on 30A, 18 and up only. Rooftop is first come, first serve so go early to catch the sunset and views
• Neat (Alys) – A little wine bar with small plates and a good wine list. We sat outside with Sloane before going to dinner at George’s
• Edward’s Fine Dining (Rosemary) – We have to go here every time. It’s one of our favorites but they don’t take reservations, so go early (5pm) and try to get a seat on the patio to listen to the live music while you eat. They have a kids menu
• Paradiso (Rosemary) – They take reservations, and you need one. A romantic spot with great food and desserts!

Sweet Treats

• Sugar Shak (Rosemary) – Try the cotton candy ice cream and revel at all the nostalgic candies from the 90’s
• Small Cakes (Seacrest) – I love the Chocolate cupcake in a jar with the toasted marshmallow ice cream. It’s heavenly
• Charlie’s Donuts (Alys & Seacrest) – The maple bacon donut goes hard
• Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudge (Seaside) – The fudge here is so delicious and they have the most unique flavors

Where to Shop

Home & Gifts

• Tracery (Rosemary)
• Luminary (Rosemary)
• Beau Interiors (Grayton)
• Mast (Alys Beach)
• An Apartment in Paris (Seaside)
• Mercantile (Seaside)
• The Hub 30A (the Hub)
• Stock and Trade (this is closer to Destin but great if you are furnishing a beach house)

For the Kiddos

• Ducky’s (Seaside)
• GiGi’s (Rosemary)

For the Ladies

• Disco (Rosemary)
• Deja Vu (Grayton)
• Pop-up style shops in Seaside
• Ophelia Swimwear (Seaside & Seacrest)

What to Do

• The Beach, obvi!
• Listen to live music at Peddler’s in Seacrest
• Take an art class at Shard Shop and browse the galleries in Grayton Beach
• Watch a movie under the stars at the Hub or Rosemary Beach
• House stalk in Alys Beach
• Ride bikes everywhere!
• Shop and shop some more
• Eat your way through every town and splurge on sweet treats
• The Farmer’s Market in Rosemary
• A Bonfire on the Beach (you must hire a company with a permit)

What to Pack

30A has a very laid back, southern preppy beach style. Think Vineyard Vines, Lily Pulitzer and monogram everything for the kids. Sun dresses and big bows for little girls and mommy and me matching cover-ups. Family matching swim suits too! Flats, flip flops and wedges seem to be the shoes of choice. Just think, “Can I ride a bike in it?” Guys wear short sleeve polo style shirts and lightweight button-ups with rolled up sleeves and shorts. The vibe isn’t overdone or fancy. People seem to keep it pretty casual and “beach chic”. No need for a fashion show, but cute beach attire and “cruise wear” style clothing always works! Things to remember:

• Straw tote bag
• Lots of sunglasses & hats
• Sandals and flip flops
• Cover-ups (bonus points for mommy and me styles!)

What to Know

*Download the 30A App – this is such a useful tool for finding out what is happening in all the little towns during your stay. I find that most of the time, the towns will alternate activities so you can enjoy movie nights, outdoor theater performances, etc. in different towns on different nights.

*Riding Bikes – if your house rental doesn’t come with bikes, rent them! You can also rent seats or ride-alongs for the kiddos.

*Some homes come with beach chairs and toys. Check with your property contact, but if they don’t, you can rent beach chairs ahead of time though the town website.

*The rental homes have outdoor grills and fully operational kitchens ready for groceries. Map your closest Publix grocery store, it’s a great place to stock up for the week. We typically love getting breakfast and lunch food and a few dinners to grill on the porch. Packing a cooler full of snacks and sandwiches for a long day at the beach is ideal!