Relax and discover the best of what the Florida has to offer
Beautiful white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters and adorable little towns — if you are in search of the perfect beach destination, look no further than 30A! Thanks to social media, the destination has gained a lot of attention in recent years. In case you are unfamiliar, 30A is not a place, but instead refers to the collection of quaint, colorful beach towns in Florida’s panhandle located off of County Highway 30. The area is so idyllic that The Truman Show was filmed in the town of Seaside — it is quite literally picture perfect.
Unlike the bustling neighboring cities of Destin and Panama City Beach, 30A is much more calm and quiet. You won’t find nightlife or chain restaurants, but you will find ample time to relax and make memories. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting. Keep reading for all my tips on where to stay, play and eat as well as how to make the most of your time there.
How to Get There
There are two main airports to choose from when flying to 30A — Destin (VPS) or Panama City (ECP). What airport you choose will depend on the town you are staying in. Our Airbnb was in Seagrove, which was approximately the same distance (45-55 mins) from each airport. Coming from Kansas City though, Destin was the only one which offered a direct flight so that is what worked for us.
Transportation
Whether or not you need a personal vehicle will depend on who you’re traveling with and what you plan to do. Our plan was to stay exclusively in the 30A area and since we weren’t traveling with kids, the bikes and golf cart we had access were sufficient to get around. If you plan to explore surrounding cities such as Destin or Panama City Beach, having a car is necessary. The same is true (in my opinion) if you are traveling with small children.
From Airport
It is easy to grab a cab or uber from the airport. For a 6 passenger taxi, we paid $120 to Seagrove and $100 for our return. Uber was more expensive for us given our party size.
Within 30A
If you don’t have a personal vehicle, try to find an Airbnb with a golf cart and/or bikes included (there are many). If your Airbnb doesn’t have that option, there are places you can rent from in town.
TIP: Golf carts are not allowed in Alys Beach or Rosemary Beach. You can also only drive them on an road that is 35 mph or less.
Where to Stay
While there are hotel options available, they are few and far between and moreover, they are expensive. For this reason, most people opt for one of the many rental accommodations. The exact Airbnb we stayed is linked in my downloadable itinerary.
Hotels
These are the few well known hotel options available and they are all $$$ – $$$$.
The Pearl — Located right in the heart of Rosemary Beach, this iconic hotel does not come cheap, but if you can afford it is beautiful! I think it is better suited for couples than familes.
The Pointe on 30A — This is a popular choice with families, located very close to Rosemary Beach. They offer several amenities such as pool, gym, on-site restaurant and complementary bike rentals.
Watercolor Inn & Resort — Also a popular choice with families and large groups as they offer 1 and 2 bedroom suites. This resort is located in Watercolor and offers amenities such as multiple pools, kayak and bike rental and they are pet friendly.
Overview of 30A Towns
While each little beach town boasts its own distinct personality they are all incredibly charming and full of white sandy beaches and delicious restaurants. Given the close proximity of the towns, the location did not matter as much as I thought it would; you’d be surprised at how small each of the 13 towns actually are. Nonetheless, it can be very overwhelming to choose which one to stay in.
Ultimately, where you stay will depend on what you’d like to do, who you are traveling with and of course, your budget. To help you determine what works best for you, below is a quick run-down of some of the most popular towns.
Blue Mountain — Quiet and away from the main hustle and bustle it is a good place to be if you want privacy. There are lots of larger homes that come with private beach access, but overall fewer rental options than other towns.
Grayton – Very laid back and chill area that is not as trendy as its neighbors. One of the few bars in 30A is in this area (The Red Bar).
Watercolor — Biking distance from Seaside, it is great for families. It is casual, but still has an upscale feel with the trendy boutiques and nice restaurants.
Seaside – The town that put 30A on the map! It is very family friendly with lots of open space in the square to run around. There are also many shops, including the famous SEASIDE store selling sweatshirts.
Seagrove — Neighboring Seaside, but much quieter. Several popular restaurants in 30A are also located here.
Alys — You’ll wonder if you are in Greece or Florida! Beautiful white buildings and high-end dining and boutiques. Staying here will set you back a pretty penny though (I mean 20K for the week!)
Rosemary — Along with Seaside, this is probably the most lively town. There are lots of trendy shops and restaurants as well as the 30A Farmers Market every Sunday.
I found Seagrove to be a perfect homebase. Given its central location, it allowed us to easily explore towns on either side. Staying here was also significantly more affordable than neighboring Seaside, which I personally found to be a bit too commercialized. Next time, I would opt to stay in Rosemary beach at The Pearl!
What to Do in 30A
The first is to, obviously, spend time at the beach! Keep in mind that not every town has public beach access or allows you to bring your own chairs, umbrellas, etc. See below for an overview based on my experience.
Grayton & Santa Rosa Beach — Great for public access, bringing your own chairs, etc.
Blue Mountain Beach — Limited public use areas due to residential and private access.
Seaside — Public access available, but you cannot bring your own loungers and umbrellas. They must be rented in advance.
Rosemary Beach — Mostly private beach access that requires having a code from area accomodations.
Other Activities
Beach Bonfire — If you do ONE thing in 30A, make it this! It was unanimously everyone’s favorite memory from the trip. There are a few companies that offer this service, but went we with Light Me Up Beach Bonfires and had the most incredible experience. Customize your package, bring your own food and drink or do what we did and order pizza right to the beach!
TIP: Book in advance as they do fill up in high season and make a playlist that you can give to your attendant!
Bike — Whether you use bikes as your main form of transportation or want to check out the numerous trails in the area, you can’t go wrong with a beach cruiser here. The 19 mile Timpoochee Trail runs the length of 30A and is great, if you want to check out all the towns.
Eden Gardens State Park – Tour the beautiful grounds and a historic home on this property.
Surfing & Paddle boarding — If you are looking to be more adventurous, you can rent surf and paddle boards from 30A Beach Paddle and Surf as well as several others. Check out AM Surf School for surfing lessons.
Dolphin Cruise — If you have the time (and transportation) head to Panama City Beach and hop on a Dolphin Cruise! There are several options available and Dolphin & Snorkel Tours Inc. is a popular provider.
Dining
There are several amazing dining options available throughout 30A, from casual to high-end. To see a full list of the best restaurants in 30A, click here.
If you plan to cook or want to pick up snacks, the largest grocery store in 30A is a Publix, located at 110 Watercolor Way Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. They are open from 7AM- 10PM everyday.
Final Thoughts
Whether you come with your girlfriends, as a couple or with your family, 30A truly does have something to suit everyone’s needs. It is the perfect place to slow down, spend quality time with your people and enjoy the beauty of mother nature. Happy Travels!
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