30A Florida Guide
Twenty-six miles of white sand beaches along the Emerald Coast. It’s as magical as it sounds. South Walton consists of 16 small (perfect, charming, beautiful, dreamy) coastal towns all connected by (County Road) 30A. The region itself feels so different from the rest of Florida (at least the parts I’ve visited – think Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Daytona, etc). It’s closer to Birmingham, Memphis, and Nashville than it is to Miami, so imagine a beach community with all the Southern hospitality, charm, and food you could want.
Where To Stay – Rent a house. This year we rented a house on Seacrest. The location and beach access were perfect. Seacrest and Seagrove are pretty quiet. Seaside, Rosemary, Watercolor, and Alys definitely have more to do and see. It’s still only a 5-10 minute drive from one side to the other though, so location only matters if you want to be able to walk to eat, shop, etc. Before you rent a hotel, definitely check out the beautiful homes/condos available. There are still a few little towns we haven’t explored yet, so definitely research each before you decide where you want to stay. Every town has something different to offer.
Where to Eat – Everywhere!! I’m kidding, sort of. I love food way too much, y’all. Half of the vacation experience for us, no matter where we go, is the food. I want an experience. I like to sit down for 2-3 hours and enjoy myself. I think the best conversations and some of the best memories happen over a fantastic dinner. This is probably why Josh proposed to me at a fancy dinner haha.
Breakfast/Brunch – Big Bad Breakfast, The Perfect Pig, Charlie’s Donuts, Five Daughters Bakery Airstream, Raw and Juicy, and coffee from Amavida. We usually have breakfast at home, but these are some that we love. I’ve heard wonderful things about Cowgirl Kitchen and Black Bear Bread Co., so those are on our list for next time!
Lunch – Let’s be real, we are on the beach. We always have lunch at the house, but there are SO many cool options. A lot of which may be on my dinner list…
Dinner – Cafe Thirty-A (such a special place for us. We came here for the first time 5 years ago and will always dine here. They get it right every time) La Crema Tapas & Chocolate, Chiringo, Great Southern Cafe, Perfect Pig, Barefoot Barbeque, and 723 Whiskey Bravo. On my list to try: George’s at Alys Beach, Cuvee 30A and Pescado. There are so many options, and you can’t go wrong with most.
What To Do – Rent bikes. Most people travel on bikes or golf carts. There are bike trails all along the towns and it’s so peaceful! The Hub has live music and cute little shops so the whole family can enjoy. Go walk around Rosemary Beach – a cobblestone street winds it’s way down toward the Gulf past tons of shops and restaurants. The beautiful Pearl Hotel is located here. We got a couples massage and spent the day by their adults only pool. This is a great spot to hang out as a couple or with your girlfriends. Seaside is such a family friendly area. Lots of shops for adults and kids. I got a gift for my niece from Duckies Shop of Fun and kept thinking how much she would love it. Besides that, we spend our days on the beach and that’s just how I like it!
There’s SO much more I could write about it, but I’m being selective based on our experiences. There’s still a lot I haven’t explored. I would love to hear from y’all. Where do you stay and eat? Anything I absolutely need to do next time??
