Last week, I traveled with my family down to 30A, Florida. It was our first time in the area, and we loved the experience. After I started sharing posts during our trip, it seems like a lot of y’all are heading over to the area in the next couple weeks, so I wanted to hurry and get this post up so you guys can use it for your trips! Brace yourselves for a long ass post; I wanted to make sure I covered all my bases, so there’s quite a bit to unpack.
I worked with several different restaurants for this trip, so that we could try out a ton of stuff for y’all and be the guinea pigs and report on what was worth and what wasn’t. I’m breaking down this post like I’ve done a few in the past: we’ll do a Where to Eat, What to Do, Where to Stay, and Where to Get the Gram (of course you know I got y’all!) So let’s dive right in!
A TLDR for anyone who just wants to decide whether you want to visit or not: all of the towns along 30A are so incredibly picturesque, clean, and everyone is so friendly. It’s the perfect place for a domestic beach getaway, and the water is a beautiful shade of blue that is rare in the States (even bluer than the water in SoCal!)
A couple things to keep in mind:
If you’re traveling with a family (with kids) or with a bigger group (15+) I think this is an awesome destination 10000%. It’s a super safe, kid friendly area, with lots to keep the kiddos busy. If you’re traveling with a larger skewing family (we went with my parents and my brother who’s 19) or as a couple, I’d still recommend visiting, but just for a shorter period of time. We stayed for a total of 8 days, and it was a bit long to do everything. Of course, I can’t complain about getting to spend a couple days at the beach, but we usually prefer to adventure more on vacations, rather than lay out 8 days in a row. That’s just us, though, so take it with a grain of salt!
Where to Stay
Rent a beach house
We rented a beach house in Watersound, and it was a really great option, at a really great price. Linking the exact one we stayed at for y’all here (there are a ton of options in this neighborhood, all bookable through Airbnb so you’re covered!) For our group of 4, it was perfect and had everything we needed for a longer stay – washer/dryer, dishwasher, full kitchen, multiple beds, and a balcony!
Depending on where you want to stay on 30A, there are a ton of options. Watersound right in between the Alys Beach/Rosemary Beach side and the Seaside area, so it was pretty perfect for us. If I was to go back again, I’d probably stay in Alys Beach! Everything there is so picturesque.
You’ve most probably seen this hotel on Instagram before, and let me tell ya – it is as gorgeous inside as it is on the outside! We got to stop in and snap some photos inside near the pool, and the hotel is so gorgeous. Also all of their staff is so kind!
I’ve never stayed here or visited myself, but I’ve heard good things. The location’s great, and the pool looks beautiful.
Where to Eat (my favorite topic):
Havana Beach Bar & Grill ($$$)
Where to even start, I don’t know! Everything about this place was spectacular. Our server’s name was Ward, and he was so incredibly knowledgeable about the property and the entire menu. Their entire staff was so kind! The entire property is based off of Havana, Cuba, and there are so many cool little touches in the place that play to the theme. The cocktails, food, and desserts were heavenly – I’ll go into specifics a little more below.
What to order: Everything that we tasted was amazing. You really can’t go wrong. For starters, we did the Crispy Chicken Thighs and the Jumbo Lump Crab Hash. The crab hash was my personal favorite – they don’t skimp out on the crab at all, and the flavors come together incredibly. The crispy chicken has a bit of a Mediterranean feel, in my opinion – they were delicious, too. We actually got to taste a bunch of the entrees, and they were all delicious, but my personal faves were the Delmonico steak, and the Short Rib dishes. We also ordered the scallops and the grouper – definitely on the lighter side, but tasty. For dessert, we finished off with their s’mores and rum cake. I’m personally not a fan of rum, but the s’mores were so good! The presentation is so fun, too – check out my IG stories to see it in action.
The Hub has a ton of great options for food – if you have picky eaters in your family, this is a great place to go. There are a bunch of different cuisine options, that you’re sure to satisfy everyone in your group. We tried out a couple places here, including Macho Taco, Mr. Freeze for ice cream, and Local Smoke. This place probably wouldn’t be for you if you’re a true foodie, but if you’re looking for a fun place to grab a bite it’s a great option.
What to order: my brother & I shared a couple things from Macho Taco, and they were pretty good. The one standout is the pork belly taquitos! Mr. Freeze is great for some late night sweets.
I had read really great reviews on this place, but to be totally honest, I didn’t think it lived up to expectations. The food was good, sure, but it definitely wasn’t anything I haven’t had before, or remotely mind-blowing. However, it was the only place without a wait when we stopped by, so that was a plus. Everything is served tapas style, which means you pay anywhere from $10-$20 for tiny serving sizes. Nobody in my family is really a big eater, and still we were surprised by how little food you get for the prices.
What to order: the Brussel sprouts were the best thing that we tried! The Brussel sprouts do get two thumbs up from me. They also have a chocolate fondue that’s fun to share, if you’re with a group. We also ordered the fish tacos, mushroom caps, and the chicken dish – again, nothing really to write home about.
Another fave! Everything at Surfing Deer was so tasty, and we had so much fun during our dinner. First off, the location of Surfing Deer is amazing – it’s right down the street from Seaside, so we had an amazing dinner and walked it off at the town center.
What to order: We got a couple cocktails to start – the Spatini, and the Bambitini. Both were amazing, but get the Spatini if you’re looking for a pretty cocktail for your Instas. Their appetizers definitely didn’t disappoint – our group favorite was the Clothesline Bacon (SO GOOD. And so fun!) We also got the calamari and the lobster tacos. You can’t go wrong here, either! For entrees, we all got something different. In total, we ordered the steak special of the night, the tenderloin, roasted lamb, and the Seafood Acadiana.
If you’re in the mood for some Asian food, this is your place! Nanbu is located in this cute little village in Grayton, and everything on their menu is incredible. Such a cute hang out spot, too! We sat along the bar, and had so much fun at our dinner. The service was incredible, and the food was delicious!
What to order: more like what not to order?! We started out with a sake flight, and the bartender was so knowledgable about every sake, and curated it to our tastes. For appetizers, the pork belly buns are delicious. We also got the ginger salad to start out with something a little lighter. We tried out a bunch of the ramens, but my personal favorite was the Miso Pork Ramen. You have to remember to finish off with their mochi ice cream!
Another one that’s a good option, but nothing really to write home about. The food’s decent, and the service was good, but there’s nothing specifically that really stands out. We ordered the Brussel sprouts (way too sour in my opinion) but the pork chop was actually pretty good. We also ordered the pomodoro, and it was okay at best. I actually didn’t even end up finishing it, and my brother ate it later that night as a late night snack.
Need a margarita? This is the place for you! A cute spot in Alys Beach with the best decor, La Cocina has a bunch of great menu options. The margaritas are a must! I ordered the pineapple, and it was amazing. Their Top of the Shelf Margarita was also great!
What to order: margaritas, of course! Also make sure you start with chips and queso. The Ribeye Asada was amazing, and the fajitas are always a great staple. You can’t really go wrong!
A delicious brunch spot! It’s located in the Seaside town center – a great place to stop by after the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. The wait every time we went was 20+ minutes, but it goes by pretty quickly because you can roam around the area and still be notified.
What to order: Get the grits a ya ya!! This is what they’re most famous for. I’m honestly not a big fan of grits, but I thought these were so delicious.
Five Daughters Bakery Airstream
A yummy spot for baked goods! It’s in the area of food trucks in Seaside town center, so it’s perfect to grab a quick bite and wander around Seaside.
They serve Blue Bell (for this newly minted Cali girl, this is a big blessing, okay.) A good place to get some sweets after a day at the beach.
What to Do
Explore!
There a bunch of neighborhoods along 30A to explore – you can look at different types of houses, check out the little town centers of each, etc. The best way to get around 30A is by rental car or bike. We had both, and ended up using both quite a bit. 30A is made to be bikeable, and they have a whole 19 mile stretch of bike lane for you to ride down. We used LiveWell30A for our bikes and a couple other rentals, but I’ve also heard good things about Peddler’s and Big Fish Bike Rentals.
Beach Time
Depending on where you’re staying, getting to the beach can be a little bit tricky. I’d ask around to see where the closest beach to you is. For us, we went to Deer Lake State Park, which was a short half mile down the road from our house. I’d highly recommend renting out a couple chairs and an umbrella. The sun beats down super hard, so make sure to pack lots and lots of sunscreen. I learned this the hard way – unfortunately I’m heading home looking like a cooked lobster.
Paddleboard + Kayaking
We did this on one of our last days there, and it was super fun! The only thing to watch out for, though, is to make sure you go on a day where the tide’s not super high. The day we went, the waves were pretty choppy, so it was difficult to even try to stand. You have to make it out past the first sandbar, which is a pretty big feat in and of itself. We rented from a rental shop down the road, but I know LiveWell30A also rents these out. However, they do charge $95 per, whereas a lot of local places only charge $65-75.
Destin Excursions
There’s a ton to do in Destin, including fishing and parasailing! We did a deep sea fishing excursion for the boys, and it was a great time. We also did a parasailing morning in Miramar Beach. It was actually surprisingly more affordable than most parasailing excursions I’ve seen, so if you’ve been wanting to try parasailing, this is a good option.
Where to Get the Gram
There are SO many places to snap cute photos; as soon as you step onto 30A, the entire town is basically one big storybook.
Seaside Town Center Post Office: lots of people take photos here. I’m not exactly sure if it has any sort of significance, but it is darn cute!
The Pearl RB: perhaps the most IG worthy of them all! The property has the gorgeous black and white shades, and the entire area of Rosemary Beach has cobblestone, making it feel like a little town in Europe.
The BEACH! The water along 30A is unreal. Everything is this gorgeous shade of blue/green, and I’ve really only seen water similar to it on beaches outside of the country. Go at golden hour (right around 7pm) for some gorgeous shots with the white sand beach.
Seaside Pavilions: All along Seaside, there are these gorgeous pavilions that lead onto the beach. They’re all designed by different architects, and are beautiful and intricate.
Alys Beach: a ton of super cute beach homes, and the town is adorable as well.
30A looks so fabulous – and hard to believe it’s in the U.S.! Saving for a future trip! 😉 You look darling, too, Summer!