Last summer, Kerry and I got to live in 30A for 7 months while we were working remotely and it was quite literally a summer dream come true. We got explore all of the cute little beach towns along 30A and eat our way through the best seafood. A lot of you all have asked me some of my favorite places to eat, stay, beach, or things to do so I wanted to put it all here in one place! Here is your 30A travel guide from a former 30A local 🙂

The name “30A” comes from the actual name of the highway along all of the beach towns – County Road 30A – in South Walton County, FL. There are 16 charming beach towns along 30A, hence the apt response of using this quick name instead.

Hopefully, this guide can help you plan your trip to 30A Florida. The Gulf Coast of Florida is truly a magical place and it is unlike any other beach town I’ve ever visited in the U.S.! The county regulates everything pretty strictly to keep its small-town charm. For example, no drive-through businesses (Starbucks was denied), beach bars, or high-rises are allowed. That’s what keeps 30A a special place!

WHERE TO STAY

My favorite parts of town are Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, Alys Beach, Seaside (during slow season), and Watercolor. There are tons of rental properties along the coast that typically come equipped with bikes and golf carts to get around. Personally, we like to enjoy the cuisine and plan to eat out most of the time we’re there, so Rosemary Beach would be my preferred area because they have some of the best restaurants and shops – plus great beach accesses as well.

If you’re looking for more of a resort-style stay, Watercolor has a great beachfront resort that is fully loaded with great food and a wonderful bar.

**One thing to note… Seaside can become overcrowded with families (and lots of wild teenagers) in the peak summer seasons, so during that time I would try to veer away from staying there. It’s great to pop in but not enjoyable to stay there throughout those months. It was important for me to be transparent on this 30A travel guide so that you’re aware!

WHERE TO EAT

I am a major foodie, so whenever I am visiting (or living) somewhere, the food choices are very important to me. After eating my way through 30A for 7 months, these are my tried and true foodie-approved spots.

Morning

• Black Bear Bread Co, Grayton Beach, Seaside – Don’t sleep on this yummy coffee spot – some of the best pastries and drinks I’ve ever had!

• Raw & Juicy, Alys Beach – Very instagrammable and ~aesthetic~ with freshly made juices, smoothies, and acaî bowls to fuel you for the day.

• Holiday Café, Alys Beach – New-to-town and in the heart of Alys – great coffee and serves wine as well!

• Charlie’s Café, Rosemary Beach – Tons of different pastries to choose from, and makes great coffee
• Amavida, Rosemary Beach & Seaside – Yummy coffee and pastries in the main shopping centers
• Beachy Bean, Seagrove – Cutest coffee shop with great views of the dunes and ample seating outside and inside
• The Perfect Pig, Seagrove – Great spot for a sit-down brunch!!

Afternoon/Night

• La Crema, Rosemary Beach – If I could eat at one place for the rest of my life, it would be here. Everything is spectacular and will send fireworks in your mouth. Pro tip: Get the scallops and blue crab wontons. They will change your life. This is my top recommendation for my 30A travel guide.

• Bud and Alley’s, Seaside – Their gumbo is top 3 with the best I’ve ever had. You can’t beat their ocean views on the patio either!

• Amigos, Rosemary Beach – Great Mexican food! Amazing queso, tacos, street corn, you name it.
• Pescado, Rosemary Beach – Drool worthy seafood and ocean views
• Blue Mabel, Blue Mountain Beach – Their seafood is amazing but their burgers are even better!! THey also do a great brunch
• The Citizen, Alys Beach – The ambiance here is as incredible as the food. A little more fancy (the Alys way) but a great spot
• Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar, Ed Walline – The seafood here is caught fresh daily and everything is so so good! Don’t skip the beignet fries
• Farm & Fire, Santa Rosa Beach (off 30A) – This is a bit off the beaten path but they have a great backyard equipped with beach volleyball + games facing the water. The best pizza in 30A!
• Georges, Alys Beach – Wonderful spot and even better food. Their dessert is also amazing!
• Old Florida Fish House, Seagrove – This place at night turns into a twinkly light oasis. Their food is so fresh and has a wide variety of options! From sushi, to steak, to oysters..

Drinks

• Pescado, Rosemary Beach – The BEST spot for pre-dinner drinks. They have the best view in all of 30A and have a great cocktail menu!
• Havana Beach Club, Rosemary Beach – Delicious cocktails. They always have live music so the vibes are immaculate!!
• Gallion’s, Rosemary Beach – Very cute spot for cocktails and appetizers
• Neat, Alys Beach – If you or the men in your life love bourbon, this is the place to go!

Dessert

• La Crema, Rosemary Beach – The perfect desert night cap! Chocolate fondue, cookies, etc. Plus it’s in the cutest place in Rosemary!
• Kilwins, Rosemary Beach – Grab and go spot for ice-cream and candy

THINGS TO DO

Aside from soaking up the sun or eating delicious seafood, 30A has a ton of activities to do for the whole family!

Beach Bonfire

It is a 30A rite of passage to partake in a beach bonfire. Make sure to bring s’mores and food to snack on!

I recommend going through your resort or booking with 30A Blaze Bonfires

Rent kayak’s or paddle boards

This is such a fun thing to do with the family or even solo! I love paddle boarding on the dune lake in Grayton beach that goes out into the ocean.

Rent Bikes

You will see tons of people biking all around town!! This is one of the main ways tourists get around and hop to different beach towns along 30A.

I recommend booking with Salt Air

Shopping

One of our favorite things to do is pop into all of the different boutiques in each town!

A few of my favorite spots are: 30Avenue, Shops in Rosemary (Willow Boutique, Ex Voto, Disco), Shops in Alys (Parasol, Alys Shop), Shops at The Hub, Shops in Watercolor

The Hub

This is a great place that comes to life at night with live music and so many walk-up food spots to choose from! It is very family friendly and there will be plenty of kids running around on the green! Plus, they have a jumbotron for all of the sports lovers out there.

Farmers Markets

What better way to shop local than to get homemade goodies at the local farmers markets! Every Sunday, Rosemary and Seaside do their markets.

Rosemary Farmers Market

Seaside Farmers market

We loved living in 30A and can’t wait to keep visiting to make more memories in the future! I hope this 30A travel guide featuring the best of this ever-so-popular beach destination gave you some recommendations for your trip! I would love to hear about your 30A experience and what your favorite spots are below!