30A Travel Guide

30A is quickly becoming one of my favorite beach destinations in the US– it’s towns are charming, the beaches are stunning & there is so much to do there! I’m breaking down what we’ve learned during our stays in today’s 30A Travel Guide.

Happy Thursday y’all! This was a highly requested post after last months trip to 30A, & I cannot wait to share all about our trip with y’all. I’m including where we stayed, where we ate, my favorite shops & more!

If you’re not familiar with the “30A” area, 30A is a state road, stretching 20 miles along the panhandle of Florida & the gulf coast. It runs between Destin & Panama, & along the highway there are countless little towns all of which have their own feel & features.

30A Travel Guide:

Where to Stay in 30A:

• The Pearl: If you’re visiting with your significant other, or one other couple, I’d absolutely recommend staying at The Pearl. This charming boutique hotel is located in Rosemary Beach along 30A, and is such a lovely hotel. We spent the first few nights of our stay at The Pearl, and had the best time. The service was top notch & the location cannot be beat. Just FYI:: it’s “adult oriented” hotel & the pool is adults only, so I’d definitely recommend leaving this for a trip without kiddos.
• Rent a house through 360Blue in Watercolor: We’ve done this twice with Tyler’s family & have loved it. The rental company has countless beautiful properties all along the gulf coast. You can search by location & size, which is super helpful. I highly, highly recommend renting in the “Watercolor” area. The amenities that come with the homes in Watercolor are hard to beat. You get access to several pools, one of which is the “Beach Club”. This was mine & Tyler’s fav, it’s right on the beach, has 3 different pools, with a few bars & lunch service. If you’re looking for something more kid friendly, then Camp Watercolor will be your best bet. Our niece & nephew loved going here for their water slides, lazy river & zero entry pools.

What to do in 30A:

• Beach it: I’ve never seen more beautiful beaches in the US. The water can be crystal clear at times, to the point where you can see your toes! And the white sandy beaches are just beautiful.
• Shopping: Each beach town has it’s own shops, and are so fun to explore. My favs I’ve found: Parish + Ex Voto & Willow (the Inlet beach location is the best IMO).
• Go to The Hub: This fun development has a little bit of everything– shopping, restaurants & daily events (including live music, kids activities & more).
• Have a bonfire on the beach: We haven’t done this yet, but we saw several bonfire set ups over the week & I thought it looked so fun!
• Bike along 30A: I made Tyler bike from Watercolor to Aly Beach one morning… We could hardly walk the next morning, so I wouldn’t recommend such a long trek, but we made the most of it! HA!
• Explore all the little areas along 30A: our favs– Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside.

Where to eat & drink in 30A:

• George’s: A charming little spot in Alys Beach. There is typically a wait, so grab a drink at Neat while you wait & stroll through the streets of Alys Beach. The food was so good & worth the wait.
• Raw & Juicy: This is a healthy little spot in Alys Beach. We enjoyed their smoothies one morning. If you’re in the area it’s worth a pit stop.
• Amavida: We grabbed coffee here every morning we stayed at The Pearl! It was so so good & their pastries were so yummy. They also have a location in Seaside.
• The Citizen: This is a new restaurant to the Alys Beach area & it so gorgeous! It gives me Charleston vibes. We enjoyed a date night here one night & everything we had was delicious. Highly recommend.
• Havana Bar & Grill: This is the restaurant located at The Pearl. We did dinner here our first night we stayed at the hotel & enjoyed it! The had an adorable patio too.
• The Pearl Rooftop: We snagged drinks here before dinner downstairs at Havana & loved it. The ambiance was amazing & they had a small menu of light bites to munch on.
• La Crema: Everyone raves about this tapas restaurant! We snagged lunch here one day & it did not disappoint. My favs: the empanadas & the stuffed mushrooms.
• FOOW: Another spot people always recommend visiting in 30A. This restaurant looks out over the water on Watercolor beach. Honestly, I wasn’t all that impressed with the food, but the view was amazing.
• Wine World: This place is great for some wine & cheese plates! We never have a full meal here, but I heard their full menu is yummy as well.
• Scratch Kitchen: Omg, get biscuits from here one morning!! They were so darn good. They have some crazy offerings & breakfast here was such a treat.
• Cowboy Kitchen: Another breakfast joint that was so good! Their menu is simple, but amazing. Give me a breakfast burrito any day. They have two locations, & their Rosemary Beach location also serves dinner that looked so good.
• La Caco: I am always feeling mexican, and if you’re in need of a queso fix this place is great! Good food & good drinks!
• The Perfect Pig: We ordered takeout from here one night & it was good! The fellas raved about their burger & fries!
• The Airstreams in Seaside: While I wouldn’t say this was even close to our best meal of the trip, it was a fun thing to do one evening.

That’s a wrap on my 30A Travel Guide! If you have any favorites I didn’t touch on, let me know in the comments!

What I packed for the beach– 30A Travel Guide edition: