Family Fun in 30A

Spring break this year brought us to Florida. But not the Florida that most of us Northeasterners have heard about. A part of Florida that the South has basically been keeping a secret from the rest of us and for good reason. 30A is along Florida’s Gulf Coast between Destin and Panama City Beach. It is a series of beach towns that have been expertly planned and built within the last twenty years. Each town offers a different vibe and all are family-friendly. We loved exploring this new-to-us area and now we get the hype! Here are some of our favorite things to do from our spring break trip to 30A.

Where to Stay:

We booked an Airbnb in Prominence, which is a community between Seacrest and Seaside. The community we stayed in had an amazing pool and our home came with access to bikes, a golf cart, and beach amenities. The best part about where we stayed was being right across the street from The Hub, an outdoor area with restaurants, shops, live music, DJ events, family movie nights, and a great coffee shop called Nectar. Although we loved this area, we would recommend staying somewhere closer to beach access. We had to either drive or take the golf cart to get to the beach from our home and we would’ve preferred being able to walk. We recommend staying in Seaside, Watercolor, or Rosemary beach to have easier access to the beach while also being in one of the other super family-friendly towns.

What to Do:

30A is known for the many towns that encompass the 24-mile stretch of scenic highway. One of our favorite things to do, while we were there, was driving, or taking the golf cart, to visit each of the towns with their own unique personalities. Here is a list of the towns we visited and what we loved about each:

Seaside was developed as a “New Urbanist” design with pastel-colored houses and a bustling town center. The town center includes food trucks, a big lawn for kids to play where they offer live music and events, many local shops and businesses, and great restaurants. Seaside is one of the busier towns and is more widely known, especially since the late 90s movie, “The Truman Show” was filmed there. We loved Seaside for its many food options, including Crepes de Soleil, Pickles Burgers and Shakes, and The Meltdown. For shopping, my younger son (age 9) loved Duckies Shop of Fun, and my older son (age 11) and my husband loved Central Square Records. I loved Seaside Style and Cabana Seaside for awesome clothes, gifts, and jewelry.

Alys Beach was by far my favorite town. Walking down the streets in this idyllic town transforms you into the streets of Greece with the all-white buildings and beautiful architecture. My favorite thing to do while in Alys beach was just to walk around the cobblestoned streets and marvel at the architecture and outdoor inspiration from each home. If you need a break, grab a smoothie or matcha latte at Raw and Juicy or grab a late lunch at George’s patio, which is a great family-friendly find.

Rosemary Beach has some great outdoor restaurants and fun family activities. The farmers market is open on Sundays from 9-1 and offers amazing vendors serving all kinds of fresh foods including gluten-free and vegan options. The shopping in Rosemary Beach is also great with shops for everyone including Willow for beautiful dresses, Faherty for menswear, and The Sugar Shak for candy and gifts for kids. We loved having lunch right on the sidewalk at Cowgirl Kitchen with a view of the Pearl Hotel and people watching including many “Influencers in the Wild” sightings!

Besides the beaches, there are many other activities to enjoy while staying in 30A. We took advantage of the location to search for alligators, by going on the Wild Thang Open Airboat Alligator Tour. This was a fun experience for all, just being out on the water and viewing the wildlife. We didn’t see any alligators, but we did see Dolphins and got to hold a baby alligator after the tour. There are also daily boat trips out of Panama City Beach or Destin and local companies to rent Stand Up Paddle Boards and kayaks. In addition, there are a number of bike trails and scenic parks to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

The Beaches:

The main attraction in 30A are the beaches. Gulf coast beaches cannot be beaten with the powdery soft white sand and crisp, green water. Each beach offers something different. We started at Walton Dunes, which was quiet and easy to access from our rental. We also ventured to Inlet Beach and Santa Clara but our favorite by far was Grayton Beach. The entire vibe of Grayton Beach is laid back and artistic. The streets are covered in paintings and artwork from local artists. The quiet, artsy vibe is so enticing and the beach is gorgeous. The best part of the beach was that there was a dune lake created by the nearby lake and the wind off the dunes. It’s like having a warm, kiddie pool right on the beach! It’s a fun place for kids to search for sand crabs and fish and take a break from the waves in the ocean. Grayton also has some great dining options but our favorite was the local favorite Red Bar. With their tasty Bloody Marys and options for the kids, we enjoyed an outdoor lunch before heading to the beach. The indoor decor of Red Bar is an attraction in itself, with vintage license plates and collectibles strewn around the entire restaurant. It was such a great start to a fun day of beach hopping and art viewing. Grayton Beach is a must-see while visiting 30A.

All in all, 30A is an excellent family-friendly destination. It’s different from other parts of Florida and really does feel like you are somewhere else. The hospitality of the people in 30A was also a factor to making our stay so enjoyable. Southern charm at its finest at all of the local spots during our visit. We will be planning a return trip to 30A and hope to bring friends next time so that our kids can share the experience with our friends and the parents can enjoy some adult time as well.

Our Favorites in 30A:

Beach: Grayton Beach State Park

Dinner: The Perfect Pig (Watercolor), the best meal we had on 30A

Lunch Spot: Red Bar

Bloody Mary: Cowgirl Kitchen (Rosemary Beach)

Dessert: Crepes du Soleil or Shakes at Pickles (Seaside)

Smoothie: Raw and Juicy (Alys Beach)

Coffee: Nectar at The Hub (Prominence)

Day Activity: Wild Thang Alligator Tour

Shopping: Rosemary Beach

Have any questions about our visit to 30A? Leave them in the comments and I’ll be sure to respond!