So many Florida locals recommended I visit 30A. After one trip, I agree it's one of the best destinations in the state.
"Have you made it over to 30A yet?" said my Lyft driver. "You've got to — it's the up-and-coming spot around here."
While purchasing tickets for the Shell Island Ferry, the cashier said, "Do you have plans to go over to 30A?" When I said no, she insisted I return to the area for a trip because it's just so beautiful.
I live in a different Florida beach town that often gets inundated with spring breakers and summer beachgoers, so I couldn't decide if Panama City Beach locals were trying to run tourists out of town, or if they really meant what they said about 30A.
Eager to find out, I planned a trip to Florida's 30A area — a 24-mile stretch of beach between Destin and Panama City Beach that's been called " the Hamptons of the South."
Turns out, those locals were right. I think 30A is one of the best gems in Florida, and I liked it even more than Panama City Beach.
30A is located between Panama City and Destin and is just close enough to states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana that it picks up lots of Southern influence.I ate some amazing comfort food and found Southern culinary delights like shrimp and grits and Nashville hot chicken on a lot of menus. I felt the Southern hospitality at these places, too.Even better, a lot of restaurants were located right on the beach. I enjoyed some amazing views while I ate, and one of my favorite spots was Bud and Alley's in 30A's Seaside. Its rooftop had the perfect view of the sunset.
The beaches along 30A felt pristine. Beaches along Florida's panhandle are known for their white sands and clear blue waters — the ones in 30A are no exception.The road is dotted with small beach towns and villages like Alys Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, and Rosemary Beach, each with its own beach-access points and powdery sand.I visited multiple during my visit, and each was postcard-perfect and among the most gorgeous beaches I've been to.
It's easy to hop from town to town and explore 30A. During my stay in 30A, I chose a rental property between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.Fortunately, the area is very bikeable, with ample spacious sidewalks and bike lanes throughout. Lots of condos or hotels here come with bicycles, plus there are many rental companies in the area.Often, I took a beach cruiser from my condo over to Rosemary Beach for coffee or a meal, or I'd bike down 30A and stop to explore each town.Since I also had a rental car, I drove to some of the farther-away-from-me spots, like Seaside and Santa Rosa Beach. Parking felt easy to find, and the area was simple to navigate by car with my phone's GPS system.
I loved Seaside, which had the vibe of an upscale beach town. In Seaside, I walked along Airstream Row, an outdoor line-up of travel trailers serving everything from crepes to gyros.Seaside is also home to adorable beach cottages and a large amphitheater performance area. Plus, cinema fans might also recognize it as the place where the 1998 movie "The Truman Show" was filmed.Rosemary Beach has a distinctly European vibe, with many cobblestone streets and Dutch-inspired architecture.Alys Beach seemed to have a Grecian style, with white, sun-washed buildings and homes. I loved the artsy vibes of Grayton Beach, too.
Visiting 30A's Alys Beach felt like stepping into the Mediterranean. If Seaside is a family-friendly-but-upscale beach town, Alys Beach is on the opposite end of the luxury vacation spectrum.This small community is filled with white-washed, stone vacation homes and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — it felt like a big resort.In fact, there's nothing comparable to Alys Beach in Florida that I've seen. Because of its stunning homes and high-end feel, Alys Beach feels like one of the least-accessible-to-the-public areas in 30A.I didn't spend much time here, especially because I saw so many residential streets with signs prohibiting the public from walking through or taking photos.If you're interested in vacationing in a more private area of 30A, though, Alys Beach is worth taking a look at.
Visit Rosemary Beach if you want to feel like you're in a cute, European town. I spent time in many beach towns along 30A, from Seaside to Grayton Beach, and was blown away by how unique each was, especially given how close together they all are. After an evening exploring Rosemary Beach, I found myself agreeing with the many TikTokers who compared the town to ones in Europe. But although the area was very pretty, it wouldn't top my list as the best 30A beach town. The nearby Seaside, for example, charmed me with its lineup of eateries along Airstream Row, impressive restaurants, and cute beach cottages. Grayton Beach also had wonderfully artsy vibes, and Alys Beach felt Grecian with its sun-washed buildings.I'd definitely return to Rosemary Beach to walk around and enjoy the sights — I just wouldn't plan my whole trip to 30A around it.
There are plenty of unique, smaller beach communities to explore along 30A, too. Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach are perhaps the most famous spots along 30A, but I was impressed with the lesser-known areas I visited, too, like Santa Rosa Beach.You truly could make an entire day out of exploring the tiny towns and communities that make up this beautiful part of Florida.
30A is home to lots of nature, including state parks and coastal dune lakes. In addition to beaches, shopping, and dining, 30A has lots of beautiful, natural landscapes to show off.I stopped by Eden Gardens during my visit — a 163-acre state park home to sweeping gardens, a bayou, plenty of walking trails, and centuries-old oak trees.The area also has a collection of coastal dune lakes, a rare saltwater and freshwater phenomenon that only exists in a few spots around the globe.
I can't wait to return to 30A, and think it's truly one of the most gorgeous destinations in Florida.
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