As many of you may have already gathered we are a beach loving family! As far back in my childhood as I can remember, a majority of family vacations were always spent along some part of Florida’s coast. Whether it was far south in West Palm Beach or further up the coastline, the sunshine state has always been our go to vacation destination. That tradition quickly carried its self into our marriage early on and we have always made an effort to visit the Florida coast at least once a year. Our love for the Gulf Coast was instant, and we have been vacationing there ever since! The crystal clear waters, the white soft sand, and the amazing sunrises and sunsets draw you in and make you want to stay forever!
If you are not familiar with 30A, it is a small coastal highway that runs along Florida’s panhandle. There are beach towns all along this highway and each one of them is just as charming, and unique as the next. Shopping, amazing restaurants, beautiful architecture, art shops, ice cream shops, food trucks, resort style condos, and gorgeous beach homes are just a few things each town has to offer.
Our Favorite Areas
I can honestly say that I love every town along 30A and have stayed in almost every one of them at some point. For now I will touch on a few of my favorites:
Watercolor – one of the most charming beachside neighborhoods along 30A. It is filled with idyllic homes and tree shaded streets. Sparkly street lights in the evening, gas lanterns and huge rocking chair front porches are just a few of my favorite things. Family’s on bicycle rides, early morning joggers, and people walking dogs are common sites. Beautiful neighborhood amenities, playgrounds and amazing restaurants within a short golf cart ride are common place. This town is filled with gorgeous rental homes perfect for large family or friend gatherings. The neighborhoods are surrounded by nature trails and preserved state parks and forests perfect for exploring. For all your booking needs I highly recommend using 360 Blue . Their rental homes are some of the most beautiful and comfortable homes I have ever stayed in.
Seaside – A quaint little beach side town where everything is within walking distance. Gorgeous beach homes, cottages, white picket fences, ice cream shops, the town book store, clothing boutiques, and cobblestone streets are a few of my favorite things. If your looking for some good food you definitely want to check out the row of airstream food trucks along the town square. The Meltdown on 30A for the best grilled cheese, Barefoot BBQ and Five Daughters Bakery are some of our favorites. For some of the best sunset dinner views, Bud & Alleys Rooftop offers great food and atmosphere. Great Southern Cafe, and the Pizza Bar are also some of our favorite restaurants in town. Make sure you check out the sunset from the Seaside Pavilion and don’t miss out on an afternoon stroll through the art district. The Seaside Amphitheater is also a great spot for family’s to grab a blanket, have a picnic and watch a movie under the stars.
Town Post Office 
Modeca Market 
The Market 
Sundog Books 
Art District 
Rosemary/Alys beach – This is where we spent our family vacation last summer. The town is filled with buildings reminiscent of old european architecture. We were able to walk or ride bicycles to the beach, restaurants, and shopping. There are plenty of options for your stay, from family friendly condos, beautiful homes or the famous Pearl Hotel.
We loved being able to go for an afternoon bicycle ride to Alys Beach, or exploring the neighborhood of gorgeous homes. Exploring all the clothing boutiques, gift stores, restaurants, and wine bars was also a lot of fun! One of our favorite spots for ice cream is The Sugar Shak
The Rosemary Beach Farmers Market every Sunday morning is also so much fun. Renting bicycles is definitely a must while visiting this beachside town!
Seagrove Beach – This is a town we have stayed in many times and have always come back too. Its a quiet little area of 30A mostly composed of beach rental homes and some condos. It is conveniently situated between Alys Beach and Watercolor/Seaside. Our all time favorite restaurant, Cafe 30A is located in Seagrove Beach as well. I highly recommend dining here at least once during your stay. It is reservation only so make sure you plan this one in advance especially during peak seasons. Another one of our favorite restaurants is 723 Whiskey Bravo.
After all these years of vacationing on 30A there is still so much for our family to explore. I promise the crystal clear waters of the Gulf will keep you coming back for more every chance you get!
I am so excited about all our beach home projects along 30A and I can’t wait to get to share them with you all!