My 30A Travel Guide is here! We just got back from a fun vacation in 30A! I had never been to 30A before but had always heard such great things. If you have no idea what I am talking about, 30A is a stretch of beach in Florida that is super popular and famous for the cute little towns, fun food, white sands & clear water! We stayed in the little town called Santa Rosa Beach.
Where to Stay
When it comes to beach towns, staying at a normal Hotel/Resort isn’t as popular as something like Hawaii. Most people rent out condos, houses, or townhomes. Here is the best site to book your stay! We stayed at a friend’s place that is available to rent! Most of these homes are within walking distance to the beach. The house we stayed at even gave you a FREE umbrella and a set of 2 beach chairs for when you go to the beach. All you had to do was say your house name. This is super awesome if you are flying into 30A or you don’t own a beach umbrella.
The place we stayed at also had a pool and a hot tub for the community of houses it was in. This was great for when we got tired of the sand but still wanted to enjoy the sunshine! There are so many great houses for rent that you can totally find something perfect for you and your family.
What to Do
As far as activities go, of course going to the beach is the number one thing! The sand is so soft and the water is crystal clear!! The beaches weren’t too busy, so that was a major plus, too! Some houses that you rent out also have access to the “private” part of the beach, so it is even more roomy!
If you get tired of the beach, there are still some activities to do! We went to the pool a lot and I went on long walks in the morning. My husband went golfing and fishing on a boat, so if that is more your speed you can definitely do that!
There are some shopping centers too, like Seagrove where you can just walk around, go to food trucks, and relax! Andrew and I went here on the first full day we were there and it was super fun and pretty. We ate at this fun taco bar called Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar which is right on the square! Super good fish tacos and margaritas!!
Where to Eat
I love trying to new restaurants, especially on vacation. There are so many great spots to choose from in 30A that it can be slightly overwhelming. A lot of places are super overpriced too…. so watch out!
We loved Shunk Gulley, which is a fun restaurant with a bar and live music. There is a top floor, too, which is super cool with a great view! We would stop here a lot for a quick bite for lunch or drinks before dinner. My favorite drink was the Shunk Juice. Get it!
The Perfect Pig Bar & Grill was an adorable and yummy place we went for Brunch. Great Mimosas and tasty breakfast! I got an omelet and it was perfect. The staff was super friendly, too, making it a really fun experience. This is also right next to some cute little shops, so after brunch you could totally shop around!
The most talked about beach in 30A is definitely Alys Beach. Everyone told me to go there! To be honest, there wasn’t a ton of things to do there…but it sure was pretty. It is a newer community with a lot of construction still, but it is so aesthetically pleasing. There were a couple places to shop, but I think most people go there for food and to take pictures. We ate at this amazing restaurant called George’s and the Lobster Quesadilla was amazing. Super good food, friendly staff, and a great environment.
On the last night we were there, we ate at the famous Red Bar. This place is a MUST if you are going to 30A! The restaurant has so much character and the food is super good. We even got to meet the owner and his story is amazing. After we ate, we were able to walk out to the beach right behind it and see the sun set. Perfect evening! Andrew even caught a crab!!
Coffee & Small Bites
Y’all know I love my coffee! We went to this coffee bar called Kith & Kin. Pretty good coffee and a cozy little coffee shop. There were lots of lawn activities out front, too, so this would be a great spot to hang out at. We also went to Sunrise Coffee next to Shunk Gulley. Honestly, the coffee was okay but the Cinnamon rolls are heavenly.
On one of my walks, I stopped by the Blue Mountain Bakery and grabbed a donut. SO GOOD and so fun to bring that to the beach and listen to the waves as I ate my donut…haha. This was on a day where Andrew was golfing, so I had the whole morning to myself and I wanted to make it fun.
Tips
Overall, 30A was super fun! It was beautiful and there are a lot of fun places to eat at. Here are a few tips that helped me plan this trip and that I would tell anyone wanting to go!
- Bring an umbrella! You can totally rent them, but that adds up and is also not guaranteed. I got this super cute one from Target for $60 and I’m so thankful I did.
- Pack all the sunscreen. Prices in 30A are more expensive, so don’t wait to get there to pack the essentials. Also, there is nothing worse than a sunburn when you are trying to have a beach day!
- Don’t bring heat tools. There is truly no point. I brought a curling iron and never used it. Beach hair it is!
- Pack a lot of swimsuits. I think I packed 6!
- Bring your own drinks. Like I said, everything is overpriced there. If you are driving, I definitely suggest packing up your car with your favorite drinks of choice!
- Wear flats. There aren’t a ton of “fancy” restaurants, and most people wear flip flops. Additionally, most places just have gravel….which is hard to walk on with heels!
