YOUR ULTIMATE 30A VACATION GUIDE
This guide features where to stay, what to do around town, and some of our favorite places along 30A. This will be your go-to resource for your 30A vacation or staycation!
Thank you so much to our Co-Title Sponsors for their support of this resource!
Heading to Destin? Click here for tips on that side of town!
WHERE TO STAY
Each beach town along 30A is unique. It is one of the coolest parts of the area! Here is a little bit about the vibe in each town.
Inlet Beach
Inlet Beach is on the far east end of 30A. It’s convenient because it’s a bit off the beaten path and on HWY 98. You will see new shops, restaurants, and still some cozy beach cottages.
Rosemary Beach
Rosemary Beach is like a little European town right here in Florida. Stunning architecture, family-friendly events, and great walking paths.
Seacrest Beach
Seacrest is eclectic and right next to Rosemary Beach. You will find fun shops and great restaurants!
Alys Beach
You will know you are in Alys Beach once you pass the iconic white pillars that flank both sides of the town. In Alys Beach you will find white architecture everywhere with fun pops of colors on shutters and doors. This is a truly elegant beach town!
Seagrove Beach
Seagrove sits next to Seaside and is filled with several popular spots to eat + shop.
Seaside
Seaside is the center of 30A and what most people think about when they think of 30A! It has the cutest town center with a photo worthy post office. You can walk the streets and see idyllic pastel beach cottages. You can even find the Truman Show house!
Watercolor
Watercolor is a high-end beach town next to Seaside. You will fall in love with the street lamp lined streets + boardwalks.
Grayton Beach
The most laid back beach town on 30A! Known for being pet friendly, having fun hand painted signs, and gorgeous dune lakes.
Blue Mountain Beach
This is on the west end of 30A. Blue Mountain Beach tends to be quieter which makes it popular for families. It has wide biking paths and great beach access points.
THINGS TO DO
VACAYZEN
Vacayzen is a luxury equipment rental company located in the heart of Santa Rosa Beach. Vacayzen has been servicing Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Panama City Beach for over 10 years. They have everything from bicycles and beach chair service, to golf carts, beach bonfires and everything in-between. Vacayzen also offers a wide-variety of equipment for your little ones. So long are the days of making sure you load the pac-n-play into the car, Vacayzen will deliver all of your equipment to your rental address the day you arrive, and pick it up after your departure. Vacayzen’s baby gear covers everything from cribs and pac-n-plays to jogging strollers, baby gates, and even car seats!
30A BOAT VALET
The experience we provide is unlike any other. We are a true luxury charter- not just your typical rental pontoon or pontoon rental with the captain (anyone can do that).
We are Luxury and convenience. Our pontoon boats are the most luxuriously appointed pontoons on the Emerald Coast, we offer convenient pickup for the 30A and Miramar Beach area, we are captained only with master-rated captains. We are the new way to charter a pontoon boat.
EVENTFULLY YOURS
From bachelorette parties to birthday parties and those special occasions in between, we want to help you make the most of your luxury picnic experience. Just choose your location and your desired theme, and we’ll take care of the rest!
PLACES TO EAT
PICKLE'S
Originally starting in only 48 square feet of space in 1993, Pickle’s has grown up, and is a favorite of the locals and tourists alike, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When Pickle’s first opened, the menu consisted of hotdogs, beer and, of course, pickles. Today the All American burger joint by the beach is known for it’s Housemade Pimento Cheese Burger, the Triple Decker Club Sandwich, Hand Cut Fries, Locally Sourced Ice Cream for Hand-spun Milkshakes and of course its Famous Fried Pickles!
Located right on the Seaside Central Square, Pickle’s offers some of the best people watching in town. Grab a spot under the shade from the trees to enjoy an ice cold bucket of beer and the soft Gulf breeze while you relax in the heart of 30A.
WILD BILL'S BEACH DOGS
Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs is a unique and cool Airstream trailer on Airstream Row in Seaside, Florida. Wild Bill’s faces 30A and serves up gourmet-American Wagyu all beef hotdogs on a toasted New England style bun.
Established in April 2011, Wild Bill’s has always offered an array of delicious dogs accompanied by Brauhaus jumbo soft pretzels, served up with your choice of queso, mustard or caramel sauce!
THE SHRIMP SHACK
The Shrimp Shack sits atop the natural, rolling Gulf dunes in Seaside, Florida, just waiting for you and your family to visit. You can dine outside under an umbrella-covered table facing 30A or go beachside and sit on the new Seaside boardwalk (Gracie’s Way); no doubt you’ll enjoy sparkling beach waves for an experience you’ll long remember.
Choose from fresh Steamed Gulf Shrimp by the pound or ice cold Gulf Oysters on the half shell. Our beloved Steamed Lobster Roll accompanied by a bottle or glass of wine from our ever-changing and impressive wine list is destined to be a most satisfying lunch or dinner. We love to feature our “made fresh daily” soup-of-the-day and frozen cocktails along with our gumbo bread bowl, they never disappoint!
IT'S HEAVENLY
Take a walk through Seaside, Florida until you see the bright blue awning and giant triple-scoop ice cream cone in front of It’s Heavenly! The central location in this breezy beach town makes it the perfect place to pop in on a bright, sunny day for something delightful.
Classic southern ice cream flavors, locally made Italian gelato and sorbet, house-made strawberry shortcakes and gourmet cookies from our friendly shop beckon a sweet tooth for miles. Cool off with a hand-spun milkshake of your flavor choice and enjoy its smooth, light texture topped with whipped cream and a cherry!
DAWSON'S YOGURT + FUDGEWORKS
More than a million satisfied customers have spread the word about our tantalizing treats since Dawson’s Yogurt opened its doors on July 4th, 1988. The most tempting tastes in specially formulated frozen yogurt, locally-sourced soft serve ice cream, ICEE’s , homemade fudge, your favorite fudge-dipped novelties and other sweet treats are waiting for you and your family at our confectionary corner nestled in the heart of Seaside, Florida.
PAZZO ITALIANO
We are …. two friends, two devoted family men, two restaurant lovers and now businessmen, that have been serving and delighting others for over 20+ years. We are excited to share with you our passion, our heart’s work: Pazzo Italiano.
Our menu has been carefully pieced together to bring you a combination of your favorite Italian staples, some more sophisticated flavors with a touch of fun and some new crazy combinations. We look forward to sharing our passion for taste and our love for service with you…
DOWN ISLAND
Down Island is one of our area’s few chef-owned and family-operated restaurants. It is the brainchild of Chef Brannon Janca, co-founder of Stinky’s Fish Camp. Down Island combines Chef Janca’s passion for modern-casual dining and Gulf South cuisine to create a fun, creative and inviting atmosphere. Our menu features elevated regional favorites, including wood-fired seafood and raw bar selections. Chef Janca’s wife is also a dietitian, so one can expect plenty of options for non-seafood lovers and accommodations for those with special diets and allergies, as well.
SERVICES TO KNOW ABOUT
THE GIRL WHO WANTS EVERYTHING
The Girl Who Wants Everything was created to curate a vacation experience like no other. We want our guests to focus on Sun Worshipping and not bothering with all the logistical details of their vacation.
In comes our group of Guest Liaisons.
We plan every detail of your days and nights on our beaches.
Bonfires
Beach Picnics
Backyard Movie Nights
Chef Prepared Meals
Daily Grocery Runs
and more!
BE MY SHOPPER
The Premier Grocery delivery service of Destin & 30A
Since 2012 we have been serving the grocery delivery needs of Destin & 30A guests. We pride ourselves on our level of service and attention to detail.
When you place your order with Be My Shopper you can be sure we will shop for and deliver your grocery order as if it were our own!
30APRON
In-house chef dinners. Stocking the fridge with menus for lunches and apps/snacks. Menus for lunch + snacks. Simple to reheat prepared dinners. Bonfire fare.
Traci Veno, founder, and owner can accommodate it all!
Also available are hot and freshly prepared dinners dropped off on your chosen night.
Connect with her to make food easy for your stay! (615) 579-2222
[email protected]
COLD TREATS
There are lots of delicious, cold treats to choose from along 30a! And truly, there isn’t much better than a cold treat after a long hot day at the beach. We compiled a list of our top cold treats on 30a for you…enjoy!
OUTDOOR DINING
When the weather is as beautiful as ours usually is, eating out is a must! We polled our amazing contributors on the best outdoor dining options in Destin/30A, and this is what they shared. There is something for everyone on this list: fancy, casual, kid friendly, and more!
THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY
A rainy day is always a bummer on your Destin or 30A vacation. Heck, it’s even a bummer for locals on a rainy weekend. But don’t fear, here are some of our favorite ways to spend a rainy day!
WHAT TO PACK : TIPS FROM LOCAL MOMS
Depending on the time of year that you are visiting, your packing plan will change. But here are some tips from local moms to help!
Pack layers! We are in the panhandle so it can be unpredictable weather, especially in the Winter/Spring. Oftentimes we have cooler mornings + evenings, but it can still get really warm during the day. So layers are smart.
If you are visiting in the Summer, prepare for rain. Most of the time it’s just for a short period during the day and then passes.
Pack some inexpensive sand toys or plan to grab some at a local shop.
Don’t forget sunscreen!
Not a packing tip, but if you are coming in the Winter or Spring… try to get an airbnb that gets you access to a heated pool. Although, let’s be serious… your kids will probably jump in even if it’s ice cold 
During the busy months (spring break, the summer, holidays), the beach can get really busy. Head to the beach in the morning and/or at dinnertime. It’s more family friendly at those times and can tend to be really busy mid-day.
PLACES TO EXPLORE
Here are some more of our favorite places to explore!
Breakfast
Coffee
Shops
Heading over to Destin? Here is a resource for that part of town!
FREE THINGS TO DO
Looking for some free things to do around 30a?? Maybe you are a local, maybe you come here every year, or maybe you are here visiting for the first time. Either way, it is always fun to find more things to do around town! Check out some of our favorite free things to do around 30a!
RED FLAG DAY TIPS
Red flag (and double red flag) days can throw a bit of a wrench in your beach plans during your Destin or 30A beach vacation. While they aren’t necessarily fun, they are definitely for your safety. So it’s important to follow the rules and we are here to help. Here are some ideas for things to do on a red flag day.
local events to know about
Every month we highlight local events in a round up on our site. We also share them weekly on our social media! Check them out on our Instagram.
