30A’s Best Travel Guide
Appropriately nicknamed the “Emerald Coast” for its turquoise waters, there’s a 100 mile stretch of coastline nestled along the Florida panhandle that truly is a gem. 30A has a group of darling towns lining the scenic highway, each with its own, unique vibe. A short drive or bike pedal away from each other, the combination of each towns’ flare is what makes a 30A vacation unlike any other. While each one is a must visit on your trip, in this humble traveler’s opinion, there’s no better place to stay than in Rosemary Beach.
While my travels may not have brought me to every U.S. beach town (yet), I’m willing to bet Rosemary is undoubtedly the most idyllic beach town in the country. It’s charming, sophisticated, & architecturally beautiful while still being relaxed & playful. As a girl rooted in Florida & now living in the heart of southern charm, it’s no wonder this town resonates with me, as I can best describe it as if Key West & Savannah had a baby. If that’s not enough to get the travel bug biting, read on to see all this town & 30A have to offer with my list of recs on where to stay & what to do, see, & of course…eat. In fact, the food scene is so hot here that I had to give it its own post here at “30A’s Food Guide.” Definitely check it out & be sure to make your reservations prior to your trip! Paradise is found in this lively corner of the Gulf Coast with its brilliant, white sand beaches & crystal waters. A place where everyone stops to watch the sunset, cuisine comes straight from the coast, & cocktails are served at every meal.
So let’s dive in! First things first…Where To Stay:
Rent a cottage:
Rosemary Beach is the first along scenic highway 30A & is hands down, my favorite place to stay. Located at the tail-end of 30A’s east side, Rosemary Beach welcomes you with two rows of stately oaks as you drive in under a canopy of shade. Cobblestone streets lined with glorious, southern style, beach homes & shared with the occasional procession of beachgoers, their picnic lunch & tiny bottles of bubbly resting in bicycle baskets alongside them. Ice cream shops & specialty boutiques grace every corner of this five pool community, & the grand, New Orleans style homes & carriage houses are straight out of a Southern Living magazine…literally. Many of these architectural beauties have been featured in a variety of magazines, & you can make one of them your home away from home for the course of your trip!
There’s no better place to book than Rosemary Beach-Est.1995. They have the largest selection of rental proprieties in the area so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether it be a romantic carriage house for two, a bachelorette pad complete with posh fixtures & a plunge pool, or just a homey feeling space with a full kitchen & long enough table for the whole family. Most of their rentals even include free bikes to get around town, an added bonus & cost saver since you’ll definitely want them! We stayed at several of their proprieties, with the two below being our favorite. Click the links to book.
Southpoint carriage house (one king, & bunk space sleeps 4)- Favorite for just us & the kids
Beacon on the beach (great 3bed house, sleeps 8)- ideal for when the grandparents met us
Hemingway Cottage (ocean front, 3bed sleeps 8)- haven’t stayed, but already booked for next time
Sandpiper Carriage House (2bed & bunk space sleeps 6)- If you’re on a tight budget & plan to spend the majority of your time out of the house, this a great option. The living space is EXTREMELY small, & if you have more than 4ppl here everyone’s stuff will be under your feet. However, its cute, in a prime spot, & a great price!
A remarkable, award-winning, boutique hotel on main street with ALL the best views. The Pearl offers rooms overlooking the ocean, the green, the shops & cafes of main street, or their European inspired courtyard complete with a bougee pool circled by a frenzy of bright, yellow umbrellas. First class service & drool worthy architecture make this place feel sophisticated, but with a laidback sort of southern charm. Welcome glasses of bubbly, accommodating staff, & plenty of complimentary snacks & drinks in the room are just a few lovely extras you’ll find. Everything about The Pearl exudes luxury, & it’s the epitome of romance for a lover’s getaway if you can swing it…
It’s no surprise this experience of excellence comes with a side of sticker shock, but if you feel you deserve a little indulgence (pause to think back on all the diaper blowouts, the tears shed over hours of homework (yours & your kids if your me), the laundry you folded & kindly asked your family members to put away nine times before erupting into psycho mom, the pancake breakfasts you made over the guilt of being psycho mom, the times you bit your tongue on correcting your boss, & an entire soccer season that left you in a layer of bug bites & sunburnt)…I can assure you it’s worth the price tag…at least for a night or two.
We like to splurge a little where we can on vacation so one or two nights here is perfect for us before switching to a more economical & family friendly place when the kids arrive. It’s nice to be spoiled in service a little, but there’s also much to be said about cooking a fancy dinner together in a tiny but stylish carriage house with our farmers market goodies. So, there’s really no way to go wrong no matter where you choose to stay in Rosemary Beach. The rooftop lounge is also open to the public for drinks, so you can still get a taste of the visual treat even if you opt for a different stay.
So we didn’t actually stay here, but I heard wonderful reviews, & the Villas at Seacrest are a very affordable option to be at the doorstep of Rosemary without the financial splurge. Despite its name, this neighborhood of cottages is actually much closer to Rosemary Beach than Seacrest Beach. A five minute bike ride for a third of the price at Rosemary. It’s also right on top of Peddlers Pavilion, so there’s tons of dining, shopping & entertainment of its own in this area.
Things To Do & See:
As you drive west on 30a, you’ll pass Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest Beach, then Seaside, & they’re all worth a stop!
First thing to see…the sea!
Hopefully heading to the beach goes without saying, but in case you need convincing…Rosemary Beach is truly a treat to all the senses. Ever heard the term powder sugar sand? Yea I had too, but it never resonated till I walked across Rosemary on quite frankly, the softest sand of all time! Stark white sands meet an ocean of crystal clear, turquois water that was just the right temperature over our spring visit. Our favorite part of the day was waking up early, making a cup of coffee & walking to the beach in time to catch the sunrise-highly recommend.
You can choose to lug your crap or opt for renting chairs & an umbrella here like our lazy butts, because nothing says “vacation” like $70 to have two free hands for pinas coladas & a reserved, primo beach spot from sunup to sundown, okay just till 5pm when they start packing up, but you get the idea.
If you do plan on renting, reserve online through the link above or get in line as early as you can, turns out there’s a lot of lazy people on vacation.
Also note that access to Rosemary Beach requires a code to enter & exit the beach; the place you’re staying should provide an access code for the beach & other community amenities.
The Pools:
When you grow tired of the beach or just the having sand in all the wrong places thing, take a walk to any one the communities five dreamy pools! As much as I love the beach, these pools may have converted me to a full on pool kind of girl over the course of our trip. The Barbados pool is located on the Southwest side of the community & has a small children’s pool & lots of shade. It was such a cute spot surrounded by quaint, little carriage houses & tall pines.
The Cabana pool is located in the Northwest quadrant of the community, & gets its name from the most adorable collection of “old Hollywood” style cabanas surrounding the deck. It was a personal favorite for me, but fyi if you have non swimmers- almost the entire pool is over 4ft deep. There’s also sweet, little playground attached.
The Coquina pool, located in the Southeast quadrant, was the most family friendly while we were there. Always a game of catch across the pool happening here, gangs of giggling, mermaid tailed girls sprawled over pool steps, & high waisted swim bottomed moms periodically hollering for sunscreen reapplication & enlisting the help of koozie handed dads when no kids emerge from pool. It’s a vibe. A weird one, but it’s the season I’m in & if you are too, I’ll meet you there with a cooler of clean crafted wine, & a bag of snacks to trade-because this is motherhood & none of our kids will eat the ones we brought, but want their friends. Seriously though, this pool was great because there were tons of kids for our kids to play with, & the aesthetic was beautiful to boot-Santorini vibes all the way here.
The newest pool is adult only & on the Northeast Corner of the community. It has a unique design, outdoor fireplace, oversized cabanas & extra plush lounge chairs. There’s a large bar area & even an upstairs & downstairs dining space. An amphitheater sits out front for special events, & there was a gorgeous wedding taking place on the green out front the day we arrived.
Lastly, the sky pool is an indoor pool, & the only one we didn’t visit. Most of the year, you’d be crazy to want to be indoors here, but if you find yourself visiting in a cooler month, I imagine this would be a great ammenity.
Just like the beaches, all Rosemary community pools are for owners & guests & are only accessible by code or key card.
The green:
At the very tip of Main Street is a large, open, green space so pretty it basically demands you park your bike & pull out that summer read you spent 45mins deciding on at Barnes & Noble the week before (just me?) Anyhow, it’s darling & invites lovers to picnic, kids to run & play, & maybe fight over a broken frisbee (just my kids?) Anyhow, depending on the night, you may find live music, balloon-making artists, or even a blow-up movie screen taking over the square. There are a few other green spaces around the community that feature events as well. While we were there a group of performers were acting out “Little Red Riding Hood” in one of them. The place you’re staying should give you the week’s lineup of local events so you don’t miss anything.
Santorini…I mean, Alys Beach:
Truly though, one walk around the architecturally brilliant, Alys Beach, & you’ll think you hoped a jet to the famed, Greek Islands rather than a gold fish covered SUV to the FL panhandle. Imagine a Caribbean-style beach backdrop with waves of dramatically curved, white stucco & angled rooftops lapping against each other to create the most visually appetizing beach town in America. Just a few pedals on your pastel, basket adorned bike, Alys Beach is the closest sister to Rosemary. A premier, luxury beach town paved in cobblestone & dripping with ivy, it’s a visual treat to even the most accomplished traveler. I recommend getting your exploring in a bit before the restaurants open, when the town is a little sleepier & it’s easier to soak in the beauty of ornate mansions & pops of vibrant flowers on the sea of white stucco.
30A Farmer’s Market:
Every Sunday from 9am-1pm, the 30a Farmer’s Market comes to Rosemary Beach, & you’ll definitely want to be in attendance (coffee in hand, of course). On the grassy knoll of 28 N. Barrett Square, you’ll shop a variety of local, craft vendors, nibble scrumptious, homemade pastries, & maybe even overpay for some all-natural sunscreen, if you’re like me & forgot yours (no problem remembering my 13 headbands & 27 bracelets though.) My husband & I really enjoy cooking together, so we picked up some local catch, grass-fed beef, & beautiful produce to make a meal back at the cottage with a bottle of Scout & Cellar. Slightly cheaper than going out & lovely bonding time before a nighttime stroll on Main Street for dessert out.
The Hub:
One of the coolest hangout spots in 30a full of food, shopping, & well, fun. A food court feel with multiple good eatin’ options surround a large green, play area with a stage & movie screen at end. The Hub is a great place to let loose, kids & adults alike. I recommend hitting this place the same day you do Seaside, because you’ll drive right by it on the way. Check the events calendar here to see what’s happening while you’re in town.
Okay, I’ll admit this one comes with a price tag, but it’s an experience well worth the splurge. If you’re lucky enough to be in town with a group this can be a much more affordable evening, but if not & you can swing the cost, it’s a pretty special experience for the soul & photo albums. There’s just something nostalgic & kind of magical about a bonfire that ignites more than some dried wood. Add the sound of crashing waves to a crackling fire & a cool breeze, & it’s pretty picture perfect. Not enough to get you booking? Let me further set the scene…the smell of marshmallows toasting, the sound of tiny voices squealing with excitement over catching crabs & winning sandy races, the feel of warm sand on your toes & a cool breeze on your back while you sip a good cab & savor sweet conversations. Quite a way to soak in the simple joys of vacation, wouldn’t you say? & with options to add tiki torches, smores kits, end tables, even a musician, 30A Blaze can make your beach bonfire as relaxed or epic as you desire. Mom tip- if bringing the kids, adorn with glow necklaces & bracelets to help you keep an eye on them & make sure to pack some flashlights so they can keep hunting crabs long after the sun sets.
While there’s a long list of companies offering this service, we went with 30a Blaze, because it’s family & combat veteran owned, which makes my patriotic heart happy.
Prices start at $389 for a basic bonfire that includes 6 chairs, 2 side tables, 2 tiki torches, trash can, smores kit, & an attendant (don’t forget to tip your attendant, ya’ll)
Bamboo Bicycle Company:
Bicycles are the most common form of transportation here, & while complimentary with most cottage rentals, depending where you stay, you may find yourself in need. Enter-Bamboo Bicycle Company! We had bikes at most of the places we stayed, so we only needed to rent one child’s bike & a toddler attachment. It was easy, affordable & fun through this little shop at the top of Main Street. Loads of options like training wheels, baby tows, & attachments are readily available & the staff is super helpful. You can rent by the day, & they’ll deliver wherever you’re staying, free of charge! They also have beach gear & baby stuff like jogging strollers & all that other horrible junk if you find yourself in need.
Prices start at $30/day or $65/week.
If you’re staying in the Seacrest Villas I mentioned above, I saw they have their own bike rental shop, Peddlers 30a. Speaking of, that brings us to next up on the list…
Peddler’s Pavilion:
Peddler’s Pavilion is walking distance from Rosemary Beach & boasts tons shopping, food, & live music. It sits at the entrance of Seacrest Villas where again, although we didn’t stay, we heard great things about as an affordable property. The pavilion has a group of cute beach shacks with food & other trinkets. I eyed a crepe place that was always hustling & bustling in the mornings, but my husband hasn’t yet found an appreciation for this delicacy so we didn’t make it in. If you’re lucky enough to have a more culinary cultured spouse, definitely stop in & tell me if its worth the fuss.
Seaside:
Seaside Beach exudes fun & is definitely the most “chill” of 30a towns. Great boutiques including the most beautiful toy store I’ve ever seen, the Insta famous “airstream row”, an amphitheater outlined in stunning palms, & tons of things to do & incredible places to eat (check my 30a food guide here). A quick drive fr Rosemary, seaside is an absolute must!
Shopping:
On vacation we really try to save our money for fun things to do, but the shops of rosemary were just too cute not to browse. Yea, okay, our browsing led to buying, but almost every store here is a local business so we felt good about supporting them in our purchases. Rosemary Beach Collection was a favorite boutique of mine, & the Curate 30a art gallery was delightful to meander through while waiting for a table at LaCrema next door.
Spa’s & Golf or should I say “his” & “hers”…
Honestly, it’s more like “neither” in our marriage, but if you’re more glamorous than us & into these sort of things, Rosemary’s got you covered too. While I used to only see the inside of a spa every 3yrs or so, I’ve tried to make it a point to hit one up at least once a year since having kid #2. Therefore, I’m admittedly not a spa expert & I didn’t go while in town, but the reviews are stellar for Vivo’s & the site’s pretty convincing that this is the one you want to be at if you’re a spa person.
While I’m at it giving recommendations on things I know nothing about….there’s also three golf courses in Rosemary. While I can’t, in good conscious, provide any additional info here, I can tell you, if you like golf you’ll like Rosemary Beach.
While this sweet town has made its way into our hearts & onto our yearly calendar, we haven’t seen & done it all…yet. Below are a few places & activities I plan to check out next time. so take a gander if you’re searching more in the area & don’t forget to scope out the food scene at “30A’s Food Guide.”
· Surf Sup
· Watercolor
If you’ve been to Rosemary Beach & have more recommendations (or if you just want to say hi!) leave a comment, & if you found this post helpful, please share!
Happy traveling, friends!
