Three Days On 30A: How To Spend Your First Visit To The Emerald Coast
By Andrea Limke|Published April 06, 2023
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
The stretch of 30A Highway along the Emerald Coast of Florida has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. If you’ve never been or have wondered what to do on the Emerald Coast, it truly is one of the most beautiful places in the country and a must for those who love the beach. Living in Northern Kentucky, I’ve made the drive south many times for family vacations and getaways, but never to the popular neighborhoods along 30A.
If you’ve never heard of this area of Florida, it sits between Destin and Panama City, and is made up of several unique neighborhoods, each with their own personality and charm. Although I had never been to 30A (which is the name of the highway, but many refer to it as its own area), I felt like I had, given how many of my friends and family have visited and shared their photos and experiences. In early March, I decided it was time to check it out for myself.
We typically drive to the Emerald Coast and it’s not a bad 10-11 hour drive. But given I would just be spending three days on 30A, my friend and I decided to fly into the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (one hour from where we stayed) and fly home from Panama City Beach (about 30 minutes from our rental). There are many ways to get to the area and this option worked best budget wise and to optimize our time at the beach.
The three days began on a Saturday morning and took us through Monday; we flew home Tuesday morning. There is so much to do and see (and eat!) along 30A, but we struck a great balance of relaxation, fun activities, and trying delicious local restaurants. If you’ve always wanted to spend time along the Emerald Coast and want to plan your first visit to 30A, check out how we spent three wonderful days in this scenic area of Florida.
When visiting the Emerald Coast, spending time on the beach is an obvious top choice. This area of Florida is known for its clear, beautiful water and soft, white sand and the beaches along 30A are no exception.
My visit to this park and beach was unique in that it was cool, cloudy, and VERY windy. But having just arrived in Florida, the beach had to be the first stop. It was a quick golf cart ride from our rental to the park, a $3 entrance fee, and a beautiful walk along a boardwalk to reach the sand.
You can see how choppy the water was on this windy afternoon, but it was still beautiful! Double red flags were flying this day (which means you cannot get in the water at all), but this view was all we needed.
Deer Lake State Park was a great first stop and is ideal for beach walking and watching the sunset. It is a fairly long walk along the boardwalk to reach the beach, but there are restrooms and a foot washing station, so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting.
Inlet Beach Public Access was further east, but still less than 15 minutes away. This spot had free parking (get there early, it does fill up!), restrooms, and a quick walk to the sand. While we were there in early March, they had also started a chair service if you wish to rent chairs and an umbrella.
This photo was taken on a Saturday morning in early March at Grayton Beach State Park. By the time we left around lunchtime, the parking lot was almost full but the beach still felt very open.
When searching for a place to stay along 30A, there is no shortage of options. I knew I wanted to be centrally located to be able to experience everything the area has to offer and in a rental that offered a lot of amenities - pool, golf cart, bikes, etc. We hit the jackpot with this beautiful Prominence townhome rental, right across the street from the popular spot, The Big Chill (formerly The Hub).
Time Away 30A is a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhome in Prominence North. It is beautifully decorated, perfectly located, and has everything you need for a beach vacation along 30A, from a 6-seater golf cart, to a variety of bikes, to a cooler backpack for time in the sand.
It's the perfect set up for a few couples, a girls' weekend, two families, or anyone else who wants time away on 30A. I especially loved drinking coffee on the back patio, overlooking a nature preserve. Be sure to check out more photos and everything this 30A Prominence townhome has to offer.
I don't know about you, but for me, vacation = cooking as little as possible. 30A is known for many things and delicious restaurants and bakeries are one of them. We tried both Black Bear Bread Co. in Seaside and Blue Mountain Bakery (get the cinnamon roll!) and loved them both.
Bike riding is also a must along 30A and the wide path that stretches along the highway makes it safe and convenient. Our townhome came with bikes, which was a great perk, or you can rent them from several places in the area.
From our townhome, I rode down to Rosemary Beach one day and the ride was SO worth it. This is one of the most picturesque places I've ever seen and I knew we should spend more time here during our three days.
Another day, we rode toward Seaside, which was my favorite neighborhood along 30A. It felt like a classic beach town and exploring by bike was a great way to take it in.
Given our location right across from The Big Chill, it was an easy golf cart ride (you could also walk, but the golf cart was much more fun!) across the street for dinner, live music, and shopping. There is always something going on at The Big Chill and it's an ideal family-friendly spot for a meal, a sweet treat, or both!
6. Eat Local In Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Seaside
With only three days on 30A, we decided to experience as many of the neighborhoods as possible by enjoying local restaurants at different spots. Breakfast at Fonville Press in Alys Beach was delicious and charming and the people watching while eating outside was a fun way to start the day. Alys Beach is also beyond picture-perfect, so be sure to at least walk around for a bit.
We headed back to Rosemary Beach for lunch on the day we visited Inlet Beach, since they were so close. We chose to eat outside at Cowgirl Kitchen, but there are SO many great options. Pescado is definitely on the list for the next visit.
My favorite restaurant we tried along 30A? Bud & Alley's at sunset in Seaside. We snagged seats at the bar upstairs - they do not take reservations for the outdoor, upstairs restaurant - and it was such a lovely meal watching the sun go down.
If you like to shop local while on vacation, 30A will be your new favorite destination. We loved browsing and shopping in Rosemary Beach and Watercolor, but our favorite was the variety of shops in Seaside.
There's an adorable bookstore, shops with decor, clothing for all ages, toys, and other souvenirs. Spend a couple of hours shopping and then grab a bite from one of the food trucks that line this stretch of 30A.
And this may not be a store, but do not miss out on the photo op of the most charming post office in the country. If you recognize this building, it may be because the movie The Truman Show was filmed in Seaside!
Dining with a view is also a must during a short visit to 30A. Lunch at FOOW in Watercolor was idyllic with tasty food, drinks, and a lovely view of the beach. Watercolor was also another great area for strolling and shopping.
After the sun went down, we walked back into the heart of Seaside for one last meal. Pickles is famous for its burgers and I admit - it was one of the best burgers I've ever had. And don't miss out on the truffle fries! The wide array of local restaurants with great food was one of the many reasons I loved our time on 30A.
Would I have loved to spend even more time along 30A? Absolutely. Were three days enough to relax and experience this popular area? Definitely. Whether you spend three days or three weeks on the Emerald Coast, it truly is one of the most beautiful places to visit. And with so many things to do on 30A, it’s safe to say that I’ll be back soon.
