Here’s What We Did on Our Trip to 30A Florida

Earlier this summer, Austin and I went to 30A with the Robertson crew. We had several of you ask for a travel guide on things to do, places to eat or where to stay, so it only made sense to put everything here in a blog post. My apologies this post has taken a minute to go live. Our home projects are in full swing and are taking up more of our time than originally expected. Funny how that goes, right? But I am happy to finally share a little guide from our recent trip to Rosemary, Beach.

We’ve been going to 30A for the past 6 years with our families. Over the years, we’ve stayed in Watercolor, Seaside, Rosemary and Watersound.

Hopefully, this guide can help you as you plan for a trip to Florida. And if you’re there right now, I hope you are having the best time. There’s something truly magical about a week at the beach.

WHERE TO STAY

My favorite spot to stay is either in Rosemary Beach or Watersound. I prefer these because they are right in the middle between Seaside and Alys Beach. Watercolor is very nice and if you want to spend most of your time in Seaside, that might be a good spot for you. We found ourselves driving to Rosemary a lot so Watersound was a nice central location.

Each time we go, we end up renting a house for the week. We book about 6 months in advance because things sell out quick. The nice thing about Rosemary, Watersound or Watercolor, is that most of the houses come with a golf cart (which is really fun because you can ride it around the neighborhood). Be sure to get a house with bikes too! You can always rent bikes around town, but if you find a house that comes with bikes, all the better.

If you’re looking to do a beach club (which we LOVE) I would recommend 360 Blue. We’ve rented houses the past two years with 360 Blue and have loved it. They set up all the beach chairs for you and offer drink service at the beach. You can also choose to stay by the pool (they also have a lazy river) if you want to mix things up. Highly recommend!

WHERE TO EAT

We typically cook most of our meals at the house, but we try to go out 3-4 times during the week.

MORNING   

Charlies Donuts, Alys Beach: This airstream is known for their popular Sour Cream Pound Cake Donut, and it happens to be my favorite donut of all time. Highly recommended to get their early as they are known to sell out rather quickly.

Fonville Press, Alys Beach: Right in the heart of Alys Beach, this coffee shop is a popular spot for families. While it may be known for its long list of coffees and drinks, it also has tasty breakfast options. This is great if you are looking for a hot breakfast or something on the go!

Five Daughters Bakery, Seaside: The 100 layer donut. Need I say more?

AFTERNOON + NIGHT 

Seaside Food Trucks: This is a must, especially if you’re with the family. There’s something for everyone at the food trucks!  We personally love Meltdown — it will be the best grilled cheese of your life.

Bud and Alley’s Pizza Bar, Seaside: A little touristy, but still a favorite. We love the Oven Fried Dough, Kale Ceaser and Margherita & Salami…so yummy.

Cafe Thirty-A, Seagrove: We usually like to get dressed up (well, as far as beach vacations go) and eat here on the last night of our trip. Highly recommended to get a reservation a few weeks in advance.

La Crema Tapas, Rosemary: We went here for light bites, but everyone said to come back and get the Chocolate Fondue or Churros.

Shrimp Shack, Seaside: Great for a quick bite or you can grab a table around the beach. We ate here for dinner and found a table overlooking the beach. We watched the sunset and saw dolphins playing. It was so much fun!

SWEET TREATS:

Mr. Freeze, The Hub at Watersound: They only offer a few flavors, but they are quite tasty. Our favorites are cookies and cream and cotton candy!

Frost Bites, Seaside: Unlike any snowcone I’ve had. You’ve got to try one!

Sugar Shak, Rosemary: The ultimate candy and ice cream store! We always go here. Expect a line though, this place is quite popular in the evenings.

THINGS TO DO

We usually spend our days at the beach or at the pool, but there’s always a time when we want to explore the town. Our list of favorites include:

The Hub, Watersound: Fun for the whole family! We love to stop by here for a snack or drink. They also have live music throughout the week and movies on the big screen. Highly recommend grabbing an ice cream at Mr. Freeze.

The Seaside Style, Seaside: Classic, beachy and modern! This is the spot to get those infamous “Seaside” shirts.

Outpost, Inlet Beach: Whether you’re shopping for home goods, clothing or accessories, Outpost is your place. I am also a fan of their built-in coffee bar!

Willow, Rosemary Beach: One of my favorite boutiques on 30A! This is a gorgeous spot for designer finds and modern clothing. They carry brands like Joie, Rebecca Taylor and more.

Sundog Books, Seaside: Austin and I love walking through here. We usually stop by here on day 1 and pick up a book to read while we are on the beach.

Please share with the TTD community your favorite spot in the comments below. This has been a highly asked question and I know you guys have great recommendations. Thanks for your help! xx Ashley

PRODUCT DETAILS

Rebecca Taylor Jumpsuit (Fit: this runs large, size down) | Steve Madden Sandals | Chloe Mini Faye Quilted Backpack (10% off with code A1OFF or keep checking this selection. They have had this bag pop up a couple times but people are always quick to grab it.) | Sunglasses | iPhone Case (Black with Shadow Text – colors are mocha and white) | Pavé Band Ring | Pinky Signet Ring