Our 30A Florida Trip: Favorite Spots in Seaside, Rosemary Beach & More
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There’s something about 30A Florida that just feels different.
Maybe it’s how quiet it can be in the mornings, or how every little beach town feels tucked into its own corner of the world. Maybe it’s the way the days stretch a little longer, without a schedule pulling you in every direction.
This trip…we needed it.
We didn’t make a single plan before we got there. No reservations mapped out, no strict itinerary—just a place to stay, the beach, and time together. And honestly, I think that’s what made it so special.
If you’ve been here before, you probably get it. And if you haven’t…this isn’t a full travel guide. Just a little look into our trip, the places we loved, and the moments I don’t want to forget.
Why We Keep Coming Back to 30A
It’s wild to think that it wasn’t until 2023 that we even started coming down to this area.
We had always heard about Seaside (my mother-in-law’s favorite place in Florida) and Alys Beach, but before that, most of our Florida trips were more Jacksonville (where I'm from), Saint Augustine, and sometimes the Destin area. And while those places are great in their own way, 30A just feels slower, cleaner, and more intentional.
All of the little towns (Seaside, Seagrove Beach, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach) are so close to each other, but each one feels completely different. It has that small-town charm I love, but with some of the best food, coffee, and little shops tucked in between.
It’s become one of our favorite places in Florida…if not our favorite.
Where We've Stayed in 30A Florida
For this trip, we stayed at The Bungalows in Seagrove Beach—it was exactly what we were hoping for.
It’s a quieter, tucked-away community just minutes from Seaside. It felt peaceful, easy, and just the right size for our family. There are multiple pools, a hot tub, bikes you can ride around, and the biggest perk—a private beach just a short three-minute walk away.
We’ll absolutely be going back.
In past trips, we’ve also stayed at The Prominence on 30A, which is such a fun, family-friendly spot with a beautiful heated pool and homes that often include bikes and golf carts. It’s right across from The Big Chill 30A, which makes grabbing food or letting kids run around really convenient, but it is a bit farther from the beach than we prefer.
We’ve also stayed in Seacrest Beach, which is stunning and so close to Alys Beach, but this time around we really wanted to be closer to Seaside since that’s where we planned to spend most of our time.
And if you can find a place with a golf cart, it truly does make getting around easier (and more fun).
The Drive & What We Packed for Hollis
We drove down, and it ended up being such an easy trip—about 4.5 to 5 hours with light traffic.
Hollis did so well in the car, which always makes a trip feel a little less daunting. We kept things simple and brought a handful of his favorite activities that we knew would actually hold his attention and rotate easily throughout the drive.
Nothing over the top, just a few go-to favorites that travel well and keep things easy:
- Amazon Fire Kids Tablet + Car Tablet Holder — this combo made such a difference for longer stretches (especially with a few downloaded Disney movies ready to go)
- Mag Builder Magnetic Building Set — easy, mess-free, and keeps him focused for a while
- Mini Magna-Tiles — a smaller version of one of his favorites, perfect for travel
- Toniebox Audio Player — great for quiet time and stories when we needed a break from screens
If you want everything in one place, I linked our full list below with all of our go-to travel favorites.
The Slow Days (My Favorite Part of the Trip)
Most of our days followed the same rhythm—beach in the morning, pool in the afternoon, and slow evenings walking through town. We didn’t rush anything. We didn’t feel like we had to be anywhere at a certain time. And I think that’s what made this trip feel so different from our normal day-to-day life. We brought our Stokke YOYO³ Stroller with us (seriously, one of my best purchases), which ended up being such a lifesaver—Hollis walked most of the time, but when he started to wear out, he’d just hop in, and it made getting around so much easier. He even snuck in a little cat nap one afternoon
Some of my favorite moments weren’t the big, planned things, but the ones that just happened in between. Like the nights we got back later than expected, well past Hollis’ usual bedtime, and instead of trying to force routine, we just leaned into it—sitting around playing Go Fish (his absolute favorite right now), laughing and letting the night stretch a little longer than usual.
One morning at Pickle’s in Seaside, we brought out our Little Talk Conversation Cards and sat there talking with Hollis. It really got me thinking… kids understand so much more than we give them credit for. When you slow down enough to really listen to your kids and have intentional conversations, it’s kind of amazing what they share.
And then there was the night at Drome. It started raining while we were there, and Hollis curled up in my lap while we waited on dumplings (holy delicious!!). We could have rushed out, grabbed everything to-go and headed back, but we didn’t. We stayed, sat there a little longer, and just soaked in the moment.
Those are the kinds of memories that end up meaning the most.
And one I’ll never forget… this is the trip where I launched my blog. Sitting at Black Bear in Seaside, I hit “publish.” Hunter kept jumping into my videos saying, “she has a new blog!” which made me laugh every time, but also meant so much. He’s my biggest cheerleader, and having both him and Hollis there, so proud and excited for me, is something I’ll always hold onto. (you can watch the complication video here)
Our Favorite Spots Along 30A
If you’re planning a trip, these are the places we keep going back to—the ones that feel like part of our version of 30A.
Seaside (Our Favorite Place to Wander, Eat, and Just Be)
Seaside is where we spent most of our time, and it’s easily our favorite.
It has this perfect mix of energy and ease—the beach is beautiful, the food is incredible, and everything is within walking distance. There’s a big open green space where kids can run around, and throughout the week there are movies, live music, and little events that make it feel so alive.
Our go-to spots in Seaside, FL:
Restaurants:
- The Great Southern Cafe — a must for shrimp & grits (we love subbing blackened salmon)
- Bud & Alley's — classic coastal dining with beautiful views
- Pickle's Sandbar — casual, easy breakfast and the best milkshakes
- The Shrimp Shack Boardwalk Bar — a laid-back spot right by the water with fresh seafood
- Drome — our favorite… the dumplings are that good
Airstreams (quick bites):
- Meltdown on 30A — simple grilled cheese, done really well
- Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs — quick, kid-friendly, and easy
- Crêpes du Soleil — sweet or savory, both are so good
Coffee Shops:
- Black Bear Bread Co. — our go-to (and now holds a special place for me)
- Amavida Coffee Roasters — great coffee and a solid stop any time of day (they also have a donut truck right outside)
Sweet treats:
- Nigel’s Bananas — frozen chocolate-covered bananas that feel like a beach-day staple
- Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudge — classic yogurt and fudge shop
- It’s Heavenly — a little bit of everything when you want something sweet
Retail & Shopping:
- Sundog Books — my favorite stop every single time
- Duckies — the cutest little kids store
- The Seaside Style — their official shop with all the branded Seaside pieces
- Wood + Wave — easy, coastal clothing
Next on our list: Angelina’s Pizzeria & Cafe—everyone recommends it, so we’re trying it next time.
Rosemary Beach (Charming, Walkable, and So Beautiful)
Rosemary Beach is one of those places that feels almost too pretty to be real.
The architecture, the cobblestone streets, the way everything feels so intentional—it has such a classic, almost European charm to it. We spent a morning here just walking around, grabbing coffee, taking in how beautiful town hall is, and popping into shops. It ended up being one of my favorite slower parts of the trip.
And somehow, like always, I ended up in the bookstore chatting with strangers about books and book clubs… which felt very on-brand for me.
Our go-to spots in Rosemary Beach, FL:
- La Crema Tapas & Chocolate — cozy, Spanish-inspired tapas and incredible chocolate desserts
- Gallion's — fresh, coastal dishes in a relaxed setting
- Amavida Coffee Roasters — we actually prefer this location
- 3rd Cup — a quieter coffee spot with a great local feel
Retail & Shops:
- The Hidden Lantern Bookstore — I could spend hours here (hence the photos)
- Rosemary Beach Trading Co — classic beach finds
- Rosemary Beach Collection + Kids — great for both adults and kids
- Bombora Sun & Surf — easy, beachy staples
- Gigi's Fabulous Kid's Fashion & Toys — our favorite kid boutique
If you’re there on a Saturday, the farmer’s market is such a sweet addition—one of our favorite spice vendors (Tommee) is always a must-stop.
Next time: Edward’s and Cowgirl Kitchen are both high on our list.
Alys Beach (Minimal, Architectural, and So Dreamy)
Alys Beach feels completely different from anywhere else along 30A.
The whitewashed buildings, the clean lines, the quiet streets—it almost feels like you’ve stepped into another country. It’s one of the most beautiful places to just walk or bike through and take it all in.
We don’t spend the most time here, but we always make a point to go, especially because Hollis loves the little park area. It’s such an easy place to let kids play while you sit back for a minute and just enjoy the architecture.
Our go-to spots in Alys Beach, FL:
- Fonville Press — beautiful interiors, great coffee, and a little market inside
- Raw & Juicy — lighter options, amazing acai bowls, and very kid-friendly
Next time: George’s at Alys Beach and O-Ku Sushi are both on our list.
WATERSOUNd (laid-back, and very friendly-family)
Watersound has a much quieter area compared to some of the other towns along 30A. It’s a little more residential and laid-back, but still has a few great spots that make it worth stopping through—especially if you’re looking for something easy and family-friendly.
One of the main hubs here is The Big Chill on 30A, which is set up around a big open courtyard with plenty of seating, a stage, and a huge screen for movies and games. It’s the kind of place where everyone can grab something different to eat and just hang out for a while, and kids have plenty of space to run around and play.
We’ve really enjoyed it on past trips, but this time it was very crowded (more than we expected) and it felt a little overwhelming. I think timing makes all the difference here, because when it’s less busy, it’s such a great spot.
Our favorites at The Big Chill:
- Mr. Freeze — simple ice cream stop that kids love (we loved their soft serve)
- Louie’s — classic, easy pizza (we love a good thin pizza)
- Local Smoke — the brisket nachos are always a win
- Miel Market — great for tacos and burritos
A Few More Spots We Always Recommend
There are a couple places along 30A that don’t necessarily fit into one town for us, but we always make a point to go.
- Old Florida Fish House — one of our favorite dinner spots with the most beautiful outdoor setup, space for kids to run, and the perfect place to catch the sunset and do some light shopping
- The Donut Hole — a must for fresh, classic donuts (you have to try it at least once)
This trip reminded me how much I need to slow down. Not in some big, life-changing way—but in the small, everyday moments that are easy to rush past. Sitting a little longer. Letting plans be flexible. Choosing to stay instead of always moving on to the next thing.
30A has become a little slice of that for us.
It’s where we go to reset, to spend time together without distractions, and to just be present in a way that feels harder to do at home sometimes. Every time we come back, we leave with new memories—some big, some small, but all meaningful in their own way.
Hollis loved the beach of course, especially getting in the ocean, and watching that through his eyes never gets old. And for me, this trip will always be the one where I finally hit “publish” on something I had been working toward for a long time.
It wasn’t a trip filled with plans or big moments. It was simple. Slow. Intentional.
And somehow…those always end up being the ones that mean the most.
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