We’d heard of a coastal town reminiscent of Greek Islands – the best beach in Florida, they said. So, we took a leap of faith and drove 12 hours to check it out. We reached the Emerald Coast and 30A and the rest was history. This is hands down, one of the best kept secrets in the South.
What’s 30A? Dubbed Florida’s most scenic highway, 30A is a 28-mile stretch of pure bliss hugging the Gulf of Mexico. The two-lane road winds through a collection of beach towns and a dozen planned communities and neighborhoods begging to be explored. This part of Florida is nothing like the usual suspects, St. Augustine, Miami or others – each town along 30A will surely transport you.
How to get to 30A
The closest airport to the 30A towns is Panama City, specifically the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). The airport is about 20 miles from Rosemary Beach, one of the prime 30A towns.
Nestled alongside stretches of pristine white sand and turquoise beaches, these enchanting luxury towns have got to be on your travel radar. From east to west, the beach towns are in this order, Inlet, Rosemary, Alys, Seacrest, WaterSound, Seagrove, Seaside, Watercolor, Grayton, Blue Mountain, Santa Rosa, and Dune Allen. All of which are worth checking out. We highly recommend renting a car or bicycles to be able to explore freely!
The Best Beach in Florida – 30A
There are over a dozen beach towns – how do you choose where to stay and play? The best towns to explore in 30A are by far Rosemary, Alys and Seaside beaches. Although families might enjoy more tranquil towns such as Grayton or Santa Rosa.
Rosemary Beach
Rosemary is the crème de la crème of beaches in the United States. It’s a small eclectic town with chic boutiques, a pristine beach and great food and nightlife options. The combination of charming cobblestone streets, colorful balconies and earthy-toned architecture will make you think you landed in an exotic European town.
You’re going to be wandering around, soaking in the sun and enjoying the scenery the entire time. When in Rosemary though, make sure to stop by the cutest post office and city hall you’ll ever lay eyes on.
Don’t miss out on an insane sunset and delicious paella at Pescado Rooftop Bar. Stop by La Crema for excellent tapas. Grab brunch at Havana Beach Bar Rooftop in the Pearl Hotel. For your caffeine fix, hit up Amavida Coffee. Make sure to secure reservations ahead of time as many of the best restaurants fill up quickly.
If you want to stay in Rosemary, the most lavish and central option is The Pearl Hotel. Here are plenty of other options as well!
Seacrest Beach
Nestled between Rosemary and Alys, Seacrest is a great place to be based. Resorts like The Pointe and are central and give you direct access to many amenities and private beaches. You can also opt to stay in family-styled cottages or apartments in the Village of South Walton.
Seacrest is home to Peddlers Pavilion, an outdoor collection of businesses and boutiques – it’s also where you can grab a bike easily.
Alys Beach
A town known for its architectural mélange of dreamy white Greek villas accentuated with a Moroccan flair. The most idyllic structures of 30A can be found in Alys beach, so our best advice is to just walk around and take it all in. If we had to pick, Alys Beach would be our top pick for the best beach in Florida!
Alys is also home to Raw & Juicy, a stunning establishment that only serves fresh vegetarian dishes. The food was so good we stopped by at least 3 times! For upscale seafood in Alys, head over to George’s and order the scallops or the jerk snapper – and thank us later!
Seaside Beach
Seaside is a family-friendly town packed with a ton of activities, a massive amphitheater, and lots of shops and restaurants. Exploring Seaside could take days so plan accordingly!
30A beaches are to be enjoyed and explored by beach lovers. We purposely kept this post short because the photos and tips don’t do this place justice. We only hope to inspire you to travel to the Emerald Coast yourself and that it brings you the peace and serenity it brought us.
The Emerald Coast is a luxury destination and staying in the prime towns can be costly. If you’re looking for more affordable alternatives for lodging, we recommend checking out the Carillon Beach Resort in Panama City, a 10-minute drive to Rosemary.
