30A, Florida

Santa Rosa Beach

Technically, Santa Rosa Beach includes the neighborhoods of Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach and Blue Mountain Beach. This historic town, which encompasses much of South Walton, has more than a few places worth mentioning. Just off the shore of Tucker Bayou is the beautiful Wesley Home in Eden Gardens State Park. The manicured gardens and beautiful moss-draped oaks of this 161-acre park are reminiscent of a bygone era. The Wesley Home, with its wrap around porch and stately white columns was renovated in 1963 and holds the largest collection of Louis XVI furniture in the United States.

Dining in Santa Rosa is top notch too. For our family, we enjoy dining at Goatfeathers. Yes, it has a weird name, but the seafood is incredible, and we’ve never heard a bad word about the Donut Hole Bakery Café. Quite the opposite, actually. Nearly, every 30A regular makes a stop for breakfast at this family friendly establishment right off of 30A.

Blue Mountain

A small community with a neighborly feel, Blue Mountain Beach Fl has a popular ice cream shop, natural foods store, bike rentals, a bakery and delicious restaurants within walking distance. The community also features two rare coastal dune lakes and connects to nature trails in the Point Washington State Forest and the bike path along Scenic 30-A.

The vibe in Blue Mountain Beach in Florida is laid-back, relaxed and friendly. It is a quiet community that is located close to Grayton Beach, Seaside and Dune Allen Beach. Families often walk up from the beach to grab an ice cream cone or fresh fruit smoothie and the restaurants here serve some of the finest fried shrimp on Scenic 30-A. If you are looking for an old-fashioned beach escape that is not crowded, but close to everything — then Blue Mountain Beach Florida is the perfect beach escape.

Seaside

Even if you don’t choose to stay at Seaside, you will want to make a day trip to see this picturesque town. The town’s innovative design and architecture are remarkable. In fact, the town planners of Seaside are credited with founding a movement known as “New Urbanism” based on their design. If you’ve ever seen “The Truman Show” you’ve seen Seaside, where it was filmed.

You’ll want to walk along the cobblestone streets and check out the cute cottages with their white picket fences and shop at the stores in the center of town. Perhaps, you can catch one of the concerts or plays in the outdoor theater. If you want a bite to eat, check out Bud and Alleys or the Great Southern Café. You can’t go wrong with either.

Seagrove Beach

Seagrove Beach is in the middle of everything with Seaside, WaterColor, and Grayton to the west, and WaterSound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach to the east. Make it a point to visit the Seagrove Village Market Café. This award-winning restaurant may not look like much, but its grouper sandwich was featured in Garden & Gun’s “100 Southern Foods You Must Try Before You Die.” You may also want to try Café 30A. This casual restaurant was voted a South Walton 2015 Best of the Best!

Grayton Beach

“Nice Dogs, Strange People” – that’s the unofficial slogan of Grayton Beach. This funky beach town, which is mostly inside Grayton Beach State Park, is a laidback paradise for beach goers. Enjoy good food, cocktails, and live jazz or bluegrass music at the Red Bar, known for it’s bohemian beach feel and dancing crowds. Fun and funky – that’s what Grayton Beach is all about.

Miramar Beach

Miramar Beach is a shopper’s paradise. With the nearby Silver Sands Premium Outlets, you’ll find more than 100 designer and name brand outlet stores like Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, DKNY, J. Crew, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren and many more. If you like Italian, try Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar for contemporary American Italian. The atmosphere, service, and food, will keep you coming back every year.

30A

30A is one of Florida's best locations for a unique beach vacation. It is a highway that stretches along 28 coastal miles of the Florida Panhandle between Miramar Beach and Panama City Beach. With its combination of picture-perfect white sand beaches and aqua blue Gulf, coastal forests and coastal dune lakes, state parks, festivals and events that attract visitors from across the country… there is nowhere quite like 30A!

What you won’t find in 30A are tourist traps, big hotels, massive condo units or really chains of any kind. Instead, you’ll find a much calmer approach to beach life with more families than college kids, local shops with cult-like followings and all the shrimp, grits and Emerald Coast views your stomach and soul could possibly want!