Spring break in 30A! This past spring break, my family and I road tripped to the panhandle of Florida, 30A to be specific. We have been to Florida many times before and I went to Destin growing up, but this was our first time to this area. 30A is a stretch of highway between Destin and Panama City Beach that was developed in the 90s I believe. So it’s a relatively new community and has gotten really popular over the last few years.
I have to say, I get why! It’s so cute and feels different from the traditional Florida that I’m used to. I described it to friends like the Door County of Florida. It’s a bunch of cute beach downs a few miles apart. It feels so quaint. Most places are bikeable and everyone drives golf carts around.
Seaside, Watersound, Inlet Beach, Seacrest, Alys Beach and Rosemary are the main towns along the 30A coast! We stayed near Inlet Beach at an Airbnb across the street from the beach. Our beach cottage was the cutest. It came with 4 bikes and there was a community (heated) pool a short 2 min walk away. Alys Beach was a short 5-10 minute bike ride away and only 15 minutes to Rosemary. The main towns are busy, but our Airbnb was very quiet and not crowded!
I would go back to this area in a heartbeat. We loved it so much and absolutely lucked out with the weather. The temperature can be hit or miss in the panhandle, which is the only downside! You just don’t really know until you’re there. But it was in the mid 70s for us 4/5 days which was amazing and felt perfect!
Spring Break in 30A || Our Daily Schedule
Day 1
It was about a 17 hour drive. On the way down, we broke it into 2 days and spent the night in Nashville. We ate at Emmy Squared in Germantown. They have the BEST (Detroit style) pizza and the gluten free crust option is amazing! After dinner, we drove downtown and went to Casa Rosa to listen to some music. After that, we drove to Franklin to stop at our hotel. On the way home, we did the entire drive in one day.
Day 2
We drove from Franklin to 30A and it took just over 8 hours. We arrived in the evening and grabbed tacos from LaCo and went to Publix to get groceries for the week.
Day 3
It rained on the first day in 30A, so we had a slow morning and then drove around Alys Beach, got smoothies at Raw & Juicy, and went shopping at some shops in Seacrest. The girls got some bracelets and a sweatshirt. The rain cleared up a little in the afternoon, so we went to The Big Chill to hang out and grab some food. In the evening we were able to catch a beautiful sunset! We ended the night with a swim!
Day 4
This was the first nice day of the trip, so this was mostly a beach and pool day for us! The girls met up with a friend and then we had some friends over for dinner and the sunset.
Day 5
Another beach and pool day! In the evening, we drove to Destin to meet up with some friends and went to Lulus for drinks and dinner.
Day 6
This was our last full day, so we took our bikes and rode to Rosemary to explore the town. We got coffee from 3rd Cup and acai bowls from Playa Bowls. We hung out in the little town plaza, did some shopping and then biked home! We spent the rest of the day at the beach. In the evening, Brett and I drove to Seaside to explore the town a little bit while the girls rested at home. We didn’t spend much time in Seaside, but it very busy! So cute, but definitely busy!
Day 7
We drove the entire route home in one day! This was a long day… but were glad to have it over.
Spring Break in 30A || Food
We picked up groceries from Publix and did most of our cooking at our house, but we did stop at some great spots while we were there. Here are the few places we checked out!
LaCo Latin Coastal Kitchen (Seacrest) – We stopped here the first night to get takeout! We ordered a variety of tacos and they were all delicious!
Raw & Juicy (Alys Beach)- We stopped at Raw & Juicy a few times for smoothies, snacks, and homemade popsicles. They have so many great, healthy options!
The Big Chill (Watersound) – This is a super fun place to hang out! They have multiple restaurants, a coffee shop, stores, music and a big open space. We grabbed some french fries, drinks, and tacos! They have something for everyone.
Playa Bowls (Rosemary) – This place was outstanding and right downtown Rosemary! Such a cute town. Acai bowls, smoothies, and juices. Everything was fresh and delicious!!
3rd Cup (Rosemary) – We grabbed iced coffee from here while we were in Rosemary!
As the sun sets on an unforgettable Spring Break along 30A, it’s clear why people love this spot. From the crystal-clear waters and sugar-white sand to the charming coastal towns and endless adventure, every moment spent here feels like a memory in the making. Whether you’re savoring fresh seafood, biking scenic trails, or simply soaking up the sunshine, 30A delivers the perfect blend of relaxation and fun. Until next time, we’ll be dreaming of beach days and ocean sunsets on this little slice of the Gulf Coast!
