While exploring Florida's 30A, I spent time at Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach.
Terri Peters
I spent time along Florida's 30A in three towns: Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach.
Each beach town was very different, and the one I liked best felt the most "Florida" to me.
The 30A beach town I'd recommend for a first-time visitor is Seaside for its great food and vibes.
Florida's 30A area is a stretch of white-sand beaches, Gulf of Mexico views, and quaint beach towns that runs for 24 miles along County Road 30A.
The area, which is in the Florida panhandle between Panama City Beach or Destin, has grown in popularity in recent years and has been nicknamed "the Hamptons of the South" by those who visit.
Recently, I spent a few days in 30A and explored three beach towns there: Rosemary Beach, Seaside, and Alys Beach.
All were charming and had lots to do, but as a Florida native who writes about travel for a living, there was one spot I'd recommend if you're looking to get the full 30A experience while still feeling like you had a distinctly "Florida" vacation.
Alys Beach felt too high-end for what I'd like to experience in Florida.
Everything about Alys Beach felt high-end and a bit too over-the-top for Florida.
Terri Peters
Alys Beach stood out with its architecture and design. White, stone structures and beautiful landscaping were king in this area, and it's easy to see why it's a popular spot for luxury travel.
With bright, linear buildings set against a cerulean sky, the area feels like something out of the Mediterranean region or, at the very least, a spot where celebrities would buy homes or take vacations in Florida.
I had a yummy lunch here on the outdoor patio of a spot called George's at Alys Beach and shopped for a bit in the public area. Still, it wasn't my favorite.
In my opinion, this area felt the least accessible to vacationers and had the vibe of a private community — not so much an inviting beach town.
Rosemary Beach gave off European vibes, but again, didn't feel like Florida.
Rosemary Beach felt European but I wished it felt more Floridian.
Terri Peters
I enjoyed my time in Rosemary Beach and found the TikToks I'd seen about the area to be accurate: The whole town has a European vibe, from the architecture of its homes to the design of its main shopping and dining area.
The area felt high-end and pricy, something some people vacationing in Florida may not expect.
Despite being cute and within walking distance of the main area of town, I found myself preferring to drive elsewhere in my rental car.
Of all the 30A beach towns I visited, Seaside was my favorite.
I found myself gravitating toward Seaside.
Terri Peters
During my visit to 30A, I stayed at an Airbnb between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
A perk of this area is that most of the beach towns are within walking or biking distance, and bike-rental shops are plentiful if a bicycle isn't included with your rental property.
Seaside was about a 15-minute drive from my Airbnb, and I found myself making the trip on two separate occasions to spend time there because I liked the area so much.
Seaside feels like an upscale beach town that's still distinctly "Florida."
The Seaside boardwalk area felt upscale and pretty.
Terri Peters
As someone who's lived in Florida for the last eight years, I've come to appreciate the state's quirkiness and beauty. I love everything Florida's beach towns have to offer, and walking through Seaside felt very "Florida," while also feeling upscale.
There were gorgeous beach houses and breathtaking views of the blue-green Gulf of Mexico, but the area also had beach bars, souvenir shops, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that reminded me I was still in my state.
Some of the best meals I had in 30A were in Seaside.
I really enjoyed the steak I had at Bud & Alley's.
Terri Peters
The flavors of Seaside were delightful and I'd absolutely return to the town for meals on future trips to 30A.
One night, I had a wonderful steak dinner on the rooftop of Bud and Alley's, a historic restaurant with famous sunset views.
Another day, I visited Seaside bright and early for breakfast at Pickle's Burger and Shakes, a spot on the beach that serves Southern breakfast fare like biscuits and gravy.
Even the latte I grabbed at Amavida Coffee and Tea was excellent.
The sunsets in Seaside can't be beat.
The sky looked incredible.
Terri Peters
The sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico are stunning, and the prettiest one I saw was while having dinner on the roof of the aforementioned Bud and Alley's.
The restaurant even rings a bell each time the sun sets.
My dream rental property in Seaside would be right on the gulf with a balcony for viewing the sunset on the days I didn't make it to Bud and Alley's roof.
One of the best parts of my trip was a walking tour of Seaside.
The walking tour I did in Seaside was informative and fun.
Terri Peters
The best thing I did while in Seaside was actually a free self-guided walking tour created by the Seaside Institute that I played on my phone as I explored the town.
It featured recorded audio snippets from architects and town planners who founded Seaside explaining everything from the art and design of each beach entrance to how the local historic post office came to be.
Not only was it great to see the town on foot and learn about its history, but also finding a free vacation activity that's fun is always a win in my book.
Overall, I'd describe Seaside as an upscale Florida beach town with a family-friendly vibe.
Seaside felt upscale but still family-friendly.
Terri Peters
I love that Seaside doesn't seem to take itself as seriously as towns like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Instead, it seems to embrace its Florida roots while still maintaining stunning architecture, beautiful art installations, and vibrant public areas.
It's beautiful enough to feel like a vacation — even to someone from another part of Florida — while not feeling as pretentious as other towns in the area.
My perfect 30A trip would include a stay in Seaside and day trips into the other towns.
I'd like to stay in Seaside but still stop by Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Terri Peters
I cannot wait to return to 30A for another vacation along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.
After exploring the area, I'm definitely a Seaside girl, and would choose a rental property right in the heart of the town for my next trip.
I'd still venture into towns like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach for a meal or some shopping, but I'd recommend a stay in Seaside to a first-time 30A visitor.
