That cozy beach town in The Truman Show seems too perfect to be true, right? Wrong! It’s a real place called Seaside, Florida! And it sits quietly inside one of the communities of 30A Florida–Florida’s best-kept beach secret.
For many who live in Florida and along its border in states like Georgia and Alabama, 30A Florida is a special vacation spot. Made up of a peppering of intimate beach towns, each with its own personality and list of activities, 30A is the perfect retreat for families and couples who want a laidback atmosphere that feels less like vacation and more like home.
Sound like a place you could escape? Just wait until you hear about our new homes at Twin Palms, located in the center of all of our favorite 30A restaurants and things to do!
What is 30A Florida?
30A Florida is a collection of quiet beach towns lining the Florida Panhandle’s Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida. It is a stretch of roughly 24 miles that follows the Gulf of Mexico coastline in South Walton County between Destin and Panama City.
30A Florida is made up of the following charming towns, all of which have their own unique personality:
- Dune Allen Beach
- Santa Rosa Beach
- Blue Mountain Beach
- Grayton Beach
- Watercolor
- Seaside
- Seagrove Beach
- WaterSound Beach
- Seacrest Beach
- Alys Beach
- Rosemary Beach
- Inlet Beach
What makes 30A Florida so special is that each beach town offers unique sights, restaurants, and activities. Because the area is so tiny, each town is easily accessible via car, bike, or foot. No matter where you rest your head, you can explore a different community every day and still be just a 30 minute (or shorter!) drive away.
Why is it called 30A?
The 30A Florida region is named for the actual road that takes you through the area–Scenic Highway 30A. Like the Pacific Coastal Highway in California (on a much smaller scale), Scenic Highway 30A takes drivers along the coast, with sights of white sand beaches, dune lakes, and coastal water.
Things To Do on 30A Florida
For a region with just three letters in its name, it packs a punch in things to and places to see. Among 30A Florida’s 12 beach communities lie various family-friendly activities, from beach sports to parks and shopping to entertainment.
30A Florida is known for miles of white-sand beaches, emerald waters, and warm sunshine. It’s a no-brainer that a day at the beach is the best way to spend your day on 30A! The largest public beach access in South Walton County is at Inlet Beach, Florida–just a few blocks from our community of Twin Palms! Spread out on the expansive beach, swim in the warm waves, and stay through nightfall, where you can have a beachside bonfire with s’mores. Need to pack a few extra items? Bring the whole car! Two 30A beaches allow cars to drive on the and with permits: Inlet Beach and Grayton Beach.
One unique feature of 30A is the coastal dune lakes. These natural phenomenons occur in only five places worldwide: New Zealand, Madagascar, Australia, Oregon, and 30A Florida! Dune lakes are created when a body of water (like the ocean) makes its way over sand dunes and creates lakes on the other side. Like a traditional lake, the water is still, making dune lakes a great place to paddleboard, kayak, and fish. You can find dune lakes in Dune Allen Beach, Grayton Beach, Seacrest, Blue Mountain Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Inlet Beach, and Seagrove Beach.
30A Florida is also home to three different state parks, where you can explore several outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, walking, birdwatching, canoeing, kayaking, and camping! Visit Grayton Beach State Park, Deer Lake State Park, and Camp Helen State Park to connect with nature and regain peace.
The fun doesn’t have to end just because those Florida rain clouds roll in! There are plenty of things to do in 30A when it rains. Shop to your heart’s content in Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach’s commerce districts, which offer local boutiques selling upscale women’s clothing, children’s toys, home goods, and souvenirs. Spend the day tucked inside out of the rain at local breweries like Grayton Beach’s Grayton Beer Company and Santa Rosa’s Idyll Hounds Brewing Company.
Just a short drive away from 30A, attractions in Panama City Beach include Gulf World Marine Park, WonderWorks museum, movie theatres, and many more. Nearby, Destin offers a variety of shopping malls, including Destin Commons, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, and plenty of indoor attractions like black light mini-golf.
Restaurants on 30A Florida
Come for the sun, stay for the food! There’s no absence of spectacular restaurants on 30A Florida. From fine dining in Alys Beach to casual surf shack snacks in Seaside, you can get the best of both worlds when you eat like a local at our favorite 30A restaurants.
Breakfast/Brunch on 30A
Start your day strong with a cup of joe or a quick bite at these 30A restaurants!
- Big, Bad Breakfast (Inlet Beach)
- The Donut Hole (Inlet Beach)
- The Perfect Pig (Rosemary Beach and Seagrove Beach)
- Crackings (Santa Rosa Beach)
- Great Southern Cafe (Seaside)
- Black Bear Bread Co. (Grayton Beach)
Lunch on 30A
When you need to grab some grub as a break from a beach day, the restaurants on 30A Florida will not disappoint.
- Creative Crepes (Rosemary Beach)
- Raw & Juicy (Alys Beach)
- Seagrove Village MarketCafè (Seagrove Beach)
- Pickle’s Beachside Grill (Seaside)
- Bud & Alleys (Seaside)
Dinner on 30A
The wide variety of restaurants on 30A Florida means you’ll never run out of dinner ideas. Start here and check each of the 30A restaurants off your list!
Casual Dining
- Amici 30A (Inlet Beach)
- Shades Bar & Grill (Inlet Beach)
- Pizza By The Sea (Rosemary Beach)
- Old Florida Fish House (Santa Rosa Beach)
- The Hub (Watersound Beach)
- Red Bar (Grayton Beach)
Fine Dining
- Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar (Rosemary Beach)
- Edward’s Fine Food & Wine (Rosemary Beach)
- Caliza (Alys Beach)
- Cafè Thirty-A (Seagrove)
- Surfing Deer (Santa Rosa Beach)
Real Estate on 30A Florida
Though the area was established almost 100 years ago, there are still plenty of opportunities to own new real estate on 30A Florida! Our first community in the Sunshine State–Twin Palms–offers spacious three-story single family homes in the center of 30A’s Inlet Beach, right next to bustling Rosemary Beach on 30A Florida.
This premier new construction community combines luxury with a family-friendly lifestyle just a few blocks from the largest public beach access in South Walton County. Enjoy city living without the crowds and traffic, plus access to white-sand beaches, superior dining and shopping, the finest home craftsmanship, and pure relaxation. As real estate on 30A Florida heats up, you’ll be happy you found your dream home in this laid-back beach community.
Ready to find paradise at Twin Palms? Join the Interest List to receive exclusive updates on the progress at Twin Palms–right in your inbox!