To say we fell in love would be an understatement. We’re head over heels about the Highway 30A and Rosemary Beach area in the Florida panhandle! We did a lot on our week-long trip so I’m breaking it up into two blog posts.
The first of my two posts will detail the immediate area in which we stayed. I’ll be talking about the other areas of Highway 30A that we visited in a few weeks. I’m even writing a stand alone post about my favorite coffee shop/wine bar/hangout because it has that much going on.
Where We Stayed in 30A
Our Airbnb was AWESOME! It was a one-bedroom condo in a very vacation rental-friendly building. When we got there on Monday it was a ghost town, which we loved. We unloaded and got settled in peace and quiet, just us and the beautiful Florida weather. For most of the week there was just us and one other car in our 20+ unit building’s lot.
We stayed in a Seacrest Beach condo complex with deeded beach access, two pools, a hot tub and two grills. Plus, we were walking distance to everything in this post. It’s the area I’d refer people to stay in over and over again, it was PERFECT!
Sadly, I didn’t think to take a lot of photos of the Airbnb. If you’re interested in a link for the Airbnb leave a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram!
Things to Do in Rosemary Beach
What is there to do in Rosemary Beach? Answer: a LOT. We didn’t even make it to half of what Rosemary offers because there’s so much. Tons of dining, cute shops and several places to grab a cup of coffee, or for me, a matcha latte. Literally every coffee place we went to in 30A had matcha on the menu. I was in heaven!
Note: if you’re traveling with kids, some restaurants throughout the 30A area have an 18+ policy for evening dining. Keep an eye on that if you’re eyeing a more upscale restaurant, or even call ahead to check. We knew The Pearl, Pescado and Gallion’s have a policy like that and did lunch or breakfast at each of those instead.
All-Day Brunch at The Pearl
Our first full day, we went to The Pearl for breakfast. Brunch with a view of the ocean was a phenomenal way to kick off the trip. They serve an all-day brunch from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and while I normally prefer a spicier flavor palette for breakfast, I got something vastly different.
We only take a trip once a year, so we go big on vacation. We don’t skimp on meals or experiences because of price, so I had their delicious Pecan Wood Smoked Salmon entree for brunch. It was AMAZING! Most of my meals were seafood-based because everything there is so fresh (and #treatyoself). When in Rome, right?
Lunch at Gallion’s in Rosemary Beach
Right off 30A in Rosemary Beach, Gallion’s is self-described as a sophisticated but relaxed dining experience, and I’d agree. We sat outside for lunch the first day, and being a Tuesday it wasn’t the least bit crowded. The service was excellent and on recommendation I tried the shrimp skewers, which were amazing! We also got a Pimento Cheese Dip to share.
Side note: Pimento Cheese was alllll over; everywhere we went had it. I haven’t looked into it, but it has to be an area speciality. I’ve never seen so much Pimento offered in one spot!
The Rooftop at Pescado
Dining at a rooftop restaurant was on my vacation must-do list. Both The Pearl and Pescado in Rosemary Beach have one, with The Pearl being more cost effective American based fare. Pescado is primarily seafood and we ate lunch here on our final day. I’m SO glad we hit this spot because it wasn’t crowded, the food was amazing and the view was breathtaking.
It was by far the fanciest meal we had all trip between the level of service and the quality of the seafood. You’d swear they went out and caught our meals as we ordered them, it was that good!
We got an order of crab claws to start. I’d never had them, they’re SO good! Kevin got the grouper sandwich and I got the lobster roll (if there’s a lobster roll on the menu, I’m ordering it). Without a doubt this was the best lobster roll I’ve ever had, no surprise there though!
Breakfast at Cowgirl Kitchen
Fair warning: they don’t allow strollers inside due to fire code. It’s a narrow hallway with a long booth and tables so there’s just not room. If you have an in-arms infant either baby-wear, plan to be holding baby or prepare to dine outside. We ate outside which was fine, but it was a chillier morning so we wish we’d known that before rolling up with a stroller.
However, Cowgirl Kitchen is a much more laid back dining experience which was nice. It’s a very family friendly environment (minus the stroller situation) and the food was incredible. I ordered one of their speciality dishes, the Migas, which was very in line with my usual breakfast palette.
It was a traditional Texas egg scramble with tortilla chips, tomatoes, and jalapeños, topped with queso and fresh chives, served over grits with two strips of bacon and two flour tortillas. I ate the whole big thing, it was incredible!
Grab a Coffee from Amavida and Walk Around Rosemary Beach
Kevin’s favorite cup of coffee on the trip was from Amavida, which was actually served at a few restaurants also. It’s local to the area and they have a nice shop right in the heart of Rosemary Beach.
Our Airbnb host recommended grabbing a morning coffee and walk around Rosemary Beach, checking out the homes and shops.
You can’t miss it, but the downtown area is also a must-see. We were saying how even the post offices were so cute in each of the areas we visited. It was fun to see those everyday functional buildings in picturesque small town setting.
Honestly, this was such a good rec. The mornings are so peaceful there and the architecture is just beautiful. We started several mornings this way!
Grab a Drink to Go and Walk Around
I’m not sure what the law is, exactly, but many places advertised to-go drinks and a lot of people were walking around with them. So, one can only assume that’s legal, right? As such, I suggest grabbing a night cap and spending your last bit of evening exploring the downtown area.
It’s just as beautiful of an experience with all the shops lit up and the fountain running peacefully in the background.
Things to Do Around the Nearby Area
Other highlights include simply seeing the beautiful architecture of the homes and shops in town. You’re not just visiting a coastal town with Rosemary Beach, you’re immersed in a beautiful seaside culture of palms, aesthetically pleasing architecture and award winning dining all along the gulf coast, known locally as the Emerald Coast for its clear, emerald-green waters.
The Citizen
The Citizen, also commonly written as “CTZN” is a coastal tavern serving creative local fare right in Alys Beach. One of Kev’s vacation must-do items was to get fresh oysters and they had them on the menu. Already having bought shrimp to grill for dinner, we decided to stop in around 3:30 p.m. for drinks and apps. We were nervous they may not be kid-friendly, or we weren’t dressed well enough for it, but never judge a book by it’s [fancy looking] cover. We saw kid’s menus prominently on the hostess stand and people much more casually dressed than us once seated!
They have a delicious moscato and I ordered their Warm Cheddar Biscuits with Salted Cane Syrup Butter. Wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that butter but WOW, it was amazing! I also tried one of Kev’s oysters and honestly, it wasn’t bad! Last time I had oysters (in Chicago) I didn’t like them, but the sauces here helped win me over. They also have a raw bar where you can dine and watch the oysters be prepared!
Other than visiting The Citizen we didn’t spend a ton of time in Alys Beach. It has a much older, more sophisticated feel overall and we just didn’t get a huge family friendly vibe. We did however find a little park area tucked in just off 30A which was fun for a quick stop. Alexis went down her first slide here!
Explore Peddler’s Pavilion and Rent a Bike
While we didn’t personally rent bikes because we weren’t sure how it’d go with Alexis, this was clearly a very popular activity. You can rent bikes by the day or week and cruise right alongside beautiful Highway 30A. If riding doesn’t interest you either, fear not. Peddler’s Pavilion is SO much more than biking!
This gorgeous spot is where we enjoyed our ice cream the first night. There are a couple large gazebos like this for everyone to enjoy a meal, snack or drink from one of the many vendors right inside the semi circle that is known as Peddler’s Pavilion. Some nights they even have live music! You’ll find this spot located right out front of The Village of South Walton condo complex where ur Airbnb was located. We were so lucky to have all this fun stuff literally right outside our door!
30 Avenue
This is a large 30+ storefront shopping center right at the eastern-most end of Highway 30A. There’s plenty of parking to drive there but it was also just a 15 minute walk from where we stayed; we ended up doing both while there.
We made the hike for Goatfeathers, but also visited Great American Cookies while there. Great American Cookies is a large nationwide chain, but where we live there isn’t one for 3+ hours, so it was a novelty to us.
Goatfeathers, however, is a local fish market and Kevin really wanted to grill some seafood while there. He’s a huge grill master and was so excited to learn our complex had Weber grills (his preferred grill) and again, when in Rome, wanted to do a seafood ‘que.
The mall also has a coffee shop and several restaurants and bars with a variety of dining options. If you’re looking for a real fun looking time Cuvee 30A was bustling with music and lots of people on their very cozy string-lit patio at night. We definitely want to check that out next time we’re in town!
Visit the Beach
Duh! You don’t go all the way to the gulf coast and not play at the beach a little. We went for just an hour or so because Alexis is still too small to really enjoy it for too long, but we’re so glad we went. She really liked the water, especially watching the ripples and the sun bounce off the crystal clear waves. It was really cool for us to experience with her for the first time!
Where we stayed we had deeded beach access to a private area, which was nice, but pretty crowded. Our Airbnb host said the public access oftentimes has more room to spread out. We didn’t check that area out, but good to know that having deeded access isn’t necessarily essential when visiting the area.
The Village at South Walton Shops & Dining
These are the retailers at the ground level of the main buildings at the condo complex in which we stayed. You could truly make an entire day out of just staying on the grounds of our condo complex between all the coffee, dining, shopping, the pools, the hot tub and just walking around. It’s very scenic and we ate several meals at the places right outside our Airbnb’s front door.
Pizza by the Sea
You’d think a family that drove 14+ hours from Chicago would want something besides pizza, but that should tell you how good this place is. We ate at Pizza by the Sea twice during our stay. You’d never need to repeat with these options, but we loved it so much we wanted it again!
Located right in the condo complex, we called in an order for pickup night one and they coyly asked if the 15-minute wait was alright. This was hilarious to us because at home it’s always 30+ minutes for a pizza almost everywhere. WOW! It’s that east coast style super thin crust you can fold over. We don’t get that at home in Chicagoland, so that may have been the appeal. I got jalapeños and Kev ordered mushrooms and sausage, which were patties that we also don’t get at home, so he loved that. It’s a very causal, family-friendly place and I deem it a must-have (particularly if you’re a super thin pizza fan) in 30A, regardless where you’re staying.
Smallcakes 30A
We kept night one low key, so after pizza we took a stroll around the complex’s ground level retailers. We happened upon Smallcakes, a dessert shop with cupcakes, ice cream, etc. and enjoyed a couple scoops while we walked around the retail area.
It was yummy but to be honest, I preferred my sweet cream ice cream from Great American Cookies (sweet cream is one of my favorite ice cream flavors).
LaCo for Dinner
LaCo, which is short for Latin Coastal, is a family friendly restaurant with upscale offerings. We ate dinner here our last night and it was just a quick stroll across the complex lot. This was so nice after a busy beach and pool-filled day! We sat on the patio to spend as much time outside in the beautiful weather as possible.
The service was great and the food was outstanding! We got their queso dip as an app and ordered it “LaCo Style” which came with chorizo, jalapeños and red onion – one of my favorites! For dinner, I ordered their lobster quesadilla and Kevin got the tuna tlayuda, which is sesame seed saku tuna, arugula, avoado, crema, pickled cabbage, shishito peppers, charred pineapple and bacon on a crispy tortilla. It was basically a delicious tuna poke-style flat bread!
While I shared a lot of things to do and see in the Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach area, there’s still so much more out there. I hope this guide provides a jumping off point for your family’s own fantastic 30A vacation!
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