If you are a food tourist guided by your taste buds to try new flavors and sample local favorites, Florida’s Highway 30A is a must visit. The Gulf Coast is home to many fine restaurants and delicious casual beachside eateries. So many that it’s a shame to visit them one by one. That’s why we’ve found the best ways to try a variety and get the most from your 30A vacay.
What 30A vacay is complete without delicious local food? Discover the best ways to enjoy food tourism and try a wide selection of dishes from the best 30A restaurants.
If you are a food tourist guided by your taste buds to try new flavors and sample local favorites, Florida’s Highway 30A is a must visit. The Gulf Coast is home to many fine restaurants and delicious casual beachside eateries. So many that it’s a shame to visit them one by one. That’s why we’ve found the best ways to try a variety and get the most from your 30A vacay.
30A farmers markets are more than just a good place to pick up fresh produce for your grocery list. They are ideal for sampling different types of foods and enjoying a late morning stroll. Every Sunday from 9-2pm the 30A Farmers Market at Rosemary Beach offers a range of locally grown fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, fresh seafood, chicken and beef, bread and pastries at the Rosemary Town Beach Center on 30A. But besides high quality artisan goods, pantry stockers and fridge filling ingredients, there’s a great selection of dishes and food products to try. Homemade pasta and sauce, authentic Greek food, cakes, pies, tarts, salsas and gelato are samples of the selection you’ll find.
Just a short stroll from our Seaside 30A cottages, you’ll find the Seaside Farmer’s Market, open every Saturday morning. It’s a small market but still offers plenty of tasty local treats like crab cakes and pastries. The family-friendly market is right beside the beach. With fun vibes and live music, it’s the perfect place to stroll and fill your belly while you wait for the day to heat up and head to the water for some fun in the sun.
Food trucks have been trending for a while and for good reason. They offer delicious food at great prices and you’ll usually find a few of them in the same area so you can get a little something from each. Try a variety of dishes at the adorable row of quaint airstreams in Seaside. Like something out of a travel magazine, this picture-perfect line of retro airstreams is a modern twist on a vintage icon and a fresh take on the food truck. Try a local favorite, the brisket nachos at Barefoot BBQ and don’t miss the famous 100 layer donuts at Five Daughters Bakery—chain establishment offers a super special menu just for beachgoers. Our personal favorite is The Meltdown which offers traditional and very-non-traditional grilled cheese creations like the B.A.C. with bacon jelly, avocado and cheddar. Enjoy a pimento grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup—just like mom used to make… but better.
Check for local events and food festivals. Local vendors flock to special events, offering a superb selection of offerings. The 30A Wine Festival has more than just bottles of bubbly. Some of the best chefs in the area offer an array of culinary delights. Plus, some of the proceeds from the festival support the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to health services for children in Walton and Okaloosa counties. South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival also has a dazzling roster of chefs and celebrity winemakers. VIP tasting guests get to sip award-winning wines and sample small plates throughout the day.
If you’ve never gone restaurant-hopping, you’re missing out. Appetizers at the first place, entrees at the next and dessert at a third—with maybe a few extra drinks, dishes or stops along the way (we’re not judging). All of our 30A cottages are in amazing locations so it’s just a short walk or bike ride to take you right into the heart of the action. Stroll along the block in Rosemary Beach or walk the strip in downtown Seaside. You’re sure to spot plenty of places with menus on display so you can pop in and start your sampling.
One of our favorite things to do is to indulge in a tasting menu at our favorite local 30A restaurants. While you don’t get to try different places, you get an amazing selection of dishes, all perfectly planned to pair. A tasting menu is a culinary treat, a taste journey that is more of an experience than a meal. At Cuvee 30A Chef Tim Creehan offers an incredible Chef’s Table option. Begin with champagne and cheese in their private wine cellar before moving to the kitchen where you get an up close and personal view of the chef preparing high end dishes.
Chef Nikhil Abuvala at Roux 30A also offers an Around the World Dinner, a five course tasting menu that allows you to dive deep into regional delicacies. Each of the menus reflects a different location, offering the chef’s unique twist on popular dishes and unexpected recreations. For less adventurous eaters, try Kevin Korman, chef-owner of Roselie’s modern, new American tasting menu. Their locally sources seafood and farm-to-table ingredients promise a fresh, ever-changing seasonal menu so every meal is unique and exciting.
Comparing Naples to the various 30A beaches may seem like a tall order but, that’s exactly what we’re going to tackle in today’s Battle of the Beaches! While both areas are on the West Coast of Florida and boast beautiful beaches that may be just about all they have in common. Let’s dive deeper into these two beach areas so you can decide, “Which is the right Florida beach for my next vacation?”
Summer on 30A is the best and, if you’re looking to spend a holiday in the area, the 4th of July is the ultimate. There’s nothing like the celebratory, fun atmosphere on the beach over the 4th of July weekend. If you’re looking for more 4th of July events on 30A, we’ve got a full list to round out your holiday to-do list. With live music and a patriotic pool party to face painting and fireworks, check out our list of 4th of July events on 30A.
There’s nothing like summer vacation on 30A. Whether you’re staying in Rosemary Beach, Destin, WaterColor, Grayton Beach or any of our beautiful 30A beach towns, you’re in for a real treat. Excellent food, stunning beaches and good times await you. Today we’re going to cover the basics for your 30A summer vacay like planning and packing, booking a 30A rental vacation home and what to do on 30A.
January is one of the most popular times of the year to book your 30A vacation. It’s the month where we set intentions and make plans for the year, including making our travel plans. If you want to plan a trip to 30A this year, we’re bringing you our top tips for planning the perfect 30A vacation for 2022.
Today on the Love to Stay 30A blog, we’re talking all about Spring Break on 30A. We’ve got all the juicy details on where to go, what to do and what to expect here in our little slice of paradise. If you’re dodging cold winter months for some sunshine and sand, you have a lot to look forward to! We have beautiful weather, fresh seafood, charming coastal towns and stunning 30A luxury vacation rental homes for you to enjoy. Before we dive into our ideas of things to do on 30A during Spring Break, let’s go over some things you might want to know before you go.
There’s no question about it, summer is the peak season to visit 30A. Despite the influx of tourists, 30A areas like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach and Seaside still keep their small town charm. Whether you’re visiting 30A for the first time or a returning guest, we’ve compiled our top tips for planning the best 30A summer vacation: