I am officially in love with the area from Santa Rosa Beach to Rosemary, FL! The water is stunning and clear, there are great restaurants, pretty views, and a wonderful family atmosphere. It’s important to note that we visited the area during peak spring break season so there were a lot of people in town. We knew this going in so we planned everything ahead of time. I anticipate that this area will continue to stay as busy for the rest of spring and summer!
A few things to make note of as you read through this post:
We were a family of six including two teens.
Our rental home was right outside of the busy area.
We booked our dinners almost a month in advance or as early as the restaurant would allow.
The weather was pretty cool when we went so our excursions weren’t super booked up.
Our rental home:
This property was absolutely stunning! The best part about the home was the two master bedrooms – one on the first floor and the other on the second floor, which worked out well for my parents to be on the lower floor. The home was very clean and well stocked with everything we needed besides groceries. Every room and bathroom was spacious and the beds were comfortable. My parents loved the home and area so much that they went house hunting while we were there!
This home is in Santa Rosa Beach area specifically in Blue Mountain Beach. The neighborhood was quiet and also had a pool available. This area is less than ten minutes from Seaside and about 25 minutes from Rosemary.
Here is a link to the rental home listing: VRBO LISTING
Excursion:
We did two really fun and family-friendly excursions while in 30A.
Cypress Springs Eco Cold Springs Tour – This tour was so beautiful! The water at the cold spring was so clear and blue. The guides do an amazing job of keeping you entertained and safe! The guides literally have everything you need with them from water sports, towels, and even lunch is provided. However, they did forget sunscreen so I do recommend bringing your own just in case. This tour begins with a 20-minute kayak trip to the spring, about 3 hours of playtime at the spring, and then the kayak back. I do recommend opting for the kayaks and not the canoes as the kayaks are much easier to navigate. I am not a pro at kayaking and we managed just fine. The water is very calm! Lunch and drinks (no alcohol) are included which are a Publix sandwich, and bottled refreshments.
The area where the cold spring is did get crowded later in the day as the weather warmed up so keep that in mind during peak times.
You can find more info here: EXCURSION LINK
Horse Back Riding – This excursion was so relaxing! I am not at all experienced in horseback riding. However, my little sister rides so we all did it for her and loved it! Keep in mind this is a small female-owned business, you book by phone/text message and pay in cash. The owner of the horse farm is pretty blunt in text messages but she told me she does this on purpose to ward off people who aren’t serious about booking. She ended up being SO nice in person and made us all feel so comfortable riding! This is a great family experience and lasted about two hours.
You can find more info here: EXCURSION LINK
Restaurants:
Cafe 30a – My favorite restaurant the whole trip! Our entrees and the service were both so good!
Blue Mabel – We went here for happy hour/late lunch and the food was great!
Old Florida Fish House – Food was good, not my favorite, drinks were great, very noisy inside. Highly recommend sitting outside!
Great Southern Cafe – Excellent food and service! If it’s very busy it can take a little time for the entrees to come out but we didn’t wait too long.
Blue Mountain Beach Creamery – Order the chocolate ice cream! So yummy!
The Pearl Rooftop – This hotel is gorgeous! Unfortunately, we were not able to have rooftop drinks here as the age limit was 21+ and my sisters are younger but I’m still recommending it because it had great reviews online!
Edward’s Fine Food & Wine – We stopped here and sat outside for midday snacks and drinks. Very good! The Tuna Tartar is a must!
It’s VERY important to make reservations ahead of time in this area! Some restaurants do not offer reservations so we didn’t even bother trying to go there with 6 people in our party.
Other Things To Do:
Sunday Farmers Market in Rosemary
Blue Mountain Bakery – we didn’t get to go but it was on our list!
Food Trucks in Seaside
Sundog Books in Seaside
All the cute boutiques in Seaside and Rosemary
The Donut Hole – on my list but didn’t get a chance to visit
