Does anyone else need vacation from vacation? I can’t believe it’s Friday and we have been home for five days! Where did the week go? As much as I wish I was on a beach right now, it’s a beautiful day in Atlanta, so I can’t be too mad.
If you missed all the action on my Instagram, my wedding anniversary was last weekend and we went to our beloved spot in Florida to celebrate. We love all of 30A/Emerald Coast, but definitely have a special affinity for the Rosemary Beach area. The last time we were on 30A was exactly two years ago on our anniversary, and we were dying to go back. We are just a six-hour drive away in Atlanta, so it was the perfect place to road trip. We drove a Toyota Camry Hybrid down, which was so nice! It was such a comfy ride and we spent hardly anything on gas.
Last time we went, we stayed in a resort. This time, we stayed in a house. I think they both have their benefits, but I am totally sold on always getting a house now… and not just any house. I am in love with the house where we stayed this time!
From a location standpoint, it couldn’t have been more perfect for us. On this part of 30A, there are several tiny beach towns that essentially all run into each other. They are all unique and have kind of their own “personality” so to speak. I especially love Rosemary, Seacrest, Alys, Seaside, and Santa Rosa beaches. My favorite spots are also sometimes referred to as the area of South Walton. Rosemary, Seacrest and Alys are all within a half mile of each other. It’s easy to go between them on foot or bike.
The house we stayed at was in Seacrest, which was the absolute PERFECT central location. It’s safe to stay that will always be our home base. We stayed at Sugar Sands Sanctuary, a large, beautiful, two-story home with open air porches off of both floors.
The home actually sleeps 12. There is a room with bunks and a double bed that would be perfect for kids, and three other amazing bedrooms.
The family area is large and open with a big kitchen. We actually spent a lot of our time just having coffee in the kitchen and playing Scrabble!
The house is in an adorable neighborhood just across the road from the beach. The streets are quiet and lined with sidewalks. There is a tram that comes around that is happy to take you across 30A to the private beach entrance. The neighborhood also boasts a HUGE incredible pool that’s just steps away from the house.
The best part, was how close it was to shopping, eating, and the beach. We will never stay anywhere else.
ROSEMARY BEACH
What’s it like?
Rosemary has a lot of trees and gorgeous architecture. I love just walking around and looking at the houses there. Not only that, but there are several amazing places to eat and shop and the beaches there are easily accessible.
Where to eat?
La Crema for the best tapas and dessert. Get the brussels sprouts and the enfuego chicken and the chocolate fondue.
Southside Slice for late night munchies or lunch. Their pizza is the BEST, we loved the veggie pizza.
Big Bad Breakfast for an amazing brunch. It’s just east of Rosemary and easily walkable from Seacrest. I got the shrimp and grits and Tyler got the riviera skillet. Both were amazing and their biscuits were to die for!
ALYS BEACH
What’s it like?
Alys is SO stunning. All white structures and lush green landscaping. It’s history is super cool, if you care to read up. It’s a luxurious, modern town on the beach that is a must see and a definite spot for photos.
Where to eat?
George’s for dinner. Order the calamari fries and a local beer.
Fonville Press for a coffee break. I adore this spot. It’s so quaint and cute! Their espresso creations are magical and you’ll want to sit on the patio.
SEASIDE
What’s it like?
Seaside is the beach town prototype. It’s laid back, cool, and casual. There are a ton of shops, both on the beach and on the other side of 30A. There is a large boardwalk that leads to the beach, and no shortage of places to get a cold drink. The most famous thing about Seaside, though are probably the permanent Airstream food trucks that line the street. It’s just an adorable town.
Where to eat?
The Melt Down for lunch or a snack! Actually, all the food trucks in Seaside are perfect for this.
Old Florida Fish House for the Key Lime Pie (on the way back west). I don’t even like Key Lime Pie and this is the best I have ever had. We had to make the stop!
SANTA ROSA
What’s it like?
Santa Rosa is much more beachy (if that’s a thing) with less trees and more flat land and boardwalks. There are several areas to shop, eat and ride bikes too!
Where to eat?
The Perfect Pig for breakfast. Order the pimento cheese and bacon biscuits and cheese grits.
Borago for dinner. At the advice of a local, we checked this place out for dinner and we were not disappointed. It was incredible Italian cuisine. Order the Chicken Linguini.
This trip was so incredibly fun and we can’t wait to go back and experience it with the kids. We had a blast together, eating our way around and recharging our spirits with salt water, ocean breeze, and white sand. Oh, and full nights of sleep.
Here’s a quick recap video on my YouTube channel from our trip.
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