If it’s summer, you can bet there are plenty of Southerners cruising along the scenic two-lane Florida highway known as 30A. Between Destin and Panama City Beach, the 24-mile stretch of Emerald Coast is packed with golf carts, bicycles, and expensive SUVs enjoying the best of beach living. Once just a sleepy stretch of beaches, it is now being called the “Hamptons of the South” with the town of Seaside as its central hub.
The master-planned community of Seaside is widely recognized as a model for New Urbanism. It has inspired other communities along 30A, including Alys Beach, WaterColor, and Rosemary Beach, all of which feature thriving arts scenes, galleries, music festivals, and local artisans that contribute to their unique identities. Like the Hamptons, you will find the wealthy and the famous, but instead of Hollywood elite, you are more apt to run into Nashville country music legends enjoying time with their families. There are no big chain hotels, massive condo units, or high-rises. It has a welcoming Key West and Nantucket feel, with a laid-back elegance. The real draw, however, is the sugar-white beaches, made of ground-down quartz crystals that reflect sunlight, keeping the beaches cool even on the hottest days.
Each town has its own architectural style and vibe. Seaside is postcard-perfect, featuring pastel-colored cottages, white picket fences, a charming little chapel, and pedestrian-friendly streets. The town circle of Seaside has an excellent gourmet grocery, delicious restaurants and an amphitheater that hosts summer movies and concerts and is lined with the world’s first Airstream Row of permanent food trucks. Alys Beach (pronounced “Alice”) is comprised of all-white structures that feature a very Bermudan architecture, with courtyards reminiscent of Antigua and Guatemala. One of my favorite areas is Rosemary Beach, with a main town center that reminds me of New Orleans’ French Quarter, but with a West Indies flair. Farmers’ markets, wine festivals, and fine dining establishments are spread throughout the small towns, ensuring that visitors and residents alike enjoy a refined yet relaxed lifestyle. More active options include watersports on the coastal dune lakes and hiking or biking along the paved 18-mile Timpoochee Trail. Whether you rent a private cottage for the week or stay in a hotel for a few nights, you will quickly know why this stretch of paradise is so popular.
How to get there by Air:
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines fly nonstop from Dallas to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City
Where to Stay:
Homeowners Collection – private home rentals and boutique hotel homeownerscollection.com
The Pearl Hotel – Rosemary Beach thepearlrb.com
Watercolor Inn –Santa Rosa Beach watercolorresort.com
Where to Eat:
Bud & Alley’s – take in the sunset from their rooftop bar and don’t miss the crab cakes.
Great Southern Café -perfect brunch with fried green tomatoes, eggs Benedict and Grits à Ya Ya.
Modica Market – a gourmet grocery and take-out. Don’t miss their freshly squeezed lemonade, shrimp salad, and banana pudding.
Café Thirty A – upscale dinner spot with nightly specials.
George’s at Alys Beach – great salads; popular for lunch or dinner.
The Perfect Pig – breakfast before hitting the beach.
Paradis – special occasion dinner with steaks & seafood.
The Red Bar – beer & burgers with live music.
Blue Mountain Creamery – homemade ice cream in waffle cones.
Charlie’s Delights – freshly made donuts, an Alys Beach breakfast tradition
Airstream Row of food trucks at Seaside Circle.
